How to Contact the IRS: Phone Numbers, Hours and Tips

The IRS can be reached by phone, in person, by mail and online, but not all channels are equal. Picking the right one saves time. If you have a notice, the number on it usually connects you with the people handling your case. For general questions, the main phone lines work best on certain days. And many common questions don't need a call at all. This guide pulls the key numbers and tips into one place.

Before you call: try these online tools

The IRS steers people to self-service first, and for many tasks it really is faster:

• Your IRS Online Account shows your balance, payments, payment plans, digital notices, transcripts and your prior-year AGI. See IRS transcripts and Online Account.
• Where's My Refund? and Where's My Amended Return? show refund status. See refund delays and offsets.
• Payment plans can often be set up online. See IRS payment plans.
• The Document Upload Tool lets you send documents if your notice tells you to use it.
• Notice lookups. Search your notice number on IRS.gov, or start in our notices section.

The IRS notes you can't get your prior-year AGI over the phone. Find it in your Online Account or on last year's return.

Main IRS phone numbers

According to the IRS "Let us help you" page:

Lines are open Monday through Friday. People in Alaska and Hawaii follow Pacific time. In Puerto Rico, lines are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. IRS offices are closed on federal holidays.

Other useful numbers

Best times to call

The IRS publishes typical wait times:

• Filing season (January to April): waits average about 8 minutes, but are longer on Mondays and Tuesdays, during Presidents Day weekend, and around the April filing deadline.
• After filing season (May to December): waits average about 15 minutes and are shorter Wednesday through Friday.

Some lines run longer than these averages. Calling midweek is the simplest way to cut your wait.

Ask for a callback. When call volume is high, the IRS says it may offer a return call instead of waiting on hold. The option is available on most toll-free topics when wait times exceed 15 minutes, as long as a representative can reach you during regular business hours.

What to have ready

The IRS must verify your identity before discussing your account. According to the IRS, have these ready:

Calling for someone else? You need the taxpayer's name and SSN or ITIN, the return in question, and a written or verbal authorization, such as Form 8821 or Form 2848. See tax professionals and power of attorney. For a deceased person, have a death certificate and either court papers or Form 56 if you are the executor.

When not to call

The IRS asks you not to call, or file a second return, if you mailed a return or letter and haven't heard back yet. Duplicate returns and letters can slow things down. It also lists specific waiting periods:

• E-filed return refund: call only after 3 weeks
• Paper return refund: call only after 6 weeks
• Injured spouse claim (Form 8379): call only after 12 weeks if e-filed, or 14 weeks if on paper
• Amended return: call only if it's been more than 16 weeks since you mailed it, or the online tool tells you to call

In-person help at a Taxpayer Assistance Center

Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) are local IRS offices where you can get face-to-face help. Appointments get priority service. The IRS says to find the center near you on IRS.gov, check which services it offers, then call 844-545-5640 to schedule. TACs help only with certain topics, so confirm before you go.

Bring:

• A current government-issued photo ID, plus a second form of ID (the IRS lists examples such as a Social Security card, birth certificate, utility bill or lease)
• Your SSN or ITIN
• A copy of the tax return for the year in question, if you filed
• Any notices and supporting documents

The IRS says that if you arrive more than 15 minutes late and haven't checked in, your appointment may be canceled. Common reasons to visit include verifying your identity after a Letter 5747C, getting an IP PIN in person, or applying for an ITIN.

Help in other languages

The IRS offers help with professional interpreters in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian and Haitian Creole. For Spanish, call 800-829-1040. For other languages, call 833-553-9895. The assistor can provide an interpreter over the phone or schedule a TAC appointment.

Free help from outside the IRS phone lines

• Taxpayer Advocate Service: free help when an IRS problem causes hardship or the usual process has failed.
• Low Income Taxpayer Clinics: free or low-cost representation for eligible taxpayers.
• VITA and TCE: free return preparation for qualifying people. The IRS help page, as of 2026, lists people who earn $69,000 or less, have a disability, need language support, or are 60 or older.

Make sure it's really the IRS

Call only numbers from IRS.gov or your official notice. The IRS normally contacts you first by mail. If someone calls you claiming to be the IRS and demands immediate payment, hang up and call the IRS yourself. See IRS scams.

IRSV.com is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the IRS. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change; confirm details on IRS.gov or with a tax professional. Found an error? Tell us.