How to Actually Talk to a Human at the IRS?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.