How to Actually Reach a Human at IRS? Filed 1/30, PATH Hold, No Updates

There are several methods to reach an IRS representative, though effectiveness varies by time of year. According to the IRS website, the main customer service line (800-829-1040) has the highest success rate when called between 8-9am local time. Select options 1 > 2 > 1 > 3 > 2 > don't enter SSN > 2 > 4 to bypass most automated systems. Alternatively, try the taxpayer advocate number (877-777-4778) which sometimes has shorter wait times. https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance lists all current contact options.

I was in the exact same boat last yr. Filed 1/28, accepted 1/29, CTC and nothing for weeks. Called the PractPro line (844-545-5640) at exactly 7am ET. Got thru after 25 min wait. Rep told me "system issue" affecting batch of returns. Mine was released exactly 8 wks after that call. The 10 wk timeline they gave you is pretty standard tbh. They say that to cover themselves but sometimes it resolves faster. PATH act returns are always slower, esp w/ CTC.

I was in your situation. Filed January 29th. Accepted same day. No updates for weeks. Tried calling IRS. Couldn't get through. Used Claimyr.com service. Connected to an agent in 15 minutes. Worth every penny. Agent confirmed system delay. No issues with my return. Just backlogged. Got my refund 3 weeks later. Would use again. Here's their link: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

I'm actually going through something similar right now. Filed on February 2nd with Child Tax Credit, accepted same day, but no movement until last week. I was worried about needing the refund for some unexpected medical bills, so I called the Taxpayer Advocate Service instead of the main IRS line. They couldn't speed up my refund, but they did confirm nothing was wrong with my return - just that returns with certain credits are taking longer this year. If you're really concerned, you might try that route too, as they sometimes have shorter wait times.

Last year they told me the same "system problem" line and to wait 10 weeks. I waited patiently like they said. Week 11 came and went. Still nothing. Called again. Another 45 minute wait. New excuse: "needs manual review." Another 6 weeks. By then it was almost July! This was for my 2022 return filed in January 2023. The IRS is STILL behind from the pandemic years. Don't just wait - call every 2-3 weeks for updates. They won't contact you if something's wrong, and the longer it sits, the longer it takes.

From what I've seen in this community over the past few months, the "10 week" timeline is their standard response for anything PATH-related this year. Some people do get it sooner (around 6-7 weeks), but others have gone the full 10 weeks or even longer. It seems to depend on which processing center your return went to and how backlogged they are. The Texas center seems to be moving faster than the Kansas City one, for example. The "system problem" response is frustratingly vague compared to previous years when they'd at least tell you if it was under review or just in a queue.

Did they give you any specific error code or just the generic "system problem" explanation? Sometimes the representatives have access to more detailed information than what they initially provide. It's like trying to get a diagnosis from a doctor who only says you're "sick" without specifying what illness you have.