IRS Columbus Office - Current Walk-In Availability per IRM 1.2.1.12?

As of April 12, 2024, the Columbus IRS office at 395 E. Broad Street is accepting walk-ins, but with significant limitations. They operate Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, but walk-ins are only accepted if staff capacity permits. From my understanding, they're currently prioritizing appointment-based visits. I would strongly recommend calling 844-545-5640 to schedule an appointment rather than risking a wasted trip. The earliest appointments are typically available 2-3 weeks out during tax season.

I wouldn't risk going without an appointment... I tried calling that IRS number for three days and couldn't get through. The hold times were insane and I kept getting disconnected. I was hesitant to spend money on anything, but I used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) and it actually worked. They kept my place in line and called me when an agent was available. I got an appointment scheduled for the following week. Might be worth it if you're in a time crunch with work and kids.

I was at the Columbus office last month. They have a triage person at the front who evaluates whether they can help you as a walk-in. In my experience, they were handling simple issues like transcript requests and payment plans without appointments. More complex matters like audits, identity verification, or anything requiring account access were being scheduled. The key is to arrive early - I got there at 8:15 and there were already 6 people waiting. By 9:30, they were turning walk-ins away and telling them to schedule appointments.

I successfully did a walk-in at the Columbus TAC about three weeks ago. The Form 8822-B I submitted to change my address wasn't processed correctly, causing my refund to be misdirected. I arrived at approximately 8:45 AM on a Tuesday, and the queue management system (QMS) was already showing a 2-hour wait time. They're definitely accepting walk-ins, but the Taxpayer Advocate representative onsite informed me that they're operating at reduced capacity due to staffing constraints. The key is to bring all required documentation per Publication 5027 to avoid being turned away.

Not sure if this helps your specific situation, but I was freaking out about a CP2000 notice I got (worst timing ever, right before my vacation 🙄). I needed to understand if I really owed what they claimed. I used taxr.ai to analyze my notice and transcripts, and it actually showed me that part of the discrepancy was already resolved in my favor. Saved me a trip to the IRS office altogether. Might be worth checking if your dependent verification issue is something that could be resolved by understanding your transcript better before making the trek to the office.

Just to clarify on the Columbus location specifically - their Practitioner Priority Service confirmed to me yesterday that they are technically accepting walk-ins, but they're implementing what they call "staffing-based capacity limits" under the Taxpayer First Act provisions. This means they're using a virtual queue system that often reaches capacity by mid-morning. If you absolutely need to go in person without an appointment, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings have been reported as the least busy times according to the TAC manager.

Have u tried the IRS ID verify online portal? I had a dependent issue last yr and was able to upload docs thru the portal instead of going in person. Saved me PTO days. Check irs.gov/identity-theft-central - might work for ur situation. If not, the Cols office isn't too bad compared to Cincinnati from what I've heard.

I would possibly reconsider attempting a walk-in at the Columbus location right now. I went there last Thursday thinking I could be seen, but was turned away rather abruptly. The security guard mentioned they were only taking appointments due to "seasonal staffing allocations" - whatever that means. There were at least 15 other people who were also turned away, some of whom had traveled quite far. One elderly gentleman had driven nearly two hours only to be told he needed an appointment. It might be different on other days, but it seems somewhat unpredictable at the moment.

According to the IRS.gov website (https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office), all Taxpayer Assistance Centers now require appointments, but there are exceptions for certain services. Based on the Columbus office's specific guidelines, they do accept walk-ins for: (1) payments, (2) form pickups, (3) transcript requests, and (4) ITIN services. For dependent verification issues, which typically involve EITC or CTC documentation review, an appointment is officially required. However, I've seen reports on the r/tax subreddit that some offices are making exceptions during slower periods. If you decide to try a walk-in, bring multiple forms of ID (photo ID, SSN cards for you and dependents, birth certificates, etc.) and any correspondence you've received.

Columbus TAC has limited walk-ins. Tuesdays best. Arrive by 8AM. Bring two forms of ID. Have all documents organized. Expect 3+ hour wait even if accepted. No guarantee you'll be seen. Better to call for appointment. No cell phones allowed inside. No food or drinks. Parking is $10 nearby. Security is strict about what you can bring in.

I had a very similar dependent verification issue last month and ended up going to the Columbus TAC as a walk-in. Here's what worked for me: I arrived at 7:45 AM on a Wednesday (before they officially opened) and was about 8th in line. They have a paper sign-in system now that starts around 8:15 AM. The triage staff member was actually quite helpful - she reviewed my documentation and determined my case could be handled that day. Total time was about 4 hours from arrival to resolution, but they completely sorted out my dependent verification and even helped me understand why the online system had rejected my documentation. Pro tip: bring snacks and a phone charger if you go this route, and make sure you have certified copies of birth certificates, not just regular photocopies. The staff really know their stuff once you get past the access barriers.