Can I email an IRS agent?
You should not send personal information to us via email unless it is through a secure IRS online application via IRS.gov. We will only send you general information via unsecure email. You should be reminded that email may not necessarily be secured against interception.
IRS Customer Service, Online Live Chat
The IRS live chat feature can be found on many of their pages by clicking the "Start a conversation" button found at the bottom of a limited number of IRS webpages. If you plan to chat with the IRS online, have your information ready for verification.
It might seem inconceivable these days that an entity doesn't stand by with a convenient email address available for contact, but, no, you can't email the IRS.
You can call your advocate, whose number is in your local directory, in Publication 1546, Taxpayer Advocate Service -- Your Voice at the IRSPDF, and on our website at IRS.gov/advocate. You can also call us toll-free at 877-777-4778.
Faxing your 1040 tax form to the IRS would make things much quicker than snail mail. But unfortunately, there's no fax number for the IRS where you can send the 1040 form. You can use the 1040 form to file an income tax return, which qualifies as actual tax documents. And again, you can't fax tax returns to the IRS.
If you can't find the answers to your tax questions on IRS.gov, we can offer you help in more than 350 languages with the support of professional interpreters. For assistance in Spanish, call 800-829-1040. For all other languages, call 833-553-9895.
This service is available through the IRS's Taxpayer Digital Communication (TDC) program.
A good rule of thumb: Call as early in the morning as possible. Phones are open from 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.
Before visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center for in-person help with their tax issues, a taxpayer needs to call 844-545-5640 to schedule an appointment. All TACs provide service by appointment.
Tax practitioners with account or tax law questions may call 800-829-8374.
Who to call if IRS doesn't answer?
You can call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 for general questions or refund status information. However, if you're not able to resolve a tax issue, it may be helpful to contact the Taxpayer's Advocate Service (TAS) at 1-877-777-4778.
You can use Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative for this purpose. Your signature on the Form 2848 allows the individual or individuals named to represent you before the IRS and to receive your tax information for the matter(s) and tax year(s)/period(s) specified on the Form 2848.
Payment plans
Visit www.irs.gov/paymentplan for more information on installment agreements and online payment agreements. You can also call us at 1- 800-829-0922 to discuss your options.
How far back can the IRS go to audit my return? Generally, the IRS can include returns filed within the last three years in an audit. If we identify a substantial error, we may add additional years. We usually don't go back more than the last six years.
The first thing to note is it will typically take the IRS up to 60 days to complete their review of your tax return. The IRS will also hold any refund for which you may have filed. During this time, it is recommended you take a close look at your return to check for any errors.
If you prefer, you can fax a completed Form SS-4 to the service center for your state, and they will respond with a return fax in about one week. If you do not include a return fax number, it will take about two weeks.
Station Overview. If you need to file a paper tax return, consider sending it by certified mail, with a return receipt. This will be your proof of the date you mailed your tax return and when the IRS received it. You may also use certain private delivery services designated by the IRS.
Under normal conditions, the IRS should respond to your fax within 2 weeks from the date of sending. If you provided incomplete or missing information, this may take longer. For tax returns, you will receive your tax refund within 3 weeks of the data when IRS receives your return if you choose to do so via e-filing.
You should never speak directly to the IRS or an IRS auditor or revenue officer. If you have received a notice from the IRS or have been contacted by an IRS revenue officer or auditor, we invite you to immediately call for a free consultation at 866-631-3470 or contact us to schedule an appointment in person.
Call the IRS toll free at 800-829-1040 or make an appointment to visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC).
Will the IRS answer after 7pm?
Individual taxpayers can call the IRS phone line at 1-800-829-1040 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time Monday through Friday for telephone assistance.
During a typical filing season, we average two to three million calls each day. On March 15, 2021, we received 8.6 million calls on just that one day—an average of about 1,500 calls per second.
You can find these helpful guides at www.irs.gov. Call at the right time. A recent study has found that the best times to call the IRS are before 9 AM if you live on the East Coast, or after 5 PM if you live on the West Coast. Make sure you have all the information you need before you call the IRS.
Virtual backgrounds allow users more privacy while interacting with the public or within the agency. Please see the step- by-step instructions to enable this feature at: IRS Zoom Client Virtual Backgrounds 2.0. Internal Communications: Continue using Skype, Teams and ZoomGov for IRS internal communications.
You can call 1-800-829-1040 to get answers to your federal tax questions 24 hours a day. Tax forms and instructions for current and prior years are available by calling 1-800-829-3676.
Give us a call
Appointments are usually 1-2 hours depending on the amount of cash you bring, the number of tax periods you want to pay for, and the number of tax types you need to pay. We'll work with you to find a time and place that works for you. Not all IRS TACs can accept cash.
Call the IRS immediately. If you are inside the U.S., contact the toll-free Identity Verification line at 800-830-5084. If you are outside the U.S., call the phone number listed in the letter for international callers, which is not toll-free.
The IRS phone number for businesses is 800-829-4933. The phone line is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Expect lengthy hold times, possible disconnects, a long, automated phone tree, and operators who will try to divert you to the IRS website.
Mail and phone contacts are first steps with a tax issue
However, there are circumstances when the IRS will call, including when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, a delinquent or unfiled tax return or has not made an employment tax deposit. The IRS does not leave pre-recorded, urgent or threatening voice messages.
- Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 during their support hours. ...
- Select your language, pressing 1 for English or 2 for Spanish.
- Press 2 for questions about your personal income taxes.
- Press 1 for questions about a form already filed or a payment.
- Press 3 for all other questions.
Can I sue the IRS for not responding?
Because the United States government has sovereign immunity, you can't sue the IRS for other things like emotional distress.
The Fresh Start program is open to any taxpayer who owes taxes and is struggling to pay them. There are no income requirements. The first step in applying for the IRS Fresh Start program is to contact your tax attorneys or accountants and see if you qualify.
The IRS said Monday that its average wait times for phone calls is now 4 minutes, down from 27 last year. This year's tax filing deadline is Tuesday. Thanks to last year's Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS got a funding boost that enabled it to improve customer service all around for the 2023 tax season.
When you call the IRS, they will ask you to verify your identity. IRS phone assistors take great care to only discuss personal information with you or someone you authorize to speak on your behalf.
If taxpayers receive a call threatening to suspend their SSN for an unpaid tax bill, they should just hang up. Make no mistake…it's a scam. Taxpayers should not give out sensitive information over the phone unless they are positive they know the caller is legitimate. When in doubt –hang up.
IRS Customer Service, Online Live Chat
The IRS live chat feature can be found on many of their pages by clicking the "Start a conversation" button found at the bottom of a limited number of IRS webpages. If you plan to chat with the IRS online, have your information ready for verification.
- 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.
Federal Income and Payroll Tax
Visit the IRS website or contact a local office in California. Customer service phone numbers: Tax Forms: 1-800-829-3676.
Telephone service wait times can average 13 minutes. Some telephone service lines may have longer wait times. Telephone service wait times are higher on Monday and Tuesday, during Presidents Day weekend and around the April tax filing deadline.
He recommends calling early in the morning or just before the IRS phone lines (which are open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) close for your time zone. You may be able to avoid crowds on the phone lines by calling first thing in the morning or as the day winds down.
Can I call the IRS if I have a question?
You can call 1-800-829-1040 to get answers to your federal tax questions 24 hours a day. Tax forms and instructions for current and prior years are available by calling 1-800-829-3676. You can also order free publications on a wide variety of tax topics.
Official IRS email addresses look like this: employee.name@irs.gov. Sign your documents electronically, if needed. Encrypt any attachments you're sending and protect them with strong passwords. Call your IRS employee and give them the password to the encrypted file.