You've found the perfect pair of shoes but aren't sure you can afford them. You're waiting for your tax refund to show up in your account before you use your debit card.



No worries! Whip out your smartphone, click on the new IRS2Go app to find out the exact status of your refund.

Yep, the IRS is the hot, happening, technology embracing federal agency.

Really!

IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman announced today that the agency has its own smartphone app, free in both iPhone and Android iterations.

With IRS2Go you can check on the status of your refund usually around 72 hours after you get the e-mail from the IRS that it received your e-filed tax return.

If you snail mailed your 1040, you'll have to wait a bit longer. It will take around three to four weeks before IRS2Go can tell you where in the processing pipeline your tax return is.

Same search, difference device: The app works just like the popular online Where's My Refund? search engine.

You enter your Social Security number (encrypted, of course, for security), pick the filing status you entered on your return and enter the amount of money you're expecting as a refund.

Voila! You'll find out whether you can purchase the shoes or have to wait a little longer.

According to the tax commissioner, this is just the latest communications advance by the IRS, which already is on Twitter and YouTube. (Here's the IRS video on IRS2Go.)



"This phone app is a first step for us," said Shulman. "We will look for additional ways to expand and refine our use of smartphones and other new technologies to help meet the needs of taxpayers."

As I noted when I mentioned the burgeoning tax app sector in a blog post this past weekend, it definitely is time for me to finally get a smartphone.

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