Most people call the IRS because they want to know the status of their tax refunds. The IRS can only provide help in that circumstance 21 days after filing a return electronically or six weeks after mailing a paper return.
An IRS agent can also assist before those times if you’ve checked the “Where’s My Refund” feature online and it directed you to speak with an agent.
The IRS provides a toll-free customer service line to speak with someone, but that isn’t the only one that you can call to request assistance or speak with a live person. Several additional options are available when you have a specific topic to discuss with the agency.
How to Talk to a Live Person at the IRS
The easiest way to talk to someone at the Internal Revenue Service is to call the agency’s toll-free number. Call 1 (800) 829-1040 during the available support hours between 7 AM and 7 PM on weekdays. The automated system has callers choose appropriate options to send them to the appropriate representative.
Here is the current list of available IRS phone numbers to reach a live person. Please note that the agency can change these numbers at any time.
| IRS Tax Topic to Discuss with a Live Person | Telephone Number to Call for a Live Person |
| Missing Child Tax Credit Payments | 1 (800) 908-4194 |
| Incorrect Stimulus Check Amount or Was Never Received When One Was Expected | 1 (800) 919-9835 |
| Self-Employment Tax Questions or Tax Law Queries | 1 (800) 829-4933 |
| Identity Theft Victims, Including Refund Theft; To Obtain a New IP PIN | 1 (800) 908-4490 |
| Disaster Victims Who Need Tax Help | 1 (866) 562-5227 |
| Balance Due Questions | 1 (800) 829-0922 1 (800) 829-7650 1 (800) 829-3093 |
| Overseas Taxpayers with Questions | 1 (267) 941-1000 |
| Estate and Gift Tax Issues | 1 (866) 699-4083 |
| Excise Tax Problems | 1 (866) 699-4096 |
| Business Tax Return Assistance | 1 (800) 829-0115 |
| Phishing and Other Scams or to Check if an IRS Agent is Legitimate | 1 (800) 366-4484 |
| Tax Refund Status Questions | 1 (800) 829-1954 |
| Held Tax Refund Questions or Status | 1 (866) 897-3315 |
| Status of an Amended Tax Return | 1 (866) 464-2050 |
| Tax Transcript Orders | 1 (800) 908-9946 |
| Make a Payment Using EFTPS | 1 (800) 555-4447 (English) 1 (800) 244-4829 (Spanish) |
| Report Incorrect Income on a Substitute Tax Return | 1 (866) 681-4271 |
| Verify or Resolve Tax Lien | 1 (800) 913-6050 |
| Review Bankruptcy Status and Debt | 1 (800) 973-0424 |
| Innocent Spouse Relief | 1 (866) 681-4271 |
| Determine Debts That Caused Tax Refund Offset | 1 (800) 304-3017 1 (866) 297-0517 (TTY/TDD) |
| Help with EIN | 1 (800) 829-4933 |
| Taxpayer Advocate Services | 1 (877) 777-4778 |
| Lost ITIN Documents | 1 (800) 908-9982 |
| TTY/TDD IRS Live Person Assistance | 1 (800) 829-4059 |
| Appointment Scheduling Services | 1 (844) 545-5640 |
| Whistleblower Hotline | 1 (800) 829-0433 |
| Request to Mail Paper Tax Forms | 1 (800) 829-3676 |
What Are Other Ways to Talk to a Live Person at the IRS?
Even with all the potential contact options by phone to speak with a live person at the IRS, it isn’t always easy to get through to someone. The lines can be busy, especially during the mid-day hours, and not everyone has the time to stay on hold for an hour or more to receive services.
If you’re struggling to speak with someone, here are the other proven methods that can help you reach a real person at the Internal Revenue Service.
Visit Your Local IRS Office
The Internal Revenue Service operates TACs, or Taxpayer Assistance Centers, in all 50 states. The current list of phone numbers and addresses for these locations is available on the IRS website.
Most people cannot show up at an IRS office during regular business hours to speak with someone. You’re asked to make an appointment by phone first.
The phone number for appointment scheduling services is 1 (844) 545-5640. You can also contact the primary customer service line during regular business hours to set a time to meet with someone in person.
Some TACs provided services without an appointment during the second Saturday of each month, but that option expired in May 2022.
Call a Taxpayer Advocate Service
The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization, but it’s within the scope of the Internal Revenue Service. Its mission is to help individuals manage their tax problems when they aren’t resolvable independently.
Each state has at least one Taxpayer Advocate Service center that remains independent of the local Internal Revenue Service office. Instead of reporting to the IRS, it works with the national service.
This agency keeps a current list of the phone numbers and local addresses of each location.
State Department Tax Assistance
Some taxpayers discover that their issues aren’t with the Internal Revenue Service, but with local government collection efforts.
If you live in a state that requires you to file a separate return, you’ll need to speak with someone within the local tax department to have your issue reviewed.
Although you could still call the Internal Revenue Service, the only help they could offer is to refer you to the state agency.
The Internal Revenue Service Rarely Calls Taxpayers
When you’re desperate to speak with someone at the IRS, you might take any phone call from a potential agent. Although there are times when direct contact does occur, the Internal Revenue Service typically uses regular mail from the U.S. Postal Service to initiate a conversation about a potential problem.
There are four primary reasons why the IRS might have someone call your home or business.
- An Internal Revenue Service agent wants to tour your business because of a criminal investigation or as part of the auditing process.
- The goal of the conversation is to secure a tax payment for a severely delinquent debt.
- If you haven’t filed a tax return or an extension, and the Internal Revenue Service knows that you need to submit the paperwork because of W2s or 1099s on file.
- Your tax bill is overdue, and other contact methods haven’t worked.
A growing method of trying to scam people is to pretend that an Internal Revenue Service agent is calling.
A legitimate contact from the IRS attempts to gather information. If you encounter any of the following issues, you can be confident that it is a scam call trying to steal your identity or payment information.
- The caller threatens to revoke your business license, driver’s license, visa, or immigration status.
- You’re asked to pay your tax debt with gift cards, a prepaid credit card, or a wire transfer from your bank.
- The contact with you is initiated through social media, texting, or email.
- You are told by the person on the other line that they’ll contact the police to have you and other people you know detained, arrested, or deported.
The hardest calls to determine if they are real or fake are the ones that demand payment. If you know that you have an IRS debt that is overdue, it is possible for the agency to contact you by phone or come to your home or business.
What you won’t be asked to do is resolve the debt immediately over the phone. If there’s an expectation for you to pay, hang up on the caller. You can contact the Internal Revenue Service by one of the other toll-free numbers to determine if the conversation was real.
Popular Tax Scams That Seem Like Real IRS Contacts
Since your name, address, and phone number are often part of the public record, many scammers like to pose as Internal Revenue Service agents to try to take your money. Some of these attempts seem legitimate, especially if you’ve had problems filing returns or paying your tax obligations.
Here are the most popular scam phone calls that people encounter. Each of the following issues, even if an email is sent, should be treated as suspicious.
Need to Fill Out New Forms
This scam is often done by email and scrapes the IRS logo from the agency’s website. It uses a subject line that triggers a click, such as “We’ve Recalculated Your Tax Refund.” Some callers also try this trick.
You’ll be asked to click a link and provide all your personal information, including your driver’s license number, Social Security number, current address, and birthday.
The Internal Revenue Service already has this information. It doesn’t need you to verify it as an identification check.
If the IRS recalculates your tax obligation, you will receive a letter in the mail.
Stolen Identity Payment
This scam has someone calling you to pose as an IRS agent. The caller typically says that your identity was stolen and used to open a fake bank account.
You’ll be asked to purchase specific gift cards to satisfy your tax debt obligations or prove your identity. If you agree, they’ll contact you again to request the numbers.
The IRS doesn’t accept gift card payments. If you think someone opened a bank account or credit card fraudulently, this information should appear on your credit report.
You can contact the Internal Revenue Service independently to verify if you’re unsure about a tax obligation.
Cancel Social Security Number
This scam effort claims that your SSN can be suspended or canceled. The IRS recommends that anyone who receives a call like this hang up on the individual.
A variation of this scam has the caller identifying as the Bureau of Tax Enforcement. If you’re not threatened by the SSN cancelation, they’ll tell you that a levy or lien is getting placed on your property. You might receive a letter with similar information.
There is no such thing as the Bureau of Tax Enforcement. If you have any questions about your obligations, you can speak with a live person at the IRS by calling the agency’s toll-free number.
You Will Be Arrested
It doesn’t take much to make your caller ID look like a call is coming from anywhere. The information might even say that it is from the local police, sheriff’s office, or the Internal Revenue Service.
The goal is to create an intimidating first impression that catches you off-guard. Once that happens, you’ll be given an urgent warning to pay something or be arrested.
You should know that IRS agents don’t leave a pre-recorded voicemail when something urgent requires your attention. This agency doesn’t have the authority to revoke your licenses or statuses.
File Form W-8BEN
This scam can be tricky to determine because it often comes across by email. Form W-8BEN is a real document. It’s called the “Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding.
When you click on the link in the email, you’ll be taken to what looks like the actual form. Scammers modify the document to ask for some personal information, such as a passport number or your mother’s maiden name.
If the document doesn’t go to the official Internal Revenue Service website, you should close your browser immediately. It might be necessary to wipe your history, scan for viruses, and take other security measures to protect your identity.
How Can I Talk to Someone at the IRS?
After calling the primary toll-free number of 1 (800) 829-1040, an automated system provides options to review. Choose a preferred language, then select option No. 2 for “Personal Income Tax.” Continue to press the appropriate buttons based on the reason for the contact. It will eventually transfer to an agent.
It is never easy to call the Internal Revenue Service. Although tax issues can be frustrating and complex, the problems only get worse when they’re ignored.
I’ve never received a phone call from the IRS, but I had received letters and postcard contacts when an issue with my return occurred.
Most notifications say that specific actions were taken, and I have a set number of days to respond if I disagree.
If you have debt obligations, an audit to navigate, or other concerns, it may help to have the assistance of an experienced CPA to help speak to a live person at the IRS.
