The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launched a new mobile application that replaces the well-known IRS2Go and significantly expands the tasks that taxpayers can carry out from their phones.
The new application, simply called IRS app, is available for free on Apple and Android devices. It allows users to check the status of a refund, review outstanding balances, payments, certain IRS letters, and tax records.
The change officially began on September 25, 2026, according to an announcement from the IRS itself.
Those who were already using IRS2Go do not necessarily need to install a different app. If automatic updates are enabled, the old app will update and become the new IRS application.
What you can do without logging in
Some of the traditional functions of IRS2Go remain available without the need to access a personal account.
Among them are:
Check the status of a refund.
Check the status of an amended return.
Make certain payments.
Find options for free assistance in filing taxes.
These features remain especially useful during tax season for those who only need to verify if the IRS has processed their return or when a refund might arrive.
The new features appear upon logging in
The main difference compared to IRS2Go lies in the tools available after securely logging in.
The IRS now allows users to access certain information through the app that was previously available mainly via individual accounts on IRS.gov.
Among the new features are:
Check the available balance of overdue taxes.
Make payments and review payment history.
Consult specific notices and letters sent by the IRS.
Access available tax records and transcripts.
Manage specific profile preferences and communications.
Consult the Identity Protection PIN, known as IP PIN.
The IRS states that it will continue to incorporate new tools and services into the application in the future.
How to log in securely
To access the new personal features, it is necessary to log in using the secure system that employs the Individual Online Account from the IRS.
The official IRS application page explains that the user will be temporarily directed to a secure browser tab to verify their identity using ID.me.
Once that verification is completed, the taxpayer returns to the application.
Those who do not yet have an account must first complete the corresponding identification process.
Consult IRS letters from your phone
One of the most useful additions is the ability to consult certain notices and official letters from the mobile device.
The IRS uses these communications to inform taxpayers about matters such as changes to a return, outstanding balances, requests for information, or specific decisions related to their tax account.
However, this does not mean that all IRS correspondence will necessarily be available within the application. The agency describes the feature as access to selected notices and letters.
It also allows you to download transcripts and tax records
The new application also expands mobile access to certain tax records.
Taxpayers can view and download available transcripts and documents related to information returns from their account.
These transcripts can be useful for verifying declared income, preparing a new return, responding to certain financial requests, or reviewing information from previous years.
The IP PIN will also be available from the app
Another integrated tool is access to the Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN).
The IP PIN is a six-digit code used by the IRS to help prevent someone else from fraudulently filing a federal return using a taxpayer's Social Security number or ITIN.
Those who are already using this protection mechanism can consult the available code through the account functions of the new application.
The application does not fully replace IRS.gov
Although it incorporates new features, the IRS warns that the mobile app does not replace IRS.gov or the comprehensive tax accounts available on the website.
The application initially provides access to certain tools of the Individual Online Account, designed for individual taxpayers.
Currently, it does not include all the existing features in that account and does not offer the complete tools corresponding to Business Tax Account or Tax Pro Account.
Taxpayers will still need IRS.gov for forms, publications, detailed guidance, and other processes that are not included in the app.
It is available in Spanish
The new IRS application is available in both English and Spanish.
According to official information, it requires devices with iOS or iPadOS 15.1 or later, while on Android it needs version 7.0 or later.
The download is free.
If you already have IRS2Go, you might not need to do anything
Users who already have IRS2Go installed do not need to search for another application.
If automatic updates are enabled on the phone, IRS2Go will update normally and appear as the new IRS app.
Those who have automatic updates disabled can update it manually from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Beware of fake applications that impersonate the IRS
The launch of a new official application can also be exploited by scammers to create apps, ads, or links that attempt to appear as if they belong to the federal government.
The IRS recommends accessing the app only through the verified links available at IRS.gov or carefully checking the official listing on Apple App Store and Google Play.
The agency warns that taxpayers should not download applications from ads, text messages, emails, or unsolicited pop-ups.
The IRS does not request sensitive personal or financial information through text messages, emails, or unexpected pop-up windows.
If an application appears that tries to impersonate the official one, the IRS also has a mechanism for reporting potential fraud and impersonation.
A particularly useful change close to the deadline of October 15
The launch comes at a particularly significant time for millions of taxpayers.
The next October 15, 2026 marks the deadline, for most who requested an extension, to submit their federal tax return for 2025.
CiberCuba recently reported on this deadline and explained that the extension for filing the declaration did not mean an automatic extension for paying the taxes owed.
The new app can be useful for those who need to check their balance, verify payments made, or consult specific information about their account before or after filing their declaration.
How to verify that you are installing the correct application
The safest way is to avoid searching for it through sponsored ads or links received in messages.
The IRS itself recommends:
Log in directly to IRS.gov.
Access the official page of the application.
Use the verified links to Apple App Store or Google Play from there.
Do not enter tax credentials in applications or websites opened from unexpected messages.
For those who were already using IRS2Go, the process is even simpler: the new IRS app is the official evolution of that same application, not a private app or a commercial tax preparation service.
The change significantly expands the tasks that can be performed from a phone, although IRS.gov will remain the primary platform for accessing the full range of federal tax services, forms, and tools.
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