It can also pre-populate the program with your account data from outside firms, such as Charles Schwab.

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Kagan says one alternative would be for a carrier or handset maker to pre-populate your phone with a group of apps based on your personal interests.

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Assuming politics and Congress allowed, it should be technically possible for the IRS to pre-populate 1040s with numbers from W-2s, 1098s and 1099s and to produce a tentative result.

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