The service life and electrocatalytic activity of tantalum oxide/iridium oxide coated titanium plate and mesh anodes used in the electrolytic production of chromic acid were investigated by performing accelerated life tests, voltammetric and chronoamperometric measurements in chrome (VI) solutions. Experimental results showed that the service life for the coated mesh anode was 1059 hours, compared to 828 hours for the plate anode at a current density of 1.2 A cm-2. In addition, the coating failed earlier in higher chromic acid concentration. Physical analysis by SEM and EDS before and after accelerated life test confirmed that the deactivation was a result of corrosion of IrO2 followed by titanium substrate passivation. A simple and rapid method for assessing the electrocatalytic activity of iridium–tantalum oxide coating based on a chronoamperometric technique was developed.