IRS launches mobile app for refund tracking and payments as agency targets fraud
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The IRS has introduced a new mobile app that allows taxpayers to check refund statuses and make payments from their phones as the agency expands its digital services and works to combat fraud and safeguard taxpayer information.
What they're saying:
IRS CEO Frank Bisignano joined FOX Business' Stuart Varney on "Varney & Co." to discuss the app's security features, the rising demand for online services and the agency's efforts to prevent identity theft.
"100%, 100% secure," Bisignano said of the app, which is designed to let taxpayers complete tasks on their phones instead of being redirected from the previous app to the IRS website.
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Why you should care:
The launch comes as more taxpayers rely on the agency's digital tools. Bisignano said the IRS received 600 million online inquiries last year, about twice the number recorded the year before. The app brings refund tracking and payments together in one mobile platform to streamline those services.
Security remains a key focus as taxpayers use their mobile devices to manage sensitive financial information. Bisignano said the IRS will use continuous cybersecurity monitoring to protect its systems.
"It's important for us to always patrol the perimeter and surveil the interior, and we'll use agents to do that to ensure we're in good shape," he said.
The IRS is also addressing a backlog of identity theft cases. Bisignano cited an inspector general's report covering 2023 through 2025 and said the backlog reached roughly 500,000 cases in 2024. He said the number has since been reduced by more than half, while processing times have also improved.
Although the IRS uses artificial intelligence in some areas, Bisignano said the technology is not being used to address that specific backlog. He said the agency's broader goal is to improve taxpayer service while limiting fraud.
"We're just gonna make it better every day," he said, adding that the IRS is "completely focused on eliminating fraud."
The Source: FOX Business contributed to this report. The information came from an interview between IRS CEO Frank Bisignano and FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on "Varney & Co." This story was reported from Los Angeles.