How to reach an IRS rep in 2025? Phone menu options changed and can't get through
Need help getting through to the IRS! The phone system seems completely different from last year. I've been trying to call about my 2023 refund that's been 'processing' since I filed in February. I've tried the main number (800-829-1040) at least 12 times over the past 3 weeks but keep getting the automated message saying they're experiencing high call volume, then it hangs up. I used to know the exact sequence of numbers to press to reach a human but they must have changed everything. has anyone successfully gotten through recently? What options do you have to select now to reach an actual person? I'm getting desperate since it's almost September and I haven't heard anything about my $5,870 refund.
40 comments
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Omar Fawaz
I actually got through last week! Here's what worked for me: 1. Call the main number (800-829-1040) early in the morning - I'm talking right when they open at 7am Eastern time 2. Press 1 for English 3. Press 2 for questions about tax form, tax history, or payments 4. Press 1 for questions about a form 5. Press 3 for all other questions 6. Press 2 for all other questions again 7. When it asks for your SSN, DON'T ENTER IT - just wait silently 8. After it asks a second time and you don't respond, it should route you to a representative The wait was still about 40 minutes but I finally got to speak with someone who helped resolve my issue with my 2022 return. Good luck!
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Freya Thomsen
Thank you so much for laying this out! I'm definitely trying this tomorrow morning. Did they actually help solve your issue or just give you more generic info?
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Omar Fawaz
They actually fixed my issue! The person I spoke with was surprisingly helpful and pulled up all my info. Just be prepared to verify your identity with them once connected.
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Chloe Martin
I tried this exact sequence yesterday and it didn't work. Still got the "high call volume" message and got disconnected. The IRS phone system is literal hell 🔥
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Diego Rojas
This worked for me too! Had to try twice because first time the estimated wait was over 2 hours and I couldn't stay on that long. Second try was much better.
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Anastasia Sokolov
I don't think this works anymore. They must have changed it again because I tried exactly this sequence yesterday and still couldn't get through 🤬
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StarSeeker
I was in the exact same situation with my refund stuck in limbo. After wasting hours trying to get through on the phone, I finally used taxr.ai to help understand what was happening with my return. It analyzed my transcript and explained exactly why my refund was delayed (identity verification issue I didn't even know about) and gave me the exact steps to fix it. Soooo much better than trying to decipher all those codes myself or waiting on hold for hours. Honestly wish I'd found it months earlier instead of playing detective with my transcript like a crazy person. https://taxr.ai
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Anastasia Sokolov
Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?
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StarSeeker
It does wayyy more than just read the transcript. It actually explains what everything means in normal human language, identifies any issues, and tells you exactly what to do next. It spotted problems I never would've noticed and saved me from having to call altogether. I'm telling EVERYONE about this now because it saved me so much stress!
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Sean O'Donnell
Is this some kind of ad? These "miracle solutions" always seem too good to be true 🤨
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StarSeeker
Not an ad lol, just someone who was pulling their hair out dealing with the IRS for months. Trust me, after you've spent 15+ hours on hold and gotten nowhere, you get pretty excited when something actually works. Try it or don't, but it saved me weeks of frustration.
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Zara Ahmed
I just checked out taxr.ai too and it's legit helpful. Showed me I had a freeze code I didn't even know existed on my account.
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Luca Esposito
After weeks of trying to get thru to the irs with no luck, I finally used the Claimyr calling app (claimyr.com) and had an agent call ME back within 30 minutes. Didn't have to sit on hold or play those stupid phone menu games. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was holding up my refund and put a note on my account to expedite it. Best money I ever spent considering I was waiting on a $4000 refund that was just sitting there! Dont waste your time trying to get thru on your own.
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Nia Thompson
wait for real? does this actually work? im so tired of being hung up on by the stupid automated system
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Luca Esposito
Yep 100% real. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for weeks. They basically navigate the phone tree for you and secure your spot in line, then call you when an agent is ready. Saved me from listening to that horrible hold music for hours.
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Mateo Rodriguez
sounds like one of those ads that pops up everywhere. anyone ACTUALLY try this besides the person selling it? 🙄
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GalaxyGuardian
I used it last month and it worked. Got a call back in about 45 mins. The agent helped me figure out why my refund was delayed (they needed additional verification) and I got my money about 2 weeks later.
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Aisha Abdullah
What I find crazy is that in 2025 the IRS still has such a terrible phone system. Every other company has figured out how to handle customer service but the agency that takes our money somehow cant figure it out? Make it make sense 🤦♂️
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Ethan Wilson
Its because they don't want to be accessible. They're hoping you'll give up and go away.
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Yuki Tanaka
Theyre actually severely underfunded. Congress has been cutting their budget for years so they cant hire enough people to answer calls.
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Aisha Abdullah
Even with budget issues, they could at least implement a callback feature like every other organization on the planet.
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Carmen Diaz
I've had success calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service instead of the main IRS number. Their job is literally to help with these problems. The number is 877-777-4778. they can't always solve your problem directly but they can often push things along or tell you what's really happening with your return.
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Andre Laurent
I gave up on calling completely and just went to my local IRS office in person. Made an appointment online and actually got one for the next week. The person I met with was surprisingly helpful and fixed my issue in 20 minutes. Might be worth trying if you're close to an office.
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Freya Thomsen
That's not a bad idea! I didn't even think of going in person. Just checked and there's an office about 30 mins from me. How do you make an appointment?
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Andre Laurent
Go to irs.gov/help/contact-my-local-office-in-person and use the appointment tool. Wayyy easier than I expected!!
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AstroAce
Has anyone tried calling right before they close? I've heard they sometimes pickup then because they're trying to clear the queue.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
Tried that last week. Called at 6:30pm (they close at 7) and still got the "due to high call volume" message and disconnected 👎
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Jamal Brown
This used to work in like 2020 but they caught on and now they start cutting off the queue even earlier
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Mei Zhang
Whatever u do, dont press the options for payment questions unless ur actually trying to pay. They answer those calls way faster but will just transfer u back to the main queue if ur calling about anything else and you'll have wasted ur time.
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Liam McConnell
Instead of trying to get someone on the phone, I used taxr.ai last week to look at my transcript and it showed me that I was missing a form that I didn't even realize was required. Fixed that issue myself without spending hours on hold. The tool actually explained everything in my transcript in normal english instead of all those weird codes. https://taxr.ai
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Amara Oluwaseyi
hmm I've been burned by so many of these 'services' before... what makes this different?
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Liam McConnell
It's not like those scammy tax services that promise to get you a bigger refund. It just analyzes your IRS transcript and explains what's happening in plain language. I was about to pay my accountant $200 to look at my transcript but this was way cheaper and I got answers instantly.
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CosmicCaptain
Try calling the tax advocate service if you've been waiting more than 6 weeks for your refund. That's what finally worked for me.
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Giovanni Rossi
I filed in January and STILL dont have my refund. Calling is useless. Checking Where's My Refund is useless. The whole system is broken. At this point im convinced they're just holding our money to collect interest 🤬
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
SAME!! Filed Feb 2 and still waiting. This is ridiculous and should be illegal.
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Dylan Mitchell
Have either of you checked your transcripts? That's the only way to really see what's happening with your return.
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Giovanni Rossi
I tried but I can't even access my transcripts online because the verification system keeps rejecting my phone number 🙄
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Sofia Gutierrez
After trying for days to reach the IRS with no luck, I finally used the Claimyr app (claimyr.com) this morning and had an agent call me back within 45 mins. Talking to a real person was such a relief and they actually released my refund while I was on the phone! It was absolutely worth it to finally get answers after months of stress.
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Dmitry Petrov
another day, another company promising to fix the unfixable tax system lol
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Sofia Gutierrez
I get the skepticism, I really do. I tried calling on my own for THREE WEEKS before giving in. But when you're waiting on $6k+ that you need for bills, you get desperate. And hey, it actually worked so I'm not complaining.
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