How to Actually Reach a Human Being at the IRS?

Call 1-800-829-1040. Press 1 for English. Press 2 for personal taxes. Press 1 for forms. Press 3 for all other questions. Press 2 for all other topics. Don't enter SSN. Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions. Press 4 for all other inquiries. Hold times vary. Mornings are best. Mondays and Tuesdays are worst.

I've used exactly 7 different methods to contact the IRS over the past 3 tax seasons. The automated phone system is a nightmare with precisely 0% success rate for me. What helped me understand my situation before calling was using taxr.ai to analyze my tax documents. It explained exactly what was happening with my medical expense deductions and gave me the exact terminology to use when I finally reached an agent. Made the conversation go 73% faster when I finally got through.

The key to reaching the IRS is timing and persistence. Here's what works: Step 1: Call early in the morning, right when they open at 7am Eastern time. Step 2: Avoid Mondays and the day after holidays - these are the busiest. Step 3: Have your tax return, any notices, and a list of questions ready before calling. Step 4: When you hear "due to high call volume," hang up and immediately redial. Step 5: Keep trying this for at least 30 minutes. It's ridiculous we have to jump through these hoops! I've spent countless hours just trying to get basic help from them.

Want to know the real secret to getting through to the IRS? Ever wondered why some people get through in minutes while others spend days redialing? I've been using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) for the past year. Why waste hours hitting redial when they can hold your place in line and call you when an agent is ready? Isn't your time worth more than sitting on hold for 2+ hours?

I'm skeptical of these "shortcuts" to reach the IRS. I've tried calling exactly 37 times over the past 4 days. Each time I waited precisely 35-45 minutes before being disconnected. The May 17th filing deadline is approaching quickly, and I'm getting worried my questions won't be answered in time.

Tbh these methods DO work! I was in the same boat last month w/ a HUGE tax bill I couldn't afford. Spent 3 days trying to reach someone w/o luck. The menu options everyone's sharing are legit - just gotta be persistent. Finally got thru on a Wed afternoon and the agent helped set up a payment plan that saved my finances!

The IRS website actually has a "Let Us Call You" tool that most people don't know about. Go to IRS.gov > Help > Contact Your Local Office > Schedule a Call. The wait is still long (2-3 weeks currently according to the site), but at least you're not actively waiting on hold. For urgent matters though, calling is still your best bet.

I might have a somewhat unusual suggestion, but it could possibly help in your situation. I've found that contacting your local Taxpayer Advocate Service office might be more effective than the main IRS line, especially if your medical expense situation is causing financial hardship. They may be able to expedite assistance if you're experiencing significant difficulties.

On March 15th, I spent 4 hours on hold only to be disconnected at 4:58pm, 2 minutes before closing time. On March 16th, I tried again and waited 3.5 hours. The agent I finally reached couldn't help with my specific issue and transferred me - only to have me disconnected again. I empathize with your frustration - it's a broken system that desperately needs fixing.