IRS phone number to talk to a person and where to go for IRS tax help

When you’ve got federal tax questions, it may seem like calling the Internal Revenue Service telephone line is way to go. Examples include calling about your tax refund, making a payment arrangement, responding to a tax notice, or even just a general question.

But contacting IRS helpline numbers can sometimes be time-consuming, as IRS representatives receive a high volume of taxpayer inquiries each day. For this reason, you may want to get help from a tax professional to steer you in the right direction.

Consider H&R Block for help. With more than 10,000 office locations around the country, staffed with tax experts who can help a variety of tax issues.  

Check out the details below for more guidance.

IRS website information

Before you call IRS customer service, there might be easier ways to handle your questions. First, find out if you can get the information you need on the Internal Revenue Service website.

While IRS helplines are valuable in certain situations, you can also visit www.irs.gov to find:

• Taxpayer forms, worksheets, and publications needed to complete your tax return
• FAQs and advice for taxpayers
• Information on new or amended tax laws
• Additional information for state taxes
• Online tools and tax calculators
• Status of your tax refund

Learn how to research your IRS account.

Contact IRS by phone: What to call about, where to call, and when

When’s the right time to call the IRS customer service line? Let’s start by outlining when to contact the IRS by phone and what the IRS telephone lines don’t handle.

What to call the IRS about

It can be productive for you to call if:

• You got an IRS notice (call the number on the notice).
• You’re going to miss an IRS deadline and need to request more time (to pay off a tax balance, send information, or respond to an IRS notice).
• The “Where’s My Refund?” tool tells you to call.
• You need your tax payoff amount.
• You have questions about your IRS payment plan (called an installment agreement).
• You want to know the status of any IRS action (like a penalty abatement request, a payment correction, etc.)
• You want to make sure the IRS received your payment.
• You lost or never received your Form W-2 and/or Form 1099-R – or you got an incorrect one.

What not to call the IRS about

On a call, the IRS won’t handle:

• Tax law questions
• Transcript requests (although you can visit an automated phone tree to order your transcript)
• IRS forms
• Refund status, if it’s been less than 21 days since you filed
• Complaints about your taxes being too high

Internal Revenue Service telephone help by situation

There are other Internal Revenue Service telephone numbers for important tax-related assistance. Use these IRS numbers to contact the IRS based on specific tax-related needs:

• IRS customer care line — 800-829-1040 (This option works best for less complex inquiries)
• Lost IRS check — 800-829-1954
• Refund status IRS number — 800-829-4477 or 800-829-1954 (IRS phone number to talk to a person for refund information)
• Forms and publications — 800-829-3676
• Refunds and offsets to IRS liabilities — 800-304-3107, option 1 (You’ll be directed to the Bureau of Fiscal Service)
• Business tax return IRS number – 800-829-4933
• Taxpayer advocate service IRS number — 877-777-4778

IRS payment phone number(s)

Looking to pay a tax bill over the phone? To pay tax by credit card, call any of these non-governmental third-party sites:

• 800-555-3453
• 800-555-4477
• 303-967-5916 from outside the U.S.

For more information and payment instructions, view the Treasury.gov website.

IRS hours: The best times to call

Knowing the IRS hours of operation can help you plan your call. A good rule of thumb: Call as early in the morning as possible.

The IRS phone hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (your local time) Monday to Friday, except:

• Residents of Hawaii and Alaska should follow Pacific time
• Puerto Rico hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time

Wait times are higher at the beginning of the week, during Presidents Day weekend, and close to the filing deadline.

In-person options

You can also visit your local IRS office for answers to tax inquiries. Find the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center closest to you.

Get prepared for the IRS

When you call the IRS, be ready with everything they will ask about.

First,you’ll have to confirm your identity with your name, date of birth, and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Then, provide your tax return information, including:

• Your filing status
• Possibly information from one of your information statements (Form W-2/1099)
• Any letters/notices the IRS sent you
• Your last filed return

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, you’ll need the person to be present with you to speak with the IRS. Or, they can authorize you to make the call with Form 8821.

You can make the call more effective by:

• Writing down your questions ahead of time
• Recording the IRS representative’s name and badge number in case you need to reference the call later
• Remaining courteous to the IRS representative
• Writing down all the answers you get in as much detail as possible
• Setting a deadline with the IRS if you need the IRS to take action (and follow up with the IRS if it doesn’t happen)

How H&R Block can help so you don’t have to contact the IRS

IRS wait times can be long, but there are ways to avoid having to call the IRS altogether.

H&R Block is available to help avoid the direct need to contact the IRS. Here are a few ways we can lend a guiding hand.

Get help with tax problems

H&R Block tax pros can help you if you encounter IRS issues—like paying unpaid balances or addressing an IRS notice, penalty, or a tax audit (audit support). Our tax pros will expertly guide you through the process by helping you understand the IRS inquiry and file the necessary documents to respond.

Learn more at our Audits and Tax Notices page and contact your local H&R Block to make an appointment.

Get help with your tax filing

Need help filing your annual tax return? Whether you choose to file with a tax pro or file with H&R Block Online, you can rest assured that we’ll get you the biggest refund possible.