Comparison

IRS vs HMRC

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

IRS

Access official IRS services on your mobile device. Check refund status, make payments, find tax preparation help, and receive tax tips and news. Stay connected with the IRS anytime, anywhere.

Highlights
  • Check refund status
  • Make tax payments
  • Find free tax preparation assistance
  • Sign up for tax tips
  • Follow IRS news
Currently charting
Read full description

Use the same secure sign-in you already use on IRS.gov to access your account anytime, anywhere from your mobile device. Sign in to your account on the app: - View account balance - Make payments - Check refund and amended return status - Access tax records - View notices and letters - Opt in to email notifications - Manage your profile - And more Use the app without signing in: Check your refund status, make a guest payment, find free tax preparation assistance, sign up for helpful tax tips, and follow the latest news from the IRS.

About

HMRC

Manage your taxes, benefits, and savings securely and easily. Check your tax code, claim refunds, and track your State Pension. Access Self Assessment and Child Benefit information, and find your National Insurance number.

Highlights
  • Quick secure sign-in
  • Check tax code and pay
  • Claim tax refunds
  • View State Pension details
  • Self Assessment payments
  • Manage Child Benefit
  • Find National Insurance number
Features
Read full description

Take control of your money and tax with the HMRC app It’s secure, free to download, and easy to use. Get on it, and join millions of people already saving time with the HMRC app. Key Features: - Quick setup: sign in using face recognition, fingerprint scan, or a six-digit PIN - Stay in control: check your tax code and see your pay before it even shows in your bank, so you know you're paying the right amount - Claim a tax refund: find out if you’re due any tax back from us and quickly claim a refund if you’re owed one - Check your State Pension: see how much State Pension you could get, when you can get it and how to increase it, if you can - Self Assessment: a safe and secure way to make Self Assessment payments and get information you'll need to file - Child Benefit support: claim, manage, and update your Child Benefit details - National Insurance: find and save your National Insurance number so you have it when you need it - Go paperless: opt to receive key messages from HMRC online Download the HMRC app today and stay on top of your money and taxes

Screenshots

IRS4 screens
HMRC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HMRC at 47% against IRS's 25%. HMRC also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). IRS's advantage is chart position (#80 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IRS ships an update every 4 months, HMRC monthly. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
IRS versus HMRC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIRSHMRC
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.8 (583 ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.6% of reviews47.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—583 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#80 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB34 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperInternal Revenue ServiceHMRC

Customer experience

IRS

Written reviews203 reviews
Positive24.6%
Neutral5.4%
Negative70.0%

HMRC

All ratings583 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews857 reviews
Positive47.3%
Neutral5.0%
Negative47.7%

User reviews

IRS

From App Store reviews

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 💰 Helps with tax payments
  • 🔍 Provides refund status updates
  • ⏱️ Convenient for checking tax info

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent errors and glitches
  • 📱 Limited functionality compared to website
  • 🔒 Security/authentication issues
  • 🕰️ Slow/delayed updates

HMRC

From 583 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Straightforward payment process
  • 💡 Useful information and updates
  • 🔒 Secure authentication

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent login issues and app crashes
  • 🤔 Confusing navigation and UI
  • ⚠️ Lack of communication about tax changes
  • 🕰️ Slow and unresponsive app

Bugs and requests

IRS

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login/authentication problems
  • Incorrect refund information displayed
  • Inability to check status after multiple attempts
  • Lack of compatibility with older devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to view tax transcripts
  • Improved payment scheduling options
  • Notifications for refund status changes
  • Expanded historical data access

HMRC

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Endless login loops and redirects
  • App freezing and becoming unresponsive
  • Inconsistent behavior after app updates
  • Issues with Face ID and biometric authentication

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved notification system for tax updates
  • Ability to view and manage tax details in-app
  • Better integration with banking apps for payments
  • More user-friendly design and navigation

In-app purchases

None

IRS

No in-app purchases

None

HMRC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is IRS free?
IRS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HMRC free?
HMRC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do IRS or HMRC have ads?
Neither IRS nor HMRC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IRS or HMRC?
IRS ships an update every 4 months, and HMRC monthly. Most recently, IRS was updated on September 26, 2026 and HMRC on September 26, 2026.

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