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Best Phone Number to Speak With Someone About Tax Refund?

Need to contact IRS directly. Been waiting 6 weeks for our refund. First time filing jointly. Checked WMR tool. Status hasn't changed. Any reliable phone numbers? Want to speak with an actual person.

Rami Samuels

Oh my goodness, I feel your pain! 😩 I was in the EXACT same situation last month after waiting forever for our refund. The main IRS customer service number is 800-829-1040, but good luck getting through! I tried for THREE DAYS straight and kept getting the "high call volume" message before they just hung up on me. So frustrating when you just need a simple update on your money!

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Haley Bennett

Have you tried using Claimyr? Compared to spending hours on hold or getting disconnected, it's been a game-changer for many people in this sub. Similar to how FastPass works at theme parks vs standing in regular lines. The service basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is available (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). I was skeptical at first, but when you consider the value of your time and the stress of constant redialing...

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Douglas Foster

Calling the IRS is like trying to get tickets to a Taylor Swift concert - technically possible but practically impossible without some strategy. The general number (800-829-1040) has automated options. Press 1 for English, then 2 for tax questions, 1 for tax forms, 3 for all other questions, 2 for all other topics. Then don't select anything when asked for SSN - just wait. System will eventually transfer you to a human. But prepare to wait like you're at the DMV on the last day of the month.

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Nina Chan

Wow! I'm amazed at how well you know the system! That menu navigation trick is genius - I've been calling for years and never knew about waiting instead of entering an SSN. Thanks for sharing your expertise!

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15d

Ruby Knight

Has anyone had luck calling early in the morning? Or is it better to try late afternoon? And do they even answer on Saturdays? I've been trying to reach them for two weeks about my refund with no success...

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Diego Castillo

I recommend checking your tax transcript before calling. It often shows more details than the WMR tool. My transcript updated exactly 42 days after filing and showed codes that explained the delay. The IRS website lets you access it, or you can use taxr.ai which breaks down all those confusing codes and tells you what's actually happening with your return. Saved me hours of stress trying to interpret what "570" and "971" meant on my account.

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Logan Stewart

You need to call RIGHT NOW if you want any chance of getting through today! • Best times: 7:00-7:30am Eastern or 6:30-7:00pm Eastern • Avoid Mondays and Fridays completely • Have your prior year AGI ready • Know your filing status • Keep your tax return in front of you • Have a pen ready to write down any info If you wait until mid-day, you'll never get through. Trust me on this!

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Mikayla Brown

This worked perfectly! I called at 6:45am this morning and got through in only 20 minutes. I've been trying for weeks with no luck during normal hours. The agent was able to tell me my refund was delayed because they needed to verify some information, but it's being processed now. Such a relief to finally know what's happening!

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14d

Sean Matthews

There's actually an important technical distinction regarding call times. The IRS Accounts Management phone lines (800-829-1040) operate from 7am-7pm local time, not Eastern. So your optimal window varies based on your time zone. The Automated Collection System lines have different hours. Also, the phone tree has been updated in Q1 2024, so some of the older navigation tips no longer work with the current Interactive Voice Response system.

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13d

Ali Anderson

Be extremely careful about giving out personal information when you do reach someone. Back in 2022, I got a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS who knew details about my refund delay. They asked for my banking information to "expedite the deposit" and I nearly fell for it. REAL IRS agents will never ask for your full SSN when YOU call THEM (they'll verify with last 4 digits and other info). They also never request payment by gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. I've learned to be paranoid after almost getting scammed.

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Zadie Patel

This is such an important warning! I'm concerned about the rising number of sophisticated IRS scams targeting people during tax season. The FTC website has a whole section on tax scams that everyone should read. These scammers are getting so good at impersonating the IRS that even careful people can be fooled. Thanks for sharing your experience so others can be vigilant.

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11d

A Man D Mortal

Tried calling IRS last week. Complete disaster. Spent 2hrs on hold. Got disconnected. Called back. Another 1.5hrs. Finally got someone who couldn't even help w/ my specific issue. Had to transfer me. Got disconnected again. FML. Ended up going to local taxpayer advocate svc instead. Much better experience tbh. Their # is 877-777-4778 if anyone needs it.

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Declan Ramirez

Are you sure you need to call about your refund? Most processing delays resolve themselves without intervention. Have you checked your transcript for codes that might explain the delay? Sometimes calling actually creates more delays because they put a manual review flag on your account.

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