Your Phone is a Scanner

Sometimes pictures can be helpful to share information. But many times those same photos will either cut off the edges of important documents,  or blur the images making it difficult to read the printed letters and numbers.  However, when you scan your documents instead of taking a picture of them, now you can capture clearer images of the complete documents and forms that are easier to read with showing all the necessary and important information you want to share. 

Your phone has a built-in scanner, but it might be hidden to you.  But before you use your phone as a scanner, prepare by following these two first steps.   

First, whether you are using an iPhone or an Android, you must lie your document(s) on a flat surface. Try your best to smooth out any folds or wrinkles before scanning.  Next, place your document(s) where it is well-lit with bright light if possible. Having shadows on your scan makes it very difficult to see the wording and lettering on your letter even if magnified.  Below are the steps to use either your iPhone or Android phone as a scanner. 

Scanning Documents Using Your iPhone or iPad (Source: Apple Support)

Scanning Documents Using Your Phone – Android (Source: Google Support)

1. Open the Google Drive app .
2. In the bottom right, tap Add .
3. Tap Scan .
4. Take a photo of the document you’d like to scan.
   • Adjust scan area: Tap Crop .
   • Take photo again: Tap Re-scan current page .
   • Scan another page: Tap Add .
5. Create your own title or select a suggested title.
   • Suggested titles are only available in the United States.
6. To save the finished document, tap Save .

After using your phone as a scanner to scan your document(s), the scan(s) will be saved in your phone. You can now share them with your tax professional by uploading them to your client portal.  Make sure to delete your scan(s) after you securely send them to safeguard any sensitive personal information on the documents on like social security numbers or your account information.