Purinergic signaling and associated ectonucleotidases, such as CD39 and CD73, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). CD39 is known to be a Treg memory cell marker, and here we determine the phenotype and function of CD73+CD4+T lymphocytes in patients with IBD. We describe elevated levels of CD73+CD4+T cells in the peripheral blood and intestinal lamina propria of patients with active IBD. The functional phenotype of these CD73+CD4+T cells was further determined by gene expression, ecto‐enzymatic activity, and suppressive assays. Increased numbers of CD73+CD4+T cells in the periphery and lamina propria were noted during active inflammation, which returned to baseline levels following anti‐TNF treatment. Peripheral CD73+CD4+T cells predominantly expressed CD45RO, and were enriched with IL‐17A+ cells. The CD73+CD4+ cell population expressed higher levels of RORC, IL‐17A, and TNF, and lower levels of FOXP3 and/or CD25, than CD73−CD4+T cells. Expression of CD73 by peripheral CD4+T cells was increased by TNF, and decreased by an anti‐TNF monoclonal antibody (infliximab). In vitro, these peripheral CD73+CD4+T cells did not suppress proliferation of CD25− effector cells, and expressed higher levels of pro‐inflammatory markers. We conclude that the CD73+CD4+T‐cell population in patients with active IBD are enriched with cells with a T‐helper type 17 phenotype, and could be used to monitor disease activity during treatment.