Use this guide when paper is piling up or you need digital copies for HMRC records, claims or applications. You need a smartphone with a scanning app or a scanner, a cloud or computer folder to store files, and a small first batch of documents.
Step by step
Choose your scanning tool
For most people a phone is enough: the Notes app on iPhone, the scan option in Google Drive on Android, or the scan option in the OneDrive app all crop pages and save as PDF. Use a flatbed or document scanner for large batches, fragile papers or photos. Whatever you use, set the output to PDF and a resolution of around 300 dpi, which is a good balance of clarity and file size.
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