The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the launch of a new mobile application for taxpayers that will enable them to review their tax refund status and pay their taxes directly from their phone. The rollout is an extension of the agency’s broader efforts to increase its digital service offerings, as well as its efforts to combat fraud and safeguard taxpayer data.
A Unified Mobile Experience for Taxpayers
The new app combines the two most frequent tasks for taxpayers tracking refunds and making payments into one mobile application. The aim is to make these services more convenient and easily accessible to those who like doing their taxes via the smartphone.
No More Redirects to the IRS Website
One major improvement on this agency’s previous app is that the users are now able to complete tasks directly inside the app. The old version would redirect users to the IRS when they needed to do mundane tasks, but the new app will do everything on the phone.
Refund Tracking on the Go
The app allows for taxpayers to view the status of their tax refunds without having to log on to the IRS website from a computer. It’s one of the key capabilities of the app and is designed to help filers get faster access to information on their returns.
Making Tax Payments From a Phone
Refund tracking features are included in the app, along with the ability to pay the tax directly from a mobile phone. The two features are meant to be used in tandem to make it easier for users to deal with the agency.
Online Inquiries Doubled to 600 Million
The launch follows the IRS’ digital tools meeting growing demand. IRS CEO Frank Bisignano stated that last year the agency received 600 million inquiries online, twice as many as the previous year.
Bisignano Calls the App “100%, 100% Secure”
Security is an important concern since taxpayers handle sensitive financial information on their phones. Bisignano told Stuart Varney on FOX Business’ “Varney & Co,” that the app is “100%, 100% secure.”
Continuous Cybersecurity Monitoring
The IRS will be using continuous cybersecurity monitoring to keep its systems protected, Bisignano said. We always patrol the perimeter and we always watch the interior, we’ll have agents to do that so we will be in good shape, it’s important,” he said.
Identity Theft Backlog Cut by More Than Half
The IRS is also catching up on cases of identity theft. The backlog is now down by over 50% from an estimated 500,000 cases in 2024, according to Bisignano, who referenced a report by an inspector general covering 2023 through 2025.
Faster Processing, Without AI
The processing times have also been improved, Bisignano said. The IRS is not leveraging artificial intelligence to solve this backlog, he said, though the agency is using AI in other parts of its processes.
Focused on Eliminating Fraud
The agency’s overall mission is to enhance its service to taxpayers and to curb fraud, Bisignano said. We’re just gonna make it better everyday,” he said, noting that the IRS is “completely focused on eliminating fraud.
