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Personal Finance · head to head

IRS2Go vs Revolut

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
Revolut logo

Revolut

Personal Finance

Multi-currency financial app operating as a licensed bank in parts of the EU and as an e-money institution elsewhere

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.; Revolut uK customer balances have historically been held under an e-money institution licence, meaning they are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme the way a traditional UK bank deposit is, even though Revolut was granted a restricted UK banking licence in 2024.
  • They diverge on capability: IRS2Go covers Refund status, Revolut covers Multi-currency accounts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IRS2Go and Revolut actually diverge.

Attributes where IRS2Go and Revolut differ
AttributeIRS2GoRevolut
Pricing modelFree government app, no payment of any kindFree standard tier; paid plans add higher limits, insurance and perks
PlatformsiOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web

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 Revolut

  • Multi-currency accounts
  • Revolut Bank EEA deposits
  • Stock, crypto and commodity trading
  • Budgeting and spending analytics
  • Virtual and disposable cards
  • Business accounts (Revolut Business)

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 Revolut
  • Making an IRS tax payment or setting up a payment plan from a phonenot Revolut
  • Finding a free in-person tax preparation site for eligible taxpayersnot Revolut
  • Verifying whether an IRS-related message or call is a known scam patternnot Revolut

Revolut

  • Someone travelling or living across multiple currencies who wants low-cost exchange and spending in one accountnot IRS2Go
  • A user in the EEA who wants their balance held with a licensed bank covered by a deposit guarantee schemenot IRS2Go
  • A UK-based user who understands their balance sits under e-money safeguarding rather than FSCS bank protection, and is comfortable with thatnot IRS2Go
  • An investor wanting stock or crypto trading integrated with everyday spending in a single appnot 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.

Revolut

  • UK customer balances have historically been held under an e-money institution licence, meaning they are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme the way a traditional UK bank deposit is, even though Revolut was granted a restricted UK banking licence in 2024.
  • Regulatory status differs by country of use, EEA versus UK versus other markets, so the actual protection on a given balance depends on where the account is domiciled, not on the brand alone.
  • Customer service has been a recurring complaint, with account freezes for fraud checks sometimes leaving customers unable to access funds for extended periods with limited direct human contact.
  • The free tier caps fee-free currency exchange at a monthly allowance, after which a fair usage fee applies, so heavy multi-currency users may need a paid plan to avoid extra charges.
  • The breadth of features, banking, trading, crypto and business accounts, spans multiple regulatory regimes and legal entities, which makes the overall structure harder for a typical customer to fully understand than a single-licence traditional bank.

Pricing, plan by plan

IRS2Go

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

Revolut

Free
  • StandardFree
    • Free multi-currency spending up to a monthly exchange allowance
    • Basic budgeting tools
    • UK balances held under e-money safeguarding, not FSCS-protected as a standard bank deposit
  • Premium$7.99/month
    • Higher free exchange allowance
    • Travel insurance and card delivery perks
    • Priority customer support
  • Metal$14.99/month
    • Cashback on card spending
    • Higher limits across features
    • Metal card and additional insurance cover

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 Revolut if

  • You need multi-currency accounts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want revolut bank eea deposits.
Revolut review

Questions people ask

Is IRS2Go or Revolut better?
Neither clearly leads. IRS2Go starts at Free and Revolut at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IRS2Go or Revolut?
IRS2Go starts at Free and Revolut at Free.
Does IRS2Go or Revolut run on more platforms?
IRS2Go runs on iOS, Android. Revolut runs on iOS, Android, Web.
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 Revolut is typically brought in for.
What can IRS2Go do that Revolut cannot?
IRS2Go covers Refund status, IRS Direct Pay, Free File links, VITA and TCE locator. Revolut covers Multi-currency accounts, Revolut Bank EEA deposits, Stock, crypto and commodity trading, Budgeting and spending analytics.

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.

Revolut: Is my money safe with Revolut?

It depends on your country. EEA balances are held with a Lithuanian-licensed bank and generally covered by deposit guarantee up to 100,000 euro; UK balances have historically sat under e-money safeguarding rather than FSCS bank protection, though Revolut has been working toward full UK banking status since gaining a restricted licence in 2024.

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.

Revolut: Is Revolut a bank?

In the EEA, yes, through Revolut Bank UAB, licensed in Lithuania. In the UK, it has historically operated as an e-money institution and was granted a restricted banking licence in 2024, with full UK banking status pending completion of a mobilisation period.

IRS2Go: Does it work for state tax refunds?

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

Revolut: Does Revolut charge for currency exchange?

Exchange is free up to a monthly allowance on the standard tier, after which a fair usage fee applies; paid plans raise or remove that allowance.

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