IRS Launches Phone App

by Leroy Baker, Tax-News.com, New York

26 January 2011

The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has unveiled IRS2Go, its first smartphone application that lets taxpayers check on their status of their tax refund and obtain helpful tax information.

"This new smartphone app reflects our commitment to modernizing the agency and engaging taxpayers where they want when they want it," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "As technology evolves and younger taxpayers get their information in new ways, we will keep innovating to make it easy for all taxpayers to access helpful information."

The IRS2Go phone app allows taxpayers to check on the status of their federal refund and obtain tax tips. Apple users can download the free app by visiting the Apple App Store, while Android users can visit the Android Marketplace to download it.

For people who e-file, the refund function of the phone app will work within about 72 hours after taxpayers receive an e-mail acknowledgement saying the IRS received their tax return. For people filing paper tax returns, longer processing times mean they will need to wait three to four weeks before they can check their refund status.

In addition, phone app users can enter their e-mail address to get daily tax tips automatically. Tax Tips are issued daily during the tax filing season and periodically during the rest of the year. The plain English updates cover topics such as free tax help, child tax credits, the earned income tax credit and education credits.

"This phone app is a first step for us," Shulman said. "We will look for additional ways to expand and refine our use of smartphones and other new technologies to help meet the needs of taxpayers."

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