IRS Phone Number: Customer Service, Human Help Options

The main IRS phone number is 800-829-1040, but these other IRS phone numbers could also get you the help you need.
Sabrina Parys
Tina Orem
By Tina Orem and  Sabrina Parys 
Updated
Reviewed by Lei Han

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The main IRS phone number is 800-829-1040, but that’s not the only IRS number you can call for help or to speak to a live person. Below, we've compiled a list of other IRS phone numbers to try so you can reach the people you need.

If you need assistance with certain basic services, such as tracking your refund or looking up your amended tax return status, the IRS website also offers many self-service tools that can help.

How to contact IRS customer service

You're welcome to call the main IRS number Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. The agency's average telephone service waiting time is 13 minutes during filing season (January through April) and 19 minutes off-season (May through December).

Internal Revenue Service. Let Us Help You: IRS Phone Numbers and Tax Help Options. Accessed Dec 8, 2022.
Call volume may be higher on Mondays and Tuesdays as well as around the tax deadline.

If you have a question about any of the topics below, one of these lesser-known IRS phone numbers might get you to help faster. We've also included links to our articles on a number of topics, which might save you a call.

General tax assistance

Schedule an appointment with a local IRS office: 844-545-5640

Learn more about free tax-filing help.

Find a free tax clinic near you: 800-906-9887; 888-227-7669

Learn more about free tax help.

Taxpayer Advocate Service: 877-777-4778

Learn more about a taxpayer's bill of rights.

Interpretation services: 800-829-1040 (Spanish); 833-553-9895 (all other languages)

Disaster victims: 866-562-5227

Learn more about getting financial help after a disaster.

Estate and gift tax questions: 866-699-4083

Learn more about inheritance tax and estate tax.

Excise tax questions: 866-699-4096

Learn more about excise taxes.

Help getting an employer identification number: 800-829-4933

Status of application for adoption taxpayer Identification number: 737-800-5511

Learn more about tax ID numbers.

Tax trouble

Identity and refund theft victims; get a new IP PIN: 800-908-4490

Learn more about identity protection PINs.

Innocent spouse relief: 866-681-4271

Learn more about innocent spouse relief.

Report phishing and other scams; see if an IRS agent's name/badge number are legit: 800-366-4484

Learn more about tax scams.

Whistleblower hotline: 800-829-0433

Tax returns

Check status of an amended tax return: 866-464-2050

Learn more about filing and tracking amended tax returns.

Report incorrect income on a substitute return: 866-681-4271

Learn more about tax penalties.

Tax forms and documents

Ask IRS to mail you paper tax forms: 800-829-3676

Learn more about IRS tax forms.

Order a tax transcript: 800-908-9946

Learn more about requesting tax return and tax transcripts from the IRS.

Lost ITIN documents: 800-908-9982

Learn more about tax identification numbers.

Tax refunds

Check status of a tax refund: 800-829-1954

Learn more about tracking the status of your tax refund.

Check status of a tax refund being held: 866-897-3315

Learn more about tax refunds.

See which debts will offset your tax refund: 800-304-3107; 866-297-0517 (TTY/TDD)

Learn more about tax relief.

Payments and balances

Balance due questions: 800-829-0922; 800-829-7650; 800-829-3903

Make a payment using Electronic Federal Tax Payment System: 800-555-4477 (English); 800-244-4829 (Spanish)

Learn more about how to make an IRS payment.

See if bankruptcy changed your tax debt: 800-973-0424

Learn more about how bankruptcy works.

Verify, pay off or resolve a tax lien: 800-913-6050

Learn more about tax liens.

Accessibility

Tax assistance for taxpayers who are deaf or hard of hearing: 800-829-4059

Accessibility helpline: 833-690-0598

Ask IRS to mail you large-print or Braille tax forms, publications or notices: 800-829-3676

Self-employed taxpayers

Help with business tax return: 800-829-0115

Self-employed taxpayers with account or tax law questions: 800-829-4933

Learn more about self-employment tax.

International taxpayers

International Taxpayer Advocate: 787-522-8601 (English); 787-522-8600 (Spanish)

Overseas taxpayers: 267-941-1000

Learn more about the foreign tax credit.

For tax pros and other people

Tax preparers and tax pros with account or tax law questions: 800-829-8374

Tax preparers and tax pros with e-filing questions: 866-255-0654

Tax practitioner priority service: 866-860-4259

Overseas tax professionals: 512-416-7750; 267-941-1000

Corporate taxpayers, partnerships and nonprofits: 866-255-0654

Nonprofits with tax law or filing questions: 877-829-5500

Government and tax-exempt entities: 877-829-5500

International businesses that want an Employer Identification Number (EIN): 267-941-1099

Domestic employers, payers and transmitters who need e-filing tech support: 866-455-7438

International employers, payers and transmitters who need e-filing tech support: 304-263-8700

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Other ways to contact a real person at the IRS

You can try these other options for getting help.

Visit your local IRS office

The IRS operates local Taxpayer Assistance Centers, or TACs, in every state. To see their local addresses and phone numbers, click on your state on the list of Taxpayer Assistance locations. Generally, you can’t just show up at a local IRS office any time. You have to make an appointment. That IRS number is 844-545-5640. TAC offices will generally accept walk-ins one Saturday a month during tax-filing season. The last remaining walk-in option for the 2023 tax-filing season was May 13.

Internal Revenue Service. IRS Face-to-Face Saturday Help. Accessed Mar 7, 2023.

Try calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service

The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the IRS that can help people with tax problems they can't resolve on their own. Every state has at least one local Taxpayer Advocate Service center that is independent of the local IRS office, and it reports to the national Taxpayer Advocate Service. You can see the local addresses and phone numbers for every local Taxpayer Advocate Service office here.

IRS chatbots

In 2022, the agency began to roll out a series of automated voice and chatbots on a number of their phone lines and select pages. The tools are available in both English and Spanish and can assist with fairly basic questions about topics such as making a payment or answering questions about a collection notice. If the bot is unable to assist, the IRS says that taxpayers can choose to be routed to a live agent instead.

Before you call the IRS

Once you're on the line with an IRS telephone assistor, you'll need to verify your identity to proceed. Make sure to have the following information handy before you call:

  • Social Security number or ITIN.

  • Date of birth.

  • Filing status.

  • Prior-year return and the tax return you're inquiring about.

  • Any IRS correspondence you've received (via email or your online account).

If you're calling on behalf of someone else, or someone who is deceased, you'll need to have a few extra things gathered in addition to the above, including verbal/written authorization, a valid Form 8821 or Form 2848, and relevant paperwork such as a death certificate or court letter.

Internal Revenue Service. IRS Phone Numbers and Tax Help Options. Accessed Aug 2, 2022.
Also be aware that there are some topics that an assistor may not be able to help with. The IRS has more information and resources here.

When not to call the IRS

The IRS encourages people who have simple questions to start on its website, IRS.gov. The agency says its online resources are "the quickest and easiest option for help."

Below are links to some of the digital services offered by the IRS.

There are also several tools that can help you track down your return:

And if you're looking for certain information or records, such as your payment history or a tax transcript, setting up an online account with the agency can help you quickly gain access to these documents.

Internal Revenue Service. Your Online Account. Accessed Mar 21, 2023.

🤓Nerdy Tip

In 2022, the IRS began rolling out voice bots, or automated assistants, on a number of lines to assist taxpayers with common issues or questions. If you're routed through one of these voice bots when you call the agency, you might be able to get a quick answer to a simple question. If you need more assistance, the agency says you can still speak with a live representative and also check out its self-service options.

State tax department phone numbers

If it's a state tax issue you need help with, tap to see a list of phone numbers for state tax departments.

Watch out for IRS phone scams

You can call every IRS phone number you want, but the IRS will rarely call you. It initiates most contacts, including demands for payment, through regular mail from the U.S. Postal Service. In special circumstances, the agency will call or come to a home or business when:

  • A taxpayer has an overdue tax bill.

  • To secure a delinquent tax return.

  • To secure a delinquent employment tax payment.

  • To tour a business as part of an IRS audit or during criminal investigations.

Avoid tax scams. The IRS does not:

  • Call or text you to demand payment.

  • Initiate contact with you via email, text, social media, or through third-party payment apps.

  • Ask you to pay your tax bill with prepaid cards, gift cards or wire transfers.

  • Threaten to call the police, immigration officers or other people to arrest you.

  • Revoke your driver’s license, business license or immigration status.

Frequently asked questions

The IRS' main telephone line (800-829-1040) connects taxpayers to live assistors who may be able to help with certain tax-related questions. The helpline is open Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. According to the agency, the average wait time from January through April is about 13 minutes; this increases to 19 minutes May through December.

The agency urges taxpayers who are waiting on refunds to first access the Where's My Refund? tool or call the IRS' refund hotline at 800-829-1954. If information about your refund is still missing after 21 days of e-filing or six weeks of mailing your return, you can call the main telephone line to speak with an assistor.

  • Federal: $50.95 to $94.95. Free version available for simple tax returns only.

  • State: $39.95 to $54.95.

  • Xpert Assist add-on provides access to tax pro and final review.

Promotion: NerdWallet users get 25% off federal and state filing costs.

  • Federal: $55 to $115. Free version available for simple tax returns only.

  • State: $0 to $49 per state.

  • Online Assist add-on gets you on-demand tax help.

  • Federal: $69 to $129. Free version available for simple returns only; not all taxpayers qualify.

  • State: $0 to $59 per state.

  • Live Assisted gets you access to a tax pro and a final review.

Promotion: NerdWallet users can save up to $15 on TurboTax.

  • Federal: $34.95 to $64.95 Free version available for simple tax returns only.

  • State: $0 to $39.95 per state.

  • On-demand tax help at Premium and Self-Employed tiers.

Promotion: NerdWallet users get 30% off federal filing costs. Use code NERD30.

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