After 15 years, the IRS has retired its IRS2Go app. In its place is a new app, simply called IRS, that does a lot more.
Announced Sept. 25, the free app lets you check your refund, see what you owe, make payments, read IRS notices, pull tax transcripts and get an Identity Protection PIN, all from your phone, according to the IRS.
“The new IRS app puts more services at taxpayers’ fingertips,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano.
But anything this convenient is also a gift to scammers, who’ll push look-alike apps and fake messages claiming to give you access to your IRS account.
Here are five things the real app can do, and one thing the IRS will never ask you for.
1. Track your refund, no sign-in required
You can check the status of your refund or an amended return. According to the IRS’s frequently asked questions, checking refund status still works without signing in.
If you used IRS2Go and have automatic updates turned on, you’ll get the new app through a normal update. Otherwise, download it only from the Apple App Store or Google Play, using the links at IRS.gov/app.
It works in English and Spanish, and it needs iOS 15.1 or Android 7.0 or later.
2. See what you owe and pay it
Sign in, and you can see your balance and payment history and make a payment.
The sign-in is the same secure login you use for your IRS Individual Online Account, and you enter your credentials in a separate secure browser window, not in the app itself, the IRS says.
If the balance is more than you can pay at once, don’t ignore it. The IRS offers payment plans, including a short-term plan of up to 180 days with no setup fee if you owe less than $100,000.
Interest and some penalties keep adding up until you pay in full, though. If you’re in over your head, you can explore tax debt relief options in our Solutions Center.
3. Read your IRS notices
The app shows select notices and letters the IRS has sent you. That’s more useful than it sounds.
When a letter shows up in your mailbox claiming to be from the IRS, you can check whether the real IRS has it on file. That’s one of the easiest ways to catch a fake.
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4. Pull your tax transcripts
Need proof of income for a mortgage, a refinance or financial aid? You can access available tax records and transcripts in the app.
Transcripts are also handy for spotting identity theft. If income or a return shows up that you don’t recognize, you’ll know something’s wrong.
5. Get your IP PIN
An Identity Protection PIN is a six-digit number that stops anyone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number. Anyone who can verify their identity can get one, and a new PIN is issued each year, according to the IRS.
If you’ve ever had your personal information exposed in a data breach, this is one of the best free protections you can get. Now it’s on your phone.
The one thing the IRS will never ask for
Your IP PIN — the IRS says it will never ask for it, and that calls, emails or texts asking for your IP PIN are scams.
More broadly, the IRS won’t ask for sensitive personal or financial information through an unsolicited text, email or pop-up message. So if a text or ad promises to activate your new IRS app, verify your account or release a refund, don’t tap it.
Instead, forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM), and send phishing emails to [email protected], the IRS says. We’ve covered why you should think twice before responding to IRS texts or emails.
The new app doesn’t replace IRS.gov, where forms and guidance still live. But for checking on your money, it’s a real upgrade. Just make sure the one you download came from the IRS.
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