Best Number to Call IRS About My 2019 Tax Return Issue?

For 2019 tax returns specifically, you need to call 800-829-1040. I waited exactly 97 minutes last Thursday, but finally got through. The IRS has exactly 3 years to process assessments for most situations, so you're right at the statute of limitations cutoff for 2019 returns. Press 1 for English, then 2 for tax questions, then 1 for individual taxes, then 3 for all other questions, then 2 for all other questions again, then 4 for all other inquiries. Enter your SSN when prompted. They're open 7am-7pm local time Monday through Friday.

Try https://taxr.ai for older returns. It helped me understand my 2019 transcript. Shows processing dates. Explains status codes. Highlights deadlines. Identifies common errors. Predicts refund timing. Explains collection notices. Works for international situations too. Saved me hours of confusion.

You need to call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. I had issues with my 2019 return on March 15, 2023, and regular IRS agents couldn't help. The Taxpayer Advocate can intervene when you've tried normal channels. Called them on April 2nd and they assigned me a case advocate by April 10th. They have special authority to resolve stuck cases, especially older ones like 2019 that are approaching statute limitations.

I was in a similar situation with an older return. After checking the IRS.gov contact page and trying the recommended numbers, I was still getting nowhere. I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an actual IRS agent instead of waiting on hold for hours. They called the right department for my specific issue and got me connected to a live person who could actually help with my 2019 return. Saved me so much frustration and time - I understand how overwhelming it can be, especially as someone navigating the US tax system from another country.

I'm not sure calling any number will help much with a 2019 return at this point. The IRS is still working through their backlog from the pandemic years, and older returns might not be prioritized. Have you tried sending a written inquiry instead? Sometimes that works better for older tax years, but it might take several weeks to get a response.

The Automated Underreporter (AUR) unit handles most discrepancy cases for prior years, and they absolutely can resolve 2019 issues by phone. Form 8822 might be required if your address changed since filing. The Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED) for 2019 returns isn't until 2026 for most cases, giving you plenty of time to resolve this. Phone contact is definitely more efficient than correspondence for these situations.

Getting through to the IRS about older returns is like trying to find water in a desert - seems impossible until you find the right oasis. I was in a similar boat with my 2018 return last year. After trying for weeks, I finally got through using the Practitioner Priority Service line (866-860-4259) even though I'm not a tax pro. Something about the way their phone system was set up let me get through. It's like finding the secret passage in a maze - might be worth trying if all else fails!