Welcome to KnowHow Daily!
Practical guides, money-saving tips, tech solutions, government benefits, and useful information for everyday life.
- The IRS app launched on September 25, 2026, replacing IRS2Go while keeping familiar tools such as refund tracking, payments, and free tax-help searches.
- Signing in with the same secure process used for IRS Individual Online Account unlocks selected account features, including balances, payment activity, notices, transcripts, and an IP PIN.
- Use the IRS website or official Apple App Store and Google Play listings to download the app; avoid look-alike apps, advertisements, and unsolicited messages.
What happened to IRS2Go?
The IRS app is the new name and expanded version of IRS2Go. It launched on September 25, 2026, and gives taxpayers a broader way to handle routine federal tax tasks from a phone or tablet.
The most important distinction is that this is an update to the existing IRS mobile experience, not a replacement for IRS.gov. The app adds selected account features, but the IRS website still provides the agency’s full collection of tax information, forms, tools, and online accounts.
If you already had IRS2Go installed, you generally do not need to download a separate app. With automatic updates enabled, the app should update through the normal app-store process. Otherwise, open the Apple App Store or Google Play and choose Update.
What can you do in the new IRS app?
Some services remain available without signing in, while other features require secure access to your IRS Individual Online Account.
Services available without signing in
Subscribe to IRS tax tips Find free tax-preparation assistance Make an IRS payment Check your federal refund or amended-return status- Check the status of a federal refund or amended return.
- Make certain payments, including guest payment options supported by the IRS.
- Find free tax-preparation assistance.
- Sign up for IRS tax tips and access IRS news.
Services available after signing in
- View available account balance information.
- Make payments and review payment activity.
- Read selected IRS notices and letters.
- Access available tax records and transcripts.
- Manage certain profile and communication preferences.
- Access an Identity Protection PIN, also called an IP PIN.
The exact information shown can depend on your tax situation and what is available in the IRS systems. The app does not expose every feature found in the full Individual Online Account.
Open the official IRS app information pageHow to download the official IRS app
The safest route is to start from the IRS’s official app page rather than searching for an app through an advertisement, text message, or unexpected email. That page links to the official listings for both major mobile platforms.
View the official IRS app page with verified download linksYou can also open the official store listing directly:
- iPhone and iPad: look for the app named IRS, published by the Internal Revenue Service.
- Android: look for the IRS app published by the Internal Revenue Service.
Before installing, check the publisher name carefully. A familiar-looking icon or a search result at the top of a store page is not enough by itself, especially if the listing is reached through a sponsored advertisement.
How sign-in works
To use the account features, open the app and choose the sign-in option. The IRS app uses the secure sign-in process associated with IRS Individual Online Account and ID.me. In some cases, the app sends you to a secure browser screen to complete identity verification before returning you to the app.
If you already have an IRS Individual Online Account, use the same credentials and sign-in method rather than creating a second account. If you do not have an account, the IRS provides an account-creation and identity-verification process before personal tax information can be displayed.
Sign in to or create an IRS Individual Online Account- Open the official IRS app.
- Select Sign in for account-specific services.
- Follow the prompts for ID.me or the supported IRS sign-in process.
- Complete any identity or security checks requested.
- Review the account information and services available for your situation.
Never share your IRS or ID.me password with another person. If someone claims they need your login code to help with a refund, payment, or notice, treat that as a warning sign.
What the app does not replace
The new app is useful for quick account checks, but it is not a complete mobile version of every IRS service.
| Service | What to expect |
|---|---|
| IRS app | Mobile access to selected individual account services and familiar IRS2Go tools. |
| IRS.gov | Full tax guidance, forms, calculators, publications, filing information, and broader online services. |
| Individual Online Account | Comprehensive personal account access through the IRS website, including information and tools that may not yet appear in the app. |
| Business Tax Account | Separate online service for eligible business taxpayers; it is not replaced by the new individual-focused app. |
| Tax Pro Account | Separate service for tax professionals and representatives. |
That means the app is best viewed as a convenient mobile doorway into selected services, not as the only way to contact or manage your relationship with the IRS.
How to spot fake IRS apps and messages
Tax-related scams often rely on urgency. A message may claim that your refund is blocked, your account will be closed, or you must install an app immediately. The IRS says it will not ask for sensitive personal or financial information through an unsolicited text, email, or pop-up message.
Use these checks before entering information:
- Start at the IRS website or use the official store links provided there.
- Confirm that the developer is listed as the Internal Revenue Service.
- Do not install an app from an unsolicited message or a third-party download site.
- Do not click a link that pressures you to act immediately.
- Do not provide your Social Security number, bank details, password, or verification code to a caller or message sender.
- If you already entered information into a suspicious app or page, change affected passwords and use the IRS fraud-reporting guidance.
Who should use the IRS app?
The app makes the most sense for U.S. taxpayers who want quick access to refund information, payment tools, notices, transcripts, or basic account details while away from a computer. It may also be useful for people who previously relied on IRS2Go and want to keep using the same familiar services.
The app is available in English and Spanish and supports compatible phones, tablets, and accessibility features. The IRS says it requires iOS or iPadOS 15.1 or later, or Android 7.0 or later.
If you are a Canadian taxpayer looking for Canada Revenue Agency services, this is not the right app. It is the mobile app for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Canadians with U.S. tax obligations may still have reasons to use IRS services, but the app does not replace Canada’s CRA tools.
What to do now
If you used IRS2Go, check whether the app has updated automatically. If it has not, update it through the official store listing or begin from the IRS app page. For a one-time refund check, you may not need to sign in. For balances, notices, transcripts, payment activity, or other personal account information, use the secure sign-in process and verify that you are in the official IRS app.
Helpful Links
- IRS launches new mobile app – Read the IRS announcement about the September 25, 2026 launch and the replacement of IRS2Go.
- IRS app – Open the IRS app information page and use its verified Apple App Store or Google Play links.
- IRS Individual Online Account – Sign in to or create the personal IRS online account used for expanded account services.
- Report fake IRS messages and tax scams – Find the IRS instructions for reporting suspicious emails, texts, websites, calls, and social media accounts.
- IRS App – Apple App Store – Official page referenced in the article.
- IRS – Google Play – Official page referenced in the article.
- IRS Individual Online Account – Official page referenced in the article.
- Refunds – Official page referenced in the article.
- Payments – Official page referenced in the article.
- IRS free tax return preparation programs – Official page referenced in the article.
- Subscribe to IRS tax tips – Official page referenced in the article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I need to delete IRS2Go and install a completely different app?
A. No. IRS2Go transitioned to the IRS app through the normal app-update process. If automatic updates are turned off, update the existing app through the official Apple App Store or Google Play listing.
Q. Can I check my refund without signing in?
A. Yes. Refund and amended-return status checking remains available without signing in, along with other limited services. Account balances, notices, transcripts, and several self-service features require secure sign-in.
Q. Does the IRS app replace IRS.gov or my IRS online account?
A. No. The app extends selected Individual Online Account features to mobile devices. IRS.gov and the full online account remain available for broader tax information and services, while Business Tax Account and Tax Pro Account remain separate.
Q. Is the IRS app available for Canadian tax services?
A. No. The app belongs to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Canadian tax services are handled separately through the Canada Revenue Agency.
