{"id":1457,"date":"2015-08-24T08:53:06","date_gmt":"2015-08-24T15:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"\/contact-the-irs"},"modified":"2025-01-31T09:41:26","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T17:41:26","slug":"contact-the-irs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/contact-the-irs\/","title":{"rendered":"Contacting the IRS: Phone Numbers, Email Addresses, and IRS Offices for Your Tax Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Need to talk to someone at the Internal Revenue Service? <\/strong>Start with <strong><a href=\"tel:18008291040\">1-800-829-1040<\/a>.<\/strong> The last four digits refer to individual income tax return Form 1040. (We see what you did there.)<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course there are more phone lines to use if you don\u2019t have individual tax questions. Got a simple question about your tax transcript, a concern about meeting the tax payment deadline, or maybe a complaint about your business tax return? Whether you&#8217;ve got a complex or simple question, it&#8217;s often best to reach out and talk to a real tax professional by contacting the IRS. There&#8217;s no shortage of online resources available for basic services, but sometimes you need more than a chat service.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Especially if you are<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/articles\/what-do-if-you-get-notice-irs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Responding to an IRS notice<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resolving a tax dispute<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/es\/tax-relief\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Settling tax debt<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Checking<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/articles\/wheres-my-refund\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your tax refund status<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IRS customer service representatives who can answer questions about individual tax return preparation, including situations where you might have received notice of a tax problem. Fortunately, there are many ways to contact an agent, including live phone lines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What&#8217;s the best way to reach a real person at the IRS? It just depends on what you need to talk about.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Phone lines: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From automated services to hotlines to connect you to an actual person about a specific topic, the IRS offers several numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>In-person: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Especially handy when you have paper tax returns, you can schedule appointments and bring documents to an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center office nearest to you. You also can meet with any of the nonprofit or independent organizations who work closely with the IRS, including the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), an independent organization that works to make sure every taxpayer gets treated fairly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Email: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few IRS-related email addresses, but the IRS does not answer any personal questions or accept email correspondence. Sometimes you may be able to follow-up with a human representative via email. That said, the IRS only has one public email address: phishing@irs.gov for reporting any ongoing email tax scams.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Before contacting the IRS, you need to have<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your social security number (SSN) and birth date<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for taxpayers without a Social Security number<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Filing status, whether single, head of household, married filing joint, or married filing separate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prior-year federal tax return<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tax return you&#8217;re calling about<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any correspondence the IRS sent to you<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Calling the IRS on someone else&#8217;s behalf, you also need<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Verbal or written authorization to discuss the account<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that Taxpayer&#8217;s name, SSN or ITIN<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valid Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) or Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preparer tax identification number or personal identification number<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Calling the IRS on behalf of a deceased taxpayer, you also need<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The deceased&#8217;s death certificate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Court approval letter or IRS Form 56 (Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship) (for estate executors)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How to Call the IRS: Talk to a Real Person About Your Tax Questions<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The IRS likes to contact taxpayers through the mail, but when answering back, you may not quite feel like writing a letter and waiting on a response. Just because the IRS prefers snail mail, doesn\u2019t mean you have to. If you\u2019d like to call them to figure out your problem instead of emailing or writing a letter, then you have several numbers to choose from.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The specific one you need depends on the type of inquiry you have. Make sure you&#8217;re calling the IRS at the appropriate phone number for the tax question you have.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>For individual questions, tax advice, help with your tax return and general IRS assistance call <a href=\"tel:18008291040\">1-800-829-1040<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here&#8217;s a good place to start. Available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time, this number handles common questions, including settling tax debts and setting up payment plans. (If you&#8217;re a Puerto Rico resident, the IRS lines have hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few exceptions to what they can handle, but the operators here should be able to direct you to the right department.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the busiest parts of tax season, January to April, average telephone service wait times can average 4 minutes or longer. Some telephone service lines may have longer wait times. Service wait times get longer on Mondays and Tuesdays. Also, call service can take longer than usual during two special days: the Presidents Day weekend and the tax filing deadline in April. After tax season, call service wait times can average 13 minutes or longer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gather your relevant tax information before you call the IRS. This way you don\u2019t hold the phone operator up while you search your house for that one tax form you forgot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The IRS help lines are open Monday through Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the way, if you live in Alaska and Hawaii, the customer service hours are in Pacific time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Tax refund status call <a href=\"tel:18008291954\">1-800-829-1954<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most requested phone numbers at the IRS, the tax refund hotline updates you on the status of tax refunds and, if you filed a paper return, when you can expect the check to be mailed to you. (Of course, this isn&#8217;t the only way to check your refund status.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RELATED:<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/articles\/federal-tax-refund-status-check\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Will I Get My Federal Tax Refund?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>Business tax returns, employee tax forms, and questions about W-2 forms call <a href=\"tel:18008294933\">1-800-829-4933<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, this general phone line handles business-related tax queries, employment taxes and tax law questions, including help with W-2 forms. They should also be able to help settle tax debts, including walking you and your organization through any installment plan requirements and payment options.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RELATED:<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/articles\/information-about-online-payment-agreements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Information About Online Payment Agreements<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>If you suspect you might be a victim of identity theft and tax fraud call <a href=\"tel:18009084490\">1-800-908-4490<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those taxpayers who believe they have been victims of identity theft, the phone number is <a href=\"tel:18009084490\">1-800-908-4490<\/a>. The hours for this number are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM your local time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Representing a tax exempt organization, a retirement plan administrator or another government entity call <a href=\"tel:18778295500\">1-877-829-5500<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities Customer Account Services is what you need if you&#8217;re calling on behalf of an organization in one of those categories. It&#8217;s open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>To order tax forms and materials, even if you don&#8217;t know what you need call <a href=\"tel:18008293676\">1-800-829-3676<\/a>\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need to order specific forms or other tax materials, this is the number to call. They can ship whatever you need right to your house or PO Box. Also, if you don\u2019t know what forms you need, the IRS representative can help you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Estate taxes and gift taxes questions call <a href=\"tel:18666994083\">1-866-699-4083\u00a0<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ideal number to call if you&#8217;ve got Form 706 or Form 709 and a bunch of questions. The customer phone service hours run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday to Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Excise tax questions call <a href=\"tel:18666994096\">1-866-699-4096<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The customer service team here can answer excise tax questions for the most complex tax situations. Their hours of service are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>To locate the nearest Tax Advocate Service office call <a href=\"tel:18777774778\">1-877-777-4778\u00a0<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes tax problems are too big to solve on your own. That&#8217;s when the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization working within the IRS, steps in. They ensure all taxpayers get fair treatment and will advocate on your behalf. This is a free service that helps to ensure that taxpayers have a voice at the IRS and helps to guarantee fairness. Calling this number will help you find the nearest office, and there is at least one in every state. You can also visit the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/Advocate\/Local-Taxpayer-Advocate\/Contact-Your-Local-Taxpayer-Advocate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IRS Local Taxpayer Advocate Service page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a digital option. You could complete<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/f911.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and fax\/mail it to your local TAS office, but calling is faster.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Contact the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic program and locate a clinic near you call <a href=\"tel:12023174700\">1-202-317-4700<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) help you to resolve tax disputes with the IRS, including tax audits, appeals, and collection matters. The LITC Program receives some funding from the IRS, but it\u2019s considered an independent organization. You may qualify for free or low-cost assistance if you meet certain<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov\/about-us\/low-income-taxpayer-clinics-litc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LITC income requirements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other criteria. This number answers common questions and can help you find a nearby office.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also use the<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov\/about\/litc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LITC map<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to find your local clinic or see<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/p4134.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IRS Publication 4134 (Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/articles\/resolving-tax-problems-may-be-easier-you-think\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RELATED: Resolving Tax Problems May Be Easier Than You Think<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In case your tax problem has gone unresolved, contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service. The job of the Taxpayer Advocate Service is to assist taxpayers as they wade through the complex tax system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Call TTY\/TDD <a href=\"tel:8008294059\">800-829-4059<\/a> to reach the IRS line for the hearing impaired<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please note that the hearing impaired phone number can only be used by those with a TDD machine. The customer service hours for this number are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more information about calling the IRS, please visit the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/help\/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Telephone Assistance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> webpage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to Meet with a Real Person at the IRS: Local Offices, Advocacy Services and Tax Clinics<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes, it&#8217;s hard to talk through your paper tax returns over the phone. It&#8217;s time to meet with an actual person who can field your tax law questions on behalf of the IRS face-to-face.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Visit the IRS Offices Near You: Taxpayer Assistance Centers<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For face-to-face tax help, the IRS has office locations called Taxpayer Assistance Centers. Visit the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/uac\/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact Your Local Office<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> page to find the addresses and phone numbers of the IRS office location in your state.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind, they are closed on federal holidays and generally operate on a first-come, first-served basis. It&#8217;s also smart to schedule an appointment first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Visit a Taxpayer Advocate Service Near You<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with calling this taxpayer support organization, you can visit them. Look up the<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/advocate\/local-taxpayer-advocate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nearest Taxpayer Advocate Service office location<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to discuss resolutions to your tax problems. There is at least one advocate service location in every state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Visit a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This advocacy service offers free or low-cost assistance if you meet certain<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov\/about-us\/low-income-taxpayer-clinics-litc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LITC income requirements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other criteria. Use the<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov\/about\/litc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LITC map<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to find your local clinic or see<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/pub\/irs-pdf\/p4134.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IRS Publication 4134 (Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This organization is especially useful for helping you settle tax disputes and debts that would be out of your financial reach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to Email the IRS Directly: Advocates, Tax Refunds, and\u00a0 Scam Reporting<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, the IRS only has one public email address: phishing@irs.gov.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IRS tax scams are everywhere, and they generally take the form of an email asking you for (or demand) personal tax information. Do not fall for it. If you ever are a victim after clicking and entering your information, you should report the suspicious email to phishing@irs.gov.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And ask a second step, visit IdentityTheft.gov and Identity Theft Central to start filing a complaint with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Email the Low Income Tax Center at <a href=\"mailto:LITCProgramOffice@irs.gov\">LITCProgramOffice@irs.gov<\/a><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have a generic question about criteria and qualifications, you may contact the Low Income Tax Center program. However, do not send personal information over email, including social security numbers or copies of your tax return.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Use the IRS App to check your tax refund status: IRS2GO<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it&#8217;s not exactly email, you can check your<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/topics\/tax-refunds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">federal tax refund<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> online or with a smartphone app called IRS2GO. It is limited in functionality to protect your privacy, but you should be able to get a status update with a few taps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The IRS also provides a \u201cWhere\u2019s My Refund?\u201d online tool that tracks your tax refund by providing three simple alerts: Tax Return Received, Tax Refund Approved, and Tax Refund Sent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To use this online tool, visit the IRS\u2019s<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/Refunds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tax Refund Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Note that you will need to enter your personal information \u2013 including your Social Security Number (SSN),<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">filing status<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and tax refund amount (in exact whole dollars).<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Need to talk to someone at the Internal Revenue Service? Start with 1-800-829-1040. The last four digits refer to individual income tax return Form 1040. (We see what you did there.) Of course there are more phone lines to use if you don\u2019t have individual tax questions. Got a simple question about your tax transcript, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10583,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,172,30,36,37,38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tax-resources","category-featured-posts","category-federal-tax-returns","category-past-tax-returns","category-paying-taxes","category-tax-refunds"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1457"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10638,"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1457\/revisions\/10638"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irs.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}