The days of using an IRS app mostly to check on a tax refund are coming to an end. The Internal Revenue Service announced Friday that it has launched a new mobile app designed to put significantly more tax account tools directly on taxpayers’ phones.
According to the IRS announcement, released September 25, 2026, the new IRS mobile app replaces IRS2Go and expands mobile access to selected services already available through an Individual Online Account. The agency said the change is part of a larger push toward digital services that taxpayers can use without always needing to visit IRS.gov, call the agency, or seek in-person assistance.
“The new IRS app puts more services at taxpayers’ fingertips,” IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano said in the agency’s announcement. “It 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. Our goal is to make IRS services easy to access and more consistent across all of our platforms.”
The new IRS app represents a major expansion from IRS2Go, which has been available for more than a decade. According to the agency, IRS2Go primarily gave taxpayers access to refund tracking, payment information, free filing resources, and other commonly used tax information.
Now, taxpayers who securely sign in through the IRS mobile app can access selected account-specific information and complete several tasks from a mobile device. The IRS says users can check the status of both refunds and amended returns, view available balance information, make payments, and review payment activity.
The app also provides access to select IRS notices and letters, available tax records and transcripts, certain profile and communication preferences, and Identity Protection PINs. That means the IRS app is moving beyond being a basic information tool and closer to serving as a mobile extension of an individual taxpayer’s online account.
One particularly important addition is mobile access to the Identity Protection PIN, commonly called an IP PIN. According to IRS guidance on the IP PIN program, an IP PIN is a six-digit number designed to stop someone else from filing a federal tax return using a taxpayer’s Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
The IRS says eligible taxpayers can voluntarily request an IP PIN after verifying their identity. A new number is generated each year, and taxpayers enrolled in the program generally need to use their current IP PIN when filing applicable federal tax returns. The agency also warns taxpayers not to reveal the number unnecessarily, noting that the IRS will never call, email, or text someone asking for an IP PIN.
The new IRS app is free and available through Apple’s App Store and Google Play, according to the agency. People who already have IRS2Go installed do not need to search for and install a separate replacement. The IRS says existing users who have automatic updates turned on should receive the new app through the normal update process.
Taxpayers looking for the app manually should be careful about where they get it. The IRS is directing users to its official mobile app page, where verified download information and additional resources are available.
That warning matters because an app connected to tax information can become an attractive opportunity for scammers trying to collect Social Security numbers, financial information, or account credentials. The IRS specifically cautioned taxpayers about look-alike apps, advertisements, and unsolicited messages claiming to provide access to IRS accounts.
According to the agency’s tax scam guidance, unexpected communications that pressure taxpayers for personal or financial information can be signs of fraud. In announcing the new mobile app, the IRS reiterated that it will not request sensitive personal or financial information through an unsolicited email, text, or pop-up message. Anyone unsure whether an app or message is legitimate is advised to avoid unsolicited links and navigate through verified IRS resources instead.
The mobile expansion does not mean IRS.gov is going away. The agency says the website will continue providing its broader collection of forms, tax guidance, tools and services. Individual Online Accounts will also remain available on the website, along with Business Tax Accounts and Tax Pro Accounts.
For now, the IRS app is focused on extending selected Individual Online Account features to mobile users. Business and tax professional accounts are not being replaced by the app, according to the agency.
Traditional assistance is not disappearing either. The IRS says telephone and in-person services will remain available for people who need individualized assistance or have tax problems that cannot be resolved through self-service tools.
The new app also fits into a broader digital expansion underway at the agency. In April 2026, the IRS announced a Tax Debt Help tool designed to guide individuals and businesses through potential options for resolving federal tax debt. The agency described that launch as another part of its effort to make tax services more accessible online.
The September rollout pushes that strategy onto taxpayers’ phones. The IRS says the current features are only the beginning and that additional capabilities and services will be added to the IRS mobile app over time.
