Tax filing can be intimidating and overwhelming if you're not a tax expert, and many questions may arise in the process. This is when you may feel that you need to contact the IRS to clarify doubts for you or guide you. This is when a second issue may arise: How do you contact the IRS to get these questions answered?
Well, thankfully, you have options: First, you may contact me directly for a consultation, and I will be pleased to guide you in the right direction regarding your taxes and your rights as a taxpayer; Second, although the IRS strongly favors using electronic options for help, the agency also makes itself accessible in multiple ways if you have questions about completing your tax return, if you want to check your tax refund status, or you need help from the IRS for another tax-related purpose.
These are 5 easy ways to connect and contact the IRS:
1. Connect With the IRS Online
By far the most convenient and recommended way to contact the IRS and get the information you need is by accessing the IRS website at IRS.gov
On this site, you will find a tremendous amount of information, including answers to frequently asked questions, tax law changes, and basic tax law questions. This is by no means a substitute for talking directly with a tax expert, but this website could be a good point to start to find basic and general tax guidance.
As for any tax refund that you may be expecting, there's a special tool available to track its status. By entering "Where's My Refund?" and clicking on "Check My Refund Status", you may track your refund payment.
2. Visit Your Local IRS Office
If you are looking to have your tax questions answered by an IRS Agent, you may personally visit a local IRS office, known as Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs), which the IRS maintains as a network of local offices and where you can go to ask questions and get service. For this purpose, you may visit the IRS website to search for a Taxpayer Assistance Center office near you. It is highly recommended that prior to your visit, you call 844-545-5640 to find out if your nearest TAC is open and to reserve a time slot.
To provide you better service, the IRS offices are supposed to have Multilingual service available in every office.
Be prepared for a wait if you're headed to a local IRS office during peak tax season and after the offices have opened again. It might be to your advantage to check every online avenue available to find the information and assistance you need first, or that you simply contact a tax professional that can help you without further delays.
3. Contact the IRS by Phone
The next best option is to contact the IRS by telephone. The waiting time for phone calls is usually very long, and many times phone calls may not serve your purpose because sensitive information is not always shared by phone. However, the IRS provides a few toll-free numbers to assist you, depending on your circumstance:
- 800-829-1040 for individuals who have questions about anything related to personal taxes, available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time
- 800-829-4933 for businesses with tax-related questions, available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time
- 877-829-5500 for non-profit tax questions, available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time
- 866-699-4083 for estate and gift tax questions, available from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time
- 866-699-4096 for excise tax questions, available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time
- 800-829-4059 for taxpayers who are hearing impaired, no time restrictions
4. Expats and International Callers May Contact the IRS by Phone
If you're a U.S. Expat, International Caller, or an Oversees taxpayer who needs to contact the IRS, you may call the IRS at
+1 800-829-1040 (if you are in Guam, the Bahamas, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico)
+1 267-941-1000
Overseas taxpayers may also fax a tax question to +1 681-247-3101 or use the international contact address page at the IRS
5. Correspond With the IRS by Mail
You may send traditional correspondence via a stamped and mailed letter if you don’t mind waiting a longer period for a response. The most effective way to contact the IRS personnel by mail is to contact the director of your local IRS district or your local Taxpayer Assistance Center. To receive a response, you should allow at least 45 days or sometimes longer.
Furthermore, the IRS advises against mailing your tax forms and payments to them, but there are certain occasions in which you may have no other option. Thus, if you need to do so, the mailing is another way of getting your tax return to the IRS. Expect to wait six to eight weeks for your refund to be issued by paper check.
Your Best Option
Contacting the IRS is most of the time a frustrating experience for many taxpayers. The long waiting times and limited access to an IRS agent make the process more difficult. This is one of the main reasons why is contacting a tax professional that can handle these types of matters for you and dedicate the time to your specific set of circumstances remains your best option.
Attorney Alexandra Sabalier offers an initial consultation to give you the opportunity to get your questions answered, and your tax issues solved. Don't wait any longer and contact her today without waiting in line or getting an automated response. Let a Licensed Tax Attorney facilitate your tax processes for you.
