IRS steps up fraud fight with new app, CEO promises '100% secure' platform
The app will bring refund status tracking and tax payments into one mobile experience, CEO Frank Bisignano told FOX Business
IRS CEO says new taxpayer app is '100% secure' amid growing AI concerns
IRS CEO Frank Bisignano says the agency's new mobile app will let taxpayers securely check refund status and make payments from their phones while AI helps fight fraud and improve customer service.
The IRS launched a new mobile app that will let taxpayers check refund statuses and make payments directly from their phones, expanding the agency's digital services as it works to combat fraud and protect taxpayer information.
IRS CEO Frank Bisignano joined FOX Business' Stuart Varney on "Varney & Co." to discuss the app's security, growing demand for online services and the agency's efforts to combat identity theft.
The IRS is rolling out a new mobile app designed to let taxpayers securely check their refund status and make payments directly from their smartphones. (Getty Images)
"100%, 100% secure," Bisignano said of the new app, which will allow taxpayers to complete tasks on their phones rather than redirecting them from an older app to the IRS website.
The rollout comes as more taxpayers turn to the agency's online tools. Bisignano said the IRS handled 600 million online inquiries last year, roughly double the previous year's volume. The new app is intended to make the process more convenient, combining refund tracking and payments into one mobile experience.
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As taxpayers increasingly manage sensitive financial information on their devices, security will be central to the agency's digital push. Bisignano said the IRS will rely on ongoing cybersecurity monitoring to guard 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.
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The agency is also working through a backlog of identity theft cases. Bisignano pointed to an inspector general's report covering 2023 to 2025 and said the relevant inventory peaked at about half a million items in 2024. He said that figure has since been cut by more than half and processing times have improved.
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While the IRS is using artificial intelligence elsewhere in its operations, Bisignano said it is not being used to reduce that particular backlog. He described the agency's broader mission as improving service while preventing fraud.
"We're just gonna make it better every day," he said, adding that the IRS is "completely focused on eliminating fraud."
