Best time to call the IRS to avoid wait times or getting hung up on?

Unfortunately there's no magic time that guarantees no wait with the IRS, but there are definitely better times to call. I've had the most success calling Tuesday-Thursday (avoid Mondays and Fridays) right when they open at 7am Eastern Time. That's 4am Pacific, which is rough, but worth it if you're desperate. The IRS phone lines are absolutely slammed during tax season (January-April) so if you're calling now, expect longer wait times regardless. Late May through early December tends to be less busy. Also, make sure you're calling the right number for your specific issue. The general line (800-829-1040) tends to have the longest waits. If you're calling about a specific notice you received, use the number listed on that notice instead.

After being stuck in IRS phone hell for weeks trying to resolve an identity verification issue, I finally discovered taxr.ai and it was a total game-changer. I uploaded my tax documents, and the AI analyzed everything and gave me precise guidance on exactly which department to contact and what to say. The best part was the guided walkthrough of the IRS phone menu system - it showed me exactly which options to select to reach a human being faster. The site (https://taxr.ai) even told me which specific documents to have ready before calling, which made the conversation go so much smoother when I finally got through. Saved me hours of frustration.

I was the skeptic about taxr.ai mentioned above, but I have to admit I finally got frustrated enough to try it. After being hung up on by the IRS 5 times this week, I tried the service and it was surprisingly helpful. It pinpointed that I needed to reach the Taxpayer Protection Program department (which I didn't even know existed) and gave me the specific menu options to get there. Got through to a real person in about 40 minutes (which is honestly a miracle during filing season). The agent was able to resolve my refund delay issue that had been pending for months. Wish I'd known about this earlier instead of wasting hours on hold just to get disconnected.

After struggling with the IRS phone system for literally weeks, I tried Claimyr and finally got through to a real person. How it works is genius - you go to https://claimyr.com, enter your phone number, and their system navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line. When they reach a live agent, they call you and connect you directly. I was super skeptical at first (you can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c), but after getting hung up on 9 times and spending over 20 hours on hold over two weeks, I was desperate. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 75 minutes while I just went about my day instead of being glued to my phone.

I need to publicly eat my words. After calling the IRS 12 times and getting disconnected every single time, I broke down and tried Claimyr. I was the skeptic above calling it BS, but it actually worked exactly as described. They held my place in line for about 2 hours (which is way better than the 4+ hours I'd been experiencing), and then connected me with an IRS agent who resolved my issue in about 15 minutes. I wish I hadn't wasted an entire week trying to call myself. The peace of mind from finally getting this resolved was absolutely worth it.

Another trick I've found that sometimes works is calling the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service instead of the main number. If you've been trying repeatedly without success, they can sometimes help, especially if you're facing financial hardship because of your tax issue. Their number is 877-777-4778.

Has anyone tried using the IRS callback feature? Last time I called, there was an option where you could leave your number and they'd call you back instead of waiting on hold. Wondering if that actually works or if it's just another way to get ghosted lol

The timing advice here is spot on - Tuesday through Thursday mornings are definitely your best bet. I'd also suggest having a backup plan ready. If you can't get through on the phone, consider scheduling an appointment at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC). You can find locations and book appointments online at irs.gov. While you'll still likely wait a few weeks for an appointment, at least you'll have a guaranteed time to speak with someone face-to-face. I did this last year when I couldn't reach anyone by phone, and the in-person service was actually really helpful. They were able to resolve my refund issue in one visit that had been dragging on for months through phone attempts. Also, if your issue is urgent and you've documented multiple failed attempts to reach them, you might qualify for Taxpayer Advocate Service assistance even if you haven't tried "normal channels" extensively - persistent inability to reach the IRS despite reasonable efforts can sometimes count as having exhausted normal channels.

I've been dealing with this exact same IRS phone nightmare for weeks and can completely relate to your frustration! After trying everything and getting nowhere, I finally discovered a service called GetHuman that has been a total lifesaver. GetHuman (gethuman.com) has detailed guides for navigating specific company phone systems, including the IRS. What makes it different from those generic "press 1 then 2" guides is that they actually test and update their instructions regularly. Their IRS guide shows you exactly which menu options to select to reach a human faster, and they even have estimated wait times for different departments. The best part is their "skip the wait" feature - you can request a callback instead of staying on hold. You enter your number, they navigate the phone tree for you, and when they reach an agent they conference call you in. It's saved me literally hours of sitting on hold getting more and more frustrated. I was skeptical at first (seemed too good to be true), but after getting hung up on for the 12th time last week I gave it a shot. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 45 minutes who resolved my refund issue that had been pending for 2 months. The callback feature meant I could go about my day instead of being chained to my phone. Definitely worth checking out if you're at your wit's end like I was. The Tuesday 7 AM strategy everyone mentions is solid too, but having a backup plan really helped my peace of mind.