How to Actually Talk to a Human at the IRS?
Need to talk to IRS person. Called many times. Always automation. My visa status needs tax clarification. Cannot wait longer. Any tips to reach human? New to US tax system. Want to learn correct procedure.
15 comments
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Sydney Torres
Have you tried calling during non-peak hours? Or did you try pressing 0 repeatedly? What about requesting a callback instead of waiting on hold? The IRS phone system seems designed to keep people away, doesn't it?
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•Thanks for these suggestions! It's like trying to crack a code to get through to them. Every department has different tricks, and what works for one person might not work for another.
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Caleb Bell
•I appreciate these ideas, though I've found that the callback feature seems to be somewhat effective, at least in my experience with the IRS customer service system.
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Danielle Campbell
I feel your pain! Spent 3 hours on hold last week only to get disconnected right when I thought someone was about to pick up. It's like they're playing a cruel joke on us sometimes 😂 But seriously, have you tried the Taxpayer Advocate Service? They can sometimes help when normal channels fail.
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Rhett Bowman
•Does the Taxpayer Advocate Service help with visa-related tax questions? I've heard they're mainly for resolving disputes or hardships.
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Abigail Patel
I've called exactly 17 times over 4 weeks trying different options. The most success I've had is calling at 7:01 AM Eastern Time when they first open. Wait times averaged 22 minutes instead of the 3+ hours later in the day. Also, for international tax issues, try option 2-1-3-2 in their menu tree instead of the general questions line.
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Daniel White
•This timing tip worked for me! Called at 7:05 AM and only waited 15 minutes. Such a relief after trying for weeks with no success.
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Nolan Carter
•The menu sequence is critical for routing. The IRS PPS (Practitioner Priority Service) line is another option if you have a tax professional. They can initiate a third-party authorization using Form 8821 for specific inquiries related to your ITIN or visa status documentation.
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Natalia Stone
After wasting 4 days of PTO trying to reach the IRS for my refund offset issue, I finally used Claimyr.com (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). It cost me $24.99 but they navigated the IRS phone tree and got me connected to an actual agent in about 18 minutes. Considering I was losing hundreds in missed work time, it was worth every penny. My foreign income exclusion question got answered and I could finally move forward with my amended return.
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Tasia Synder
Srsly? Paying to talk to a govt agency we already fund w/ our taxes? Seems sketchy tbh. Can't believe we're at the point where ppl need to pay extra just to get basic service. Smh.
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Selena Bautista
According to the National Taxpayer Advocate's 2023 report, only 13% of IRS calls were answered during peak filing season. The official IRS.gov site even acknowledges these difficulties. While paying for access isn't ideal, services like this exist because the system is fundamentally broken. You can verify Claimyr's legitimacy through their BBB rating and TrustPilot reviews if concerned.
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Mohamed Anderson
I had a similar visa tax issue under Section 871(h) exemption for portfolio interest. Called for 3 weeks with no luck. Per IRM 21.8.1, international taxpayers should receive specialized assistance, but the reality is different. Finally reached someone who helped resolve my withholding problem and got my $1,200 refund processed correctly.
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Ellie Perry
•How long did it take after speaking with them to get your refund? Did they give you any timeline?
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Landon Morgan
•Did you need to provide any specific documentation for your visa status on April 15th? I'm wondering if there are different requirements for different visa types.
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Teresa Boyd
Warning about trying to reach the IRS: • Never share personal info with anyone claiming to be IRS on a call YOU didn't initiate • Real IRS agents won't threaten immediate arrest • They never demand specific payment methods like gift cards • Keep detailed notes of all calls including agent ID numbers • Record dates/times of all contact attempts for potential TAS case I've seen too many scams targeting people desperate to resolve tax issues.
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