Do you still file your taxes using paper records? You’re not alone yourself. Despite the claims made by National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins that “paper is the IRS’ Kryptonite,” the IRS actually received around 13 million paper tax returns in 2023, and substantial tax forms are still sent to many individuals. The majority of us are fortunate enough to have digital copies of our tax returns, but if you do not, don’t worry—scanning papers with your phone or tablet and importing them into TurboTax, TaxSlayer, or your preferred tax program is simple.
badge art for tax tips
Digitizing your tax forms allows you to quickly upload data, such your tax identification number and income sources, to the service you’re using instead of having to enter everything by hand, which may be difficult if your taxes are intricate.
This article is a part of CNET’s Taxes 2025 coverage, which covers the top tax software, tax advice, and all the other information you need to file your taxes and monitor your refund.
All you need is your phone or tablet to convert any paper tax returns you may have into a digital version. Whether you have an iOS or Android smartphone, you can easily scan a physical document with your camera and turn it into a PDF using built-in capabilities on both platforms. Here’s how.
Make sure to go over our 2024 tax cheat sheet and learn how to file your taxes for free while you’re here.
How to use your iPhone or iPad to scan your tax paperwork
There are a several methods to use your iPhone or iPad’s camera to scan documents, but we’ll be concentrating on utilizing the Files app. Because the document is stored in Files, making it simple to modify and distribute on your computer or other devices, this option is recommended.
1. Launch the Files application first.
2. Next, press the menu symbol with three dots in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Document Scan.
scantaxdocs1.png
On iOS, physical documents may be scanned using the Files app.
Aguilar Nelson/CNET
After that, you’ll be prompted to place the document in view when your camera opens. Placing your tax document on a level surface, such as a desk or table, in a well-lit location is the easiest method to scan it. Avoid white or highly reflective surfaces since they will interfere with the camera’s ability to scan the paper.
The document will now display a blue overlay that indicates it is being scanned if you place the phone or tablet directly over it. The document will be immediately added to your finished scans if it is scanned successfully, enabling you to scan further papers if you so want.
After that, you may modify or rescan your papers by tapping the document preview in the bottom-left. If the automated scanning wasn’t very good, you may trim them and apply a filter (like grayscale) to make them easier to read. Tap Save to save the document as a PDF in the Files app if you’re satisfied with the scans. After that, you may distribute the document via email or change its name. You may also use the Files app to submit the PDF to any tax app if you want to file your taxes on a mobile device.
How to use your Android device to scan your tax documents
There are many methods for scanning documents on Android, however they often differ significantly based on the phone type. Some phones do not have built-in document scanners in their camera applications, although phones more recent than the Pixel 7 and the Galaxy S22 have. We’ll be using the Google Drive app to scan documents instead, which isn’t built-in technically but works just as well since it comes preloaded on the majority of Android devices.
1. Start by launching the Google Drive application.
2. Next, press the blue plus button located in the lower right corner.
3. Next, press Scan.
scantaxdocs2.png
Scan tax forms easily using Google Drive.
Aguilar Nelson/CNET
Place the camera immediately on top of the actual tax document, which should be flat on a nonreflective surface, and position it inside the frame. To snap a picture, make sure the tax document is in focus before pressing the shutter button. Tap OK if the picture seems to be excellent. Your tax paperwork should then appear as an automatically cropped picture. After that, you may change the document’s borders, rotate it, and apply a filter (such black and white). Tap the plus symbol in the lower-left corner to add new documents.
Click Save in the lower right corner if you are satisfied with your scans. After that, you may pick a folder to store the document (as a PDF), give it a name, and choose an account if you have more than one. After that, press the Save button once again in the lower-right corner. Once your tax document is saved to Google Drive, you may make comments, use keywords to search through it, and share it via email or straight to any Android tax applications you may have.
You may have questions now that tax season has here. Check out all the homeowner tax advantages and find out who is eligible to get this year’s child tax credit if you’d want further information.