The IRS introduced a new mobile app on Friday that the agency says puts more services at taxpayers’ fingertips.
The IRS app replaces IRS2Go, the agency’s first smartphone application that was unveiled in January 2011, which provided users with a convenient way of checking on the status of their federal refund and obtaining easy-to-understand tax tips.
The new IRS app adds a broader set of secure, account-specific features, the agency says. Taxpayers can now securely sign in to the official IRS app and access selected account information and self-service options, including:
- Check refund and amended-return status.
- View available balance information.
- Make payments and review payment activity.
- View select notices and letters.
- Access available tax records and transcripts.
- Manage certain profile and communication preferences.
- Access an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN).
The IRS says it will continue expanding the app with new capabilities and services over time.
“The new IRS app advances our digital-first agenda to meet taxpayers how and where they choose to interact with the IRS, whether at home or on the go,” IRS CEO Frank Bisignano said in a statement on Sept. 25. “Our goal is to make IRS services easy to access and more consistent across all of our platforms.”
The IRS app is free and available through the Apple App Store and Google Play. Current IRS2Go users don’t need to download a separate app. Users with automatic updates enabled will receive the IRS app through the normal update process. Taxpayers can also visit IRS app on IRS.gov for verified links and additional information.
The IRS says the new app expands secure mobile access to selected IRS Individual Online Account services, but it doesn’t replace IRS.gov or the IRS online accounts. The IRS’s website continues to provide comprehensive tax information, guidance, forms, tools, and services. IRS Individual Online Account, Business Tax Account, and Tax Pro Account will continue to be available through IRS.gov, with the IRS app initially extending selected Individual Online Account features only. Telephone and in-person assistance also remain available for taxpayers who need individualized help or whose issues can’t be resolved through self-service.
The agency cautions taxpayers to use verified IRS links or the official IRS app listings in the Apple App Store and Google Play and be careful of look-alike apps, advertisements, and unsolicited messages claiming to provide access to IRS accounts. The IRS says it won’t ask taxpayers to provide sensitive personal or financial information through an unsolicited text, email, or pop-up message. Taxpayers who are unsure whether a message or app is legitimate should avoid clicking unsolicited links and use verified resources to locate the official app.
Photo credit: Internal Revenue Service/Instagram
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Tags: apps, IRS, mobile app, Taxes, Technology
