A reporter since high school, Margot Lester is a seasoned journalist and storyteller. Her work has appeared in Money, Playboy, Business: North Carolina and the Los Angeles Business Journal. She authored two award-winning books, "The Real Life Guide t.
Margot Lester Taxes WriterA reporter since high school, Margot Lester is a seasoned journalist and storyteller. Her work has appeared in Money, Playboy, Business: North Carolina and the Los Angeles Business Journal. She authored two award-winning books, "The Real Life Guide t.
Written By Margot Lester Taxes WriterA reporter since high school, Margot Lester is a seasoned journalist and storyteller. Her work has appeared in Money, Playboy, Business: North Carolina and the Los Angeles Business Journal. She authored two award-winning books, "The Real Life Guide t.
Margot Lester Taxes WriterA reporter since high school, Margot Lester is a seasoned journalist and storyteller. Her work has appeared in Money, Playboy, Business: North Carolina and the Los Angeles Business Journal. She authored two award-winning books, "The Real Life Guide t.
Taxes Writer Caren Weiner Personal Finance EditorSince her first tax article appearing more than three decades ago in Money magazine, Caren Weiner has written and edited stories about money management topics ranging from investment fees and health costs to household budgets. Her finance- and invest.
Caren Weiner Personal Finance EditorSince her first tax article appearing more than three decades ago in Money magazine, Caren Weiner has written and edited stories about money management topics ranging from investment fees and health costs to household budgets. Her finance- and invest.
Caren Weiner Personal Finance EditorSince her first tax article appearing more than three decades ago in Money magazine, Caren Weiner has written and edited stories about money management topics ranging from investment fees and health costs to household budgets. Her finance- and invest.
Caren Weiner Personal Finance EditorSince her first tax article appearing more than three decades ago in Money magazine, Caren Weiner has written and edited stories about money management topics ranging from investment fees and health costs to household budgets. Her finance- and invest.
| Personal Finance Editor
Updated: Feb 20, 2024, 5:29pm
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Nobody looks forward to contacting the IRS, but sometimes it’s the best option for solving a tax problem.
Calling the IRS can be helpful “for simple needs such as checking the status of your refund, responding to a notice about identity verification, general questions about tax filings, or notices,” says Josh Youngblood, an enrolled agent and senior tax advisor in Dallas.
When you call the IRS, you will almost certainly have to wait. Estimated wait times for IRS phone calls during tax filing season average about 4 minutes. Between May and December, the average wait is 11 minutes.
On its website, the IRS notes that “wait times are higher on Monday and Tuesday, during Presidents Day weekend and around the April tax filing deadline.”
Whenever you choose to call, using the phone number that takes you to the department you need is almost certain to save you time.
The IRS has certain numbers for specific taxpayers. You can reach representatives between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time unless otherwise designated. Residents of Alaska and Hawaii should follow Pacific Time.
If you have a question about your refund and want to speak to a representative, call the phone numbers listed above. You can also try the automated refund hotline at 800-829-1954 for a current-year refund or 866-464-2050 for an amended return. That said, the fastest and easiest way to get the status of your refund is via the IRS.gov website.
If you owe money to the federal government, the Treasury Department may “offset” that debt by withholding some or all of your tax refund.
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Filers can request an installment payment plan for tax debts they haven’t paid or can’t pay on time. To do so, or to revise an existing agreement, you can call the phone number on your bill or notice. As an alternative, you can use these numbers:
The IRS provides a live chat function that connects you with an actual IRS representative. You can go directly to IRS live chat using a quick web search, or you can use the link at the bottom of some IRS.gov pages, indicated by the “Start a conversation” button.
Keep in mind that the IRS rep on the other end has no access to your account, so you won’t be able to get information about your specific situation. However, they can help you with general questions, such as finding the forms you need.
If you want a face-to-face meeting, you can make an appointment at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). Find a TAC near you via the Taxpayer Assistance Locator tool or the IRS2Go app.
To make your call to the IRS more successful, tax professionals recommend you avoid these common mistakes:
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Taxes WriterA reporter since high school, Margot Lester is a seasoned journalist and storyteller. Her work has appeared in Money, Playboy, Business: North Carolina and the Los Angeles Business Journal. She authored two award-winning books, "The Real Life Guide to Life After College" and "Be a Better Writer."
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