If you are a United States resident, you’ll have to cross paths with the Internal Revenue Service one day or another. Hence, you must know how to talk to someone at the IRS without having to struggle for hours, or even days at times. Here’s a quick guide for that.
There are multiple ways to connect with the IRS but the easiest is to connect with a representative over call. However, getting a human at the other end is the real deal, especially if it’s your first time.
There’s a certain procedure that you need to follow in order to talk to someone at the IRS.
Here’s How to Talk to Someone at the IRS on Call
You have to follow a definitive procedure to talk to a person at the IRS on call. There are certain steps you need to go through for that. Here are the things you need to keep in mind while talking to someone at the IRS on call:
- Pick up your phone and call the IRS. The contact number is 1-800-829-1040. Remember that you can dial the number from Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM. It’s unreachable on the weekends.
- You need to choose your preferred language as the automated system will urge you to do this.
- Next, pick option 2 for “Personal Income Tax.” You can also opt for 1 for “Form, Tax History, or Payment,” and 3 for all the other queries.
- Next, you will be to provide your Social Security Number two times. Don’t answer it and then you’ll be prompted by another menu.
- Select 2 for individual tax questions from the new menu.
- Next, select 4 for the other questions.
That’s it. An IRS agent will be connected to the call and you can speak to him/ her regarding your concerns. Make sure you talk in a polite tone and in a respectable manner. Don’t use them as a vent for your frustration.
More Ways to Talk to a Live Person at the IRS
Apart from having a call with an IRS agent, there are a few other options to connect with a live person and get help. Here is a compilation of them:
Talk to Your Taxpayer Advocate Service Center
You can also call your Taxpayer Advocate Service Center. It’s an IRS-independent organization that helps people deal with certain problems that they can’t solve on their own. There is at least one Taxpayer Advocate Service Center in every state.
Remember that they report to the National Taxpayer Advocate Service and they are independent of the IRS office in the area. You can connect with their agents directly using the similar steps shared above. Make sure that you dial the correct number.
Visit the Local IRS Office
One of the best ways to resolve your IRS-related issues is to visit the local IRS office if you have time. However, you must make an appointment with the designated office in your area in advance.
You can’t visit them unplanned. Just call the IRS at 844-545-5640 and make an appointment early on. The offices stay open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can schedule your visit accordingly.
In addition to that, you can also call the alternative IRS numbers and connect to agents designated for specific problems. A list of the numbers is present on the official IRS website.
You can use the comment box if you have any queries regarding anything mentioned above.
Saquib Hashmi
A simple Netizen on a hunt for stories worth sharing. Presenting them here in a spicy form. I hope they offer you value and knowledge.
“Somebody PLEASE pick up the phone!”
It’s a desperate plea for many who want to speak with an IRS representative. It’s not uncommon for callers to wait on hold for hours to get through. Many times callers are lucky if they get a chance at all to speak with a live person at the IRS.
What IRS Number to Call
The IRS has several phone numbers available for the public to reach them. The number you dial will depend on the type of tax issue. Here are some of the most useful:
Individuals
(800) 829-1040
Monday to Friday
7am – 7pm
Business
(800) 829-4933
Monday to Friday
7am – 7pm
International
(267) 941-1000
Monday to Friday
6am – 11pm
Hearing Impaired
TTY/TTD (800) 829-4059
Assistance in a Language Other than English
(833) 553-9895
How Do I Reach a Real Person at the IRS
The phone lines at the IRS can get tied up pretty quickly. In our experience it is best to try calling either first thing in the morning or late in the day. Callers seem to have the most success towards the end of the week.
The Steps (for domestic individual issues):
- Call (800) 829-1040
- Choose your language (Press 1 for English)
- Press 2 to speak with a live IRS person about your personal income tax
- At the next prompt press 1
- Then press 3
- Then press 2
- Ignore the next message(s) asking for your tax ID number
- When the next menu options are presented press 2 for individual tax
- Then press 3 to speak with an IRS customer service rep
TIP: If you are bilingual you may get connected faster if you choose to communicate with a live person in another language.
Other Options to Reach Someone at the IRS
If you’ve tried calling the IRS and still can’t get a live person another option is going to your local branch office. The IRS has taxpayer assistance centers throughout the country where taxpayers can go in and speak with a live person.
NOTE: Due to COVID-19 some IRS taxpayer assistance centers require appointments.
Whether contacting the IRS by phone or walking into a taxpayer assistance center you should gather related documents before you speak with someone. If you received a letter from the IRS have it available. It is also a good idea to have a copy of your recent tax return.
You should also be aware of the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). TAS is an independent department within the IRS that provides assistance to taxpayers when they cannot get issues resolved with the IRS.
Tax laws are always changing and that seems to be true now more than ever. Between the advanced child tax credit, PPP loans, stimulus checks, delayed tax refunds and other backlogs it’s easy to get lost with it all.
What to Have Before You Call
President Biden has announced plans to increase funding to the Internal Revenue Service. However, taxpayers have complained recently that calls to IRS customer service are a challenge with many on hold for hours and others not able to reach a live person at all.
If you are fortunate to call and get through be ready. In addition to any IRS letters you’ve received have your tax return, Social Security number, tax ID and any other pertinent personal information in front of you to reference.
There’s nothing wrong with calling the IRS for certain things. However, be careful when it comes to taking tax advice from IRS representatives over the phone. There are many qualified and knowledgeable IRS representatives who answer calls but they may not know what’s the best tax move for your specific situation.
If this information helped you reach a live person at the IRS, share this page with others. If you still have a tax problem give us a call.
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