File on your phone - for free

Editorial by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance

New York state taxpayers with incomes under $62,000 can easily prepare and file income tax returns - and check their refunds - on the go.

Responding to the needs of the mobile generation, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance provides eligible New York state taxpayers the option of electronically filing their income taxes directly from their smartphone or tablet at tax.ny.gov.

The Tax Department's website is mobile responsive: It automatically adjusts to fit your device's screen, and puts tax preparation and refund updates in the palm of your hand.

"New Yorkers are on the go, and we're right there with them," New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone said. "We encourage you to take advantage of our mobile-responsive website to e-file your taxes and check your refund status with ease and convenience. Use your phone or tablet anywhere, whether relaxing in a café or on your couch."

You can now do the following from your mobile device:

• Prepare your federal and state return (for free if your income is under $62,000)
• Quickly check the status of your refund
• Sign up for email alerts about your refund
• Access all of the helpful information available at tax.ny.gov

The Tax Department's mobile-ready website design provides taxpayers with easy navigation and faster download speed. Nearly 800,000 taxpayers - including more than 150,000 mobile users - access the Tax Department's website each week during the income tax season. More than half of the users who check their refund status or sign up for refund email alerts on the Tax Department website are mobile users.

Check your refund

Instead of calling the Tax Department for your refund status, avoid wait times and go directly to our website to receive the same up-to-the-minute information available to our call center representatives.

The refund status tool is available anytime with the touch of a button. The tool is updated daily to provide the most up-to-date information about a taxpayer's refund.

It also provides a time frame for each step in the processing of your return - from receipt of the return to the issue date and amount of the refund.

Sign up for email alerts

Refund updates are also available by signing up for Tax Department email alerts.

For more information:

• E-file for free
• Check your refund status

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Editor's note: Niagara Frontier Publications strives to publish factual and accurate editorials containing information that is of service to readers. Only submissions from reasonably credible sources will be accepted.

That said, NFP makes no guarantee as to the factual accuracy of the above claims, nor will it ensure any actions listed above will occur for you.

Save, spend and live wisely!