The Internal Revenue Service has announced the launching of IRS2Go, its first smartphone application that lets taxpayers check on the status of their tax refund and obtain helpful tax information.

The IRS2Go phone app give people a convenient way of checking on their federal refund. It also gives people a quick way of obtaining easy to understand tax tips.

Apple users can download the free application by visiting the Apple App Store. Android users can visit the Android Market place to down load the free app.

Features of the first release include: Taxpayers can check the status of their federal refund through the new phone app with a few basic pieces of information. First, taxpayers enter a Social Security number, which is masked and encrypted for security purposes. Next, taxpayers pick the filing status they used on their tax return. Finally taxpayers enter the amount of the refund they expect from their 2010 tax return.

For people who e-file, the refund function of the phone app will work within about 72 hours after taxpayers receive an e-mail acknowledgment saying the IRS received their tax return. For people filing paper tax returns, longer processing times mean they will need to wait three to four weeks before they can check their refund status.

Phone app users enter their e-mail address to automatically get daily tax tips. Tax tips are simple, straightforward tips and reminders to help with tax planning and preparation. They are issued daily during the tax filing season and periodically during the rest of the year.