The IRS recently launched a new mobile app that gives taxpayers access to several of the agency’s online services in one place. The new app replaces IRS2Go and connects with features available through an IRS Individual Online Account.
For business owners and individuals who already manage much of their financial life from a phone, it may be worth adding to your toolkit.
Check the status of a refund
The new IRS app gives you access to refund status information from your phone. You can also check the status of an amended return.
For example, if you filed a return three weeks ago and haven’t received your refund yet, you can check its status without calling the IRS. Before spending time on hold, check the app to see whether the information you need is already available.
Review your balance and payments
The app also provides access to available balance and payment information. That can be useful when you need to confirm that a payment went through or want to review recent payment activity. You can also use the app to make a payment to the IRS.
If you make payments directly to the IRS, consider checking your account afterward and keeping the confirmation with your tax records.
Access tax records and transcripts
Sometimes you need information from an old return but don’t have the paperwork nearby.
Through the new app, taxpayers can access certain tax records and available transcripts. These records can be useful when you’re gathering information for your CPA, applying for financing, or trying to answer a question about a prior tax year.
The exact records available may depend on your account and the type of information you’re looking for.
If you’re preparing for a meeting with your tax professional, check your account ahead of time to see whether the records you need are available.
View certain IRS notices
The new app gives taxpayers access to certain notices associated with their online accounts. Having digital access can make it easier to review an available notice when you aren’t sitting next to the paper copy.
But seeing a notice and knowing how to respond to it are two different things. Some notices are straightforward. Others may involve deadlines or issues that need professional attention.
If you receive an IRS notice and aren’t sure what it means, send a copy to your tax professional before responding.
Retrieve your Identity Protection PIN
Taxpayers who use an Identity Protection PIN, or IP PIN, can also retrieve it through the new app. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that helps prevent someone else from filing a federal tax return using your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
Keep the number private and provide it only when needed for legitimate tax filing purposes.
Be careful which app you install
A mobile IRS app also creates an obvious opportunity for scammers. Before entering tax or financial information into an app, make sure you’re using the official IRS app. Don’t install an app because of a link in an unexpected text, email, or social media message claiming to be from the IRS.
The safest way to download the IRS app is through IRS.gov or your device’s official app store. Always verify the app and publisher before signing in. This small step can help protect the sensitive personal and financial information in your IRS account. For more information about the app and how to download it, visit the IRS app page.
Found something in your IRS account you weren’t expecting?
The new IRS app should make routine tasks easier. But sometimes checking your account creates more questions than it answers.
Maybe you see a balance you weren’t expecting. A payment doesn’t appear where you thought it would. Or you open an IRS notice and aren’t sure what you’re supposed to do next.
That’s where we can help.
Our team can help you understand what you’re looking at, determine whether action is needed, and work through the next steps with you. If something in your IRS account doesn’t look right, or you simply want a second set of eyes on it, reach out to our team. We’d be happy to help you sort it out.
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