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Personal Finance · head to head

IRS2Go vs Skrill

IRS2Go logo

IRS2Go

Personal Finance

The official free mobile app of the US Internal Revenue Service for refund status and basic tax tools

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Skrill logo

Skrill

Personal Finance

Fast and secure money transfer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IRS2Go it only covers federal IRS matters, so it is no help for state tax filing or refund status, which is a separate system in every state.; Skrill a currency conversion fee of 4.49 percent applies to most conversions
  • They diverge on capability: IRS2Go covers Refund status, Skrill covers Money transfers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IRS2Go and Skrill actually diverge.

Attributes where IRS2Go and Skrill differ
AttributeIRS2GoSkrill
Pricing modelFree government app, no payment of any kindtransaction
PlatformsiOS, AndroidWeb, IOS, Android
FoundedUnknown2001

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in IRS2Go

  • Refund status
  • IRS Direct Pay
  • Free File links
  • VITA and TCE locator
  • Security alerts
  • Multilingual support

Only in Skrill

  • Money transfers
  • Digital wallet
  • Currency conversion
  • Prepaid card
  • Bank accounts
  • Credit cards
  • Web support
  • IOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

IRS2Go

  • Checking the status of a federal tax refund after filingnot Skrill
  • Making an IRS tax payment or setting up a payment plan from a phonenot Skrill
  • Finding a free in-person tax preparation site for eligible taxpayersnot Skrill
  • Verifying whether an IRS-related message or call is a known scam patternnot Skrill

Skrill

  • Sending money internationally from a prepaid digital walletnot IRS2Go
  • Funding and withdrawing from online merchants and gaming sitesnot IRS2Go
  • Buying and selling cryptocurrency inside a wallet accountnot IRS2Go

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

IRS2Go

  • It only covers federal IRS matters, so it is no help for state tax filing or refund status, which is a separate system in every state.
  • Refund status information is not real time and can lag actual processing, which frequently confuses users expecting instant updates.
  • It is not a full tax filing tool, so users still need separate tax preparation software or a preparer to actually file a return.
  • Its usefulness is entirely seasonal, concentrated around the US tax filing period each year, with little reason to open it the rest of the time.
  • As with any official government app, it has been targeted by lookalike phishing apps and messages impersonating it, so users need to confirm they have the genuine IRS-published app.

Skrill

  • A currency conversion fee of 4.49 percent applies to most conversions
  • An inactivity fee of EUR 5.00 is deducted monthly after six months with no login or transaction
  • Card deposits carry a 2.50 percent fee
  • SWIFT bank withdrawals cost 2.80 percent with a minimum fee of EUR 3.5
  • Skrill to Skrill transfers cost 2.99 percent with a EUR 0.50 minimum on standard accounts, reduced to 1.45 percent only for True Skriller accounts
  • Crypto trading fees are tiered by VIP status, from 1.50 percent standard down to 1.30 percent at Gold and Diamond VIP

Pricing, plan by plan

IRS2Go

Free
  • FreeFree
    • No ads, no in-app purchases, no subscription

Skrill

Free
  • Free AccountFree
    • Money transfers
    • Digital wallet
  • Premier Account$undefined/month
    • Higher limits
    • Special rates

Which should you pick?

Choose IRS2Go if

  • You need refund status.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want irs direct pay.
IRS2Go review

Choose Skrill if

  • You need money transfers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want digital wallet.
Skrill review

Questions people ask

Is IRS2Go or Skrill better?
Neither clearly leads. IRS2Go starts at Free and Skrill at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IRS2Go or Skrill?
IRS2Go starts at Free and Skrill at Free.
Does IRS2Go or Skrill run on more platforms?
IRS2Go runs on iOS, Android. Skrill runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use IRS2Go for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is IRS2Go best used for?
IRS2Go is most often used for checking the status of a federal tax refund after filing, making an irs tax payment or setting up a payment plan from a phone, finding a free in-person tax preparation site for eligible taxpayers, verifying whether an irs-related message or call is a known scam pattern. Of those, checking the status of a federal tax refund after filing and making an irs tax payment or setting up a payment plan from a phone are not what Skrill is typically brought in for.
What can IRS2Go do that Skrill cannot?
IRS2Go covers Refund status, IRS Direct Pay, Free File links, VITA and TCE locator. Skrill covers Money transfers, Digital wallet, Currency conversion, Prepaid card.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IRS2Go: Does IRS2Go cost anything?

No, it is a free US government app with no payment, ads or subscription of any kind.

Skrill: Is Skrill free to use?

Skrill operates on a freemium model. The digital wallet is free to open and use for basic features. The site refers to a fees page where transfer, conversion, and service fees are disclosed.

Source
IRS2Go: Can I file my full tax return in IRS2Go?

No, it links to Free File partner software and other resources but is not itself a full tax filing product.

Skrill: What are Skrill's fees for transfers and conversions?

Skrill lists transfer, conversion, and service fees but does not display the specific amounts on the homepage. Detailed fee structures are available on Skrill's dedicated fees page at /en/siteinformation/fees/.

Source
IRS2Go: Does it work for state tax refunds?

No, it only covers federal IRS refund status and payments, not state tax systems.

Skrill: What services does Skrill offer?

Skrill provides international money transfers, online payment processing, cryptocurrency buying and selling, loyalty rewards through the Knect points program, and a mobile app. These services are included in the free account.

Source
Skrill: Is Skrill regulated?

Yes. Skrill Limited is authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 for issuing electronic money and payment instruments. It is also registered with the FCA as a cryptoasset firm.

Source
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