IRS Phone Hours 7am-7pm EST - Why are their phones still off 30 min after opening?

Does this mean they actually do pick up if you're lucky enough to get through? And do they ever answer on Saturdays? I can never take calls during weekdays because of my job.

Yes, they absolutely do answer if you can get into the queue. The issue isn't that they're closed during stated hours, but rather their phone system has reached maximum capacity. Keep trying every 15-20 minutes and you'll likely get through eventually. As for Saturdays, the IRS does not currently offer weekend phone support. Your best option might be to call during your lunch break or see if you can step away from work briefly. Otherwise, consider using the IRS online tools at irs.gov which are available 24/7 for many common issues.

How does this work exactly? I'm trying to figure out if I need to amend my return from last year and don't want to wait 2 hours on hold just to ask a basic question.

Does it handle complex situations? I have self-employment income plus I moved states mid-year, and the IRS is giving me conflicting info about my liability.

The service is pretty straightforward - you upload your tax documents, returns, or IRS notices and their system analyzes everything to identify issues or answer questions. Their AI is trained on tons of IRS documentation and tax code, so it can spot discrepancies or explain confusing notices. It absolutely handles complex situations like yours with multiple income sources and state moves. That's actually where it really shines compared to general tax software. The system can identify which tax rules apply specifically to your situation across different jurisdictions and explain how they interact. Many users say it saved them from making expensive mistakes when dealing with multi-state or mixed-income scenarios.

Wait, how is that even possible? Doesn't the IRS have those automated systems that make you input your info? How does a third-party service get around that?

Sounds like a scam. No way some random company has a secret backdoor to the IRS. They're probably just charging people for something anyone could do themselves.

It's actually pretty clever how it works. The service calls the IRS and navigates through all the automated prompts for you. They use technology to stay on hold (sometimes for hours), and when a human IRS agent finally answers, their system immediately calls you and connects you directly to that agent. No backdoor access - they're just handling the frustrating waiting part. They don't input any of your personal information - you're not sharing any private details with them. When the IRS agent comes on the line and asks for your information, you're the one who provides it directly to the agent. It's basically like having someone physically press the phone buttons and sit on hold for you, then tag you in when it matters.

Do you know if calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service is any easier? I heard they can intervene when normal channels aren't working.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service can indeed help, but they're facing similar staffing issues. They're designed to assist with hardship cases or situations where normal IRS channels have failed repeatedly. However, they're not a workaround for typical tax questions. They prioritize cases where taxpayers are facing immediate financial harm, such as an incorrect levy that's freezing someone's bank account or a delayed refund causing someone to miss rent payments. For general tax questions or simple account issues, they'll usually redirect you back to the main IRS channels.

This actually works! I called the number on my CP14 notice yesterday at exactly 8:15am EST and got through in about 25 minutes. Way better than the general line.

I'm so glad to find others dealing with the same phone nightmare! I'm new to this community but have been lurking and reading all these tips. The 7:00 AM sharp strategy seems to be the consensus - I'm definitely going to try that tomorrow morning. Quick question for everyone who's had success: when you do get through, how long are the actual hold times once you're in the queue? I'm trying to figure out if I should block out my whole morning or if there's a typical wait time once you're actually connected to their system. Also, has anyone tried calling from different area codes? I heard a rumor that some regions might have less congested lines, but that could just be wishful thinking. At this point I'm willing to try anything! Thanks for all the detailed advice in this thread - it's so helpful to know I'm not the only one struggling with this.

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS queue (not just the "call back during business hours" message), the hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 45 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what department you're trying to reach. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings typically have shorter holds - maybe 45-90 minutes once you're in queue. Mondays can be brutal, sometimes 2-3 hours. The key is making sure you can actually get INTO the queue first, which is why that 7:00 AM sharp timing is so critical. As for different area codes, I don't think that makes a difference since you're calling a national toll-free number. The IRS routes calls to available agents regardless of where you're calling from. But I totally understand trying everything at this point - the frustration is real! One more tip: make sure your phone is fully charged and consider using a landline if you have one. Nothing worse than getting through after hours of trying only to have your cell phone die during the call. Good luck tomorrow morning!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get into the queue (past that dreaded "call back during business hours" message), hold times can vary wildly. I've had waits as short as 20 minutes and as long as 3 hours, depending on the day and time. Tuesday mornings around 8 AM seem to have the shortest holds in my experience. As for calling from different area codes, I don't think that makes a difference since the IRS uses national call centers. The bottleneck is their system capacity, not regional routing. But hey, if you want to try a different number, go for it! One tip I didn't see mentioned yet: if you get disconnected after waiting (which happens more often than it should), immediately call back. Sometimes you'll get through faster on the second attempt, maybe because their system freed up some capacity. Good luck tomorrow morning!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get into the IRS queue (past that dreaded "call back during normal business hours" message), the hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 45 minutes to over 3 hours, with the average being around 90 minutes during peak tax season. My advice is to definitely block out your whole morning when you try. Have your phone on speaker, keep your tax documents handy, and be prepared for a long wait. The good news is that once you're in the queue, you're golden - don't hang up no matter how long it takes! As for the different area codes theory, I've never seen any evidence that works. The IRS phone system routes calls nationally regardless of where you're calling from. The timing and specific phone number you use matter way more than your location. One more tip since you're new to this struggle: if you do get disconnected after waiting (it happens sometimes), try calling back immediately. Sometimes you can get back into the queue faster since their system capacity fluctuates throughout the day. Good luck tomorrow morning - set that alarm for 6:59 AM and be ready to dial!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get into the queue (past that dreaded "call back during business hours" message), hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what department you're routed to. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter end, while Mondays and Fridays can be brutal. As for different area codes, I don't think that makes a difference since you're calling the same national IRS numbers regardless of where you're calling from. The bottleneck is on their end, not the phone routing. My advice: definitely block out your whole morning when you try. Even if you get through quickly, IRS agents often need time to research your account and you don't want to be rushed off the call because of other commitments. Better to have extra time and not need it than to finally reach someone and have to cut the conversation short! Good luck with your 7:00 AM attempt tomorrow - hope you have better luck than most of us have been having!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to their system (not just the "call back later" message), the hold times can vary wildly. During peak tax season like now, I've waited anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours even after getting into the queue. My advice would be to definitely block out your whole morning if possible. I haven't noticed any difference with area codes - the IRS phone system routes nationally, so your location shouldn't matter. What does seem to help is having all your documents ready before you call: SSN, filing status, exact amounts from your return, and any notice numbers. The agents can work much faster when you have everything at hand. One more tip: if you get disconnected (which happens more often than it should), don't panic. Call back immediately using the same number and routing - sometimes you can get back in the queue faster on a second attempt. Good luck with your 7 AM call tomorrow!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS queue (not just the "call back" message), hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 45 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what department you're trying to reach. During peak tax season like now, expect at least 1-2 hours on hold even after you're connected. My advice is definitely block out your whole morning if you're going to attempt this. Have something to do while waiting - I usually put it on speaker and do other work or chores. Some phones let you hang up and they'll call you back when an agent is available, but not all IRS lines offer this feature. As for different area codes, the IRS phone system routes everyone to the same national call centers regardless of where you're calling from, so unfortunately that won't help. The phone number you dial determines which department you reach, not your location. Good luck with your 7:00 AM attempt tomorrow - fingers crossed you get through quickly!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get into their queue (past that dreaded "call back during normal business hours" message), the hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to over 2 hours, depending on the day and time. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings around 8 AM tend to be on the shorter end - maybe 30-45 minutes. Fridays or late in the day can easily be 90+ minutes. I'd definitely recommend blocking out at least 2-3 hours if possible, just in case. Bring headphones, have your documents ready, and maybe prep some other tasks you can do while waiting. Nothing worse than finally getting through only to realize you don't have your tax paperwork handy! As for different area codes - I don't think that makes a difference since the IRS lines route to national call centers, not regional offices. But hey, if you're desperate enough to try spoofing your number, more power to you! The system is so broken that people resort to all kinds of creative solutions. Good luck tomorrow morning - hope the 7:00 AM strategy works for you!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get into the IRS queue (past that dreaded "call back during business hours" message), hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 45 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what department you're routed to. During peak tax season like now, I'd definitely block out at least 2-3 hours to be safe. The area code thing is unfortunately just a myth - all IRS phone lines route to the same national call centers regardless of where you're calling from. I tried calling from different states using Google Voice numbers and got the same results. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you do get through and need to call back later for any reason, ask the agent for a reference number for your case. Sometimes mentioning you have a previous case number can help you get routed more quickly on subsequent calls. Not guaranteed, but it's helped me a few times. Good luck with your 7 AM attempt tomorrow - fingers crossed the system cooperates!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to their system (past that dreaded "call back during business hours" message), the hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what department you need. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter end of that range. I'd definitely recommend blocking out at least 2-3 hours if possible, just to be safe. Nothing worse than finally getting in the queue only to have to hang up because of other commitments! As for different area codes - the IRS phone system is national, so your area code shouldn't matter. All calls get routed to the same regional centers regardless of where you're calling from. But hey, if you want to try it anyway, it certainly can't hurt! One more tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you have a smartphone, put the call on speaker and do other things while you wait. Makes the time go by much faster than just sitting there listening to hold music for hours.

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS queue (past that dreaded "call back during normal business hours" message), the hold times can vary wildly. In my experience, it's usually anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the day and what department you need. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter end of that range. I'd definitely recommend blocking out at least 2-3 hours just to be safe. Nothing worse than finally getting through only to have to hang up for a work meeting! As for the area code thing - I don't think that matters since you're calling the same national IRS lines regardless. The congestion is on their end, not based on where you're calling from. But hey, if you want to try calling from a different number, it can't hurt! One more tip: make sure your phone is fully charged and you're somewhere with good reception. I learned that the hard way when I finally got through after days of trying, only to have the call drop because of a weak signal. Good luck tomorrow morning!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through their phone system and into the queue, hold times can vary wildly depending on the day and type of issue. In my experience, you're looking at anywhere from 45 minutes to 2+ hours on hold even after getting connected. I'd definitely block out your whole morning if possible. As for the different area codes theory - I haven't noticed any difference, and I don't think it matters since the IRS uses a centralized phone system. All calls get routed to the same call centers regardless of where you're calling from. One tip I didn't see mentioned yet: if you have to hang up for any reason while on hold, don't immediately call back. Wait about 30 minutes before trying again, as their system sometimes temporarily blocks numbers that hang up and redial too quickly. Learned this the hard way! Good luck tomorrow morning - hopefully the 7:00 AM strategy works for you like it has for so many others here!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS queue (not just the "call back" message), hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to 2+ hours depending on the day and what department you need. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings after getting through at 7:00 AM tend to be on the shorter side - maybe 30-45 minutes. As for different area codes, the IRS phone system routes to the same national call centers regardless of where you're calling from, so that won't make a difference. All the 1-800 numbers go to the same overloaded system. My advice: definitely block out your whole morning if possible. Even if you get lucky with a shorter wait, having that time buffer removes the stress of watching the clock. And if you do get through faster, you can always use that extra time productively! The worst feeling is finally getting in the queue only to have to hang up because you ran out of time. Good luck tomorrow morning - hope the 7:00 AM strategy works for you!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS queue (which is the hard part), hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to 2+ hours depending on the day and what department you need. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter end of that range. As for different area codes, the IRS phone system is centralized, so calling from different regions won't help - you'll hit the same capacity limits regardless of where you're calling from. One tip I'd add: if you do get through and the agent can't fully resolve your issue in one call, ask them to add detailed notes to your account and get a reference number. This can save you from having to re-explain everything if you need to call back. Also, don't be afraid to politely ask to speak to a supervisor if the first agent seems unsure about your situation - sometimes the more experienced agents can resolve things much faster. Good luck with your 7 AM attempt tomorrow! Block out at least 2-3 hours just to be safe, but hopefully you'll get someone much sooner than that.

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS system (past that dreaded "call back during business hours" message), the hold times can vary wildly. During tax season, I've waited anywhere from 45 minutes to 3+ hours even after getting into the queue. Earlier in the morning tends to be better - if you get through right at 7:00 AM, you might only wait 30-60 minutes. Later in the day it gets progressively worse. As for different area codes, I don't think that makes a difference since the IRS uses a centralized phone system. All calls route to the same call centers regardless of where you're calling from. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you do get through and the agent can't fully resolve your issue in one call, ask them to put notes in your account and get a reference number. That way if you have to call back, the next agent can see what was already discussed. It can save you from having to explain your whole situation from scratch again. Block out at least 2-3 hours if you're going to attempt this - between getting through initially and then the hold time, it's unfortunately a significant time investment. But once you do reach someone, the agents are usually pretty helpful!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS system (past that dreaded "call back during business hours" message), the hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to 2.5 hours depending on the day and what department you need. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter end of that range. As for the area code theory - I've never seen any evidence that works. The IRS phone system routes calls nationally, so calling from a different area code won't help. You're still hitting the same overloaded system regardless of where you're calling from. One tip I'd add to what others have shared: if you do get through and get disconnected (which unfortunately happens), immediately call back. Sometimes they can see in their system that you were just connected and might be able to expedite getting you back to an agent. It's not guaranteed, but worth a shot if you lose the connection after waiting forever. Good luck with your 7:00 AM attempt tomorrow! Block out at least 3-4 hours just in case, but hopefully you'll get lucky with a shorter wait.

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get into the queue, wait times can vary wildly - I've experienced anywhere from 45 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what department you're trying to reach. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter side (45-90 minutes), while Monday mornings and Friday afternoons can be brutal. As for different area codes, I don't think that makes a difference since the IRS phone system routes calls nationally to available agents regardless of where you're calling from. The key is really about timing and which specific number you're calling. One thing I'd add to the great advice already shared: if you do get through and placed on hold, don't hang up even if the wait seems long! I made that mistake once after waiting 2 hours, thinking something was wrong, only to have to start the whole process over again. The hold music might cut out occasionally but that's normal - just stay on the line. Also, have all your documents ready before you call (SSN, filing info, any notices) because once you get an agent, they'll want to verify everything quickly and you don't want to waste that precious connection time searching for paperwork. Good luck tomorrow morning - hope the 7:00 AM strategy works for you!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS queue (past that initial capacity barrier), hold times can still vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what department you're trying to reach. Tuesday mornings seem to have the shortest waits once you're in - usually under an hour. As for calling from different area codes, I haven't noticed any difference personally, but that could be worth testing. The IRS phone system routes calls nationally, so I doubt location matters much, but desperate times call for creative solutions! One tip I'd add to what others have shared: if you do get through and your call gets disconnected (which unfortunately happens), ask the agent for a direct callback number before you start discussing your issue. Some agents can provide temporary direct lines that bypass the main queue for follow-up calls within 24-48 hours. Good luck tomorrow morning - set that alarm for 6:58 AM and be ready to dial right at 7:00! The persistence definitely pays off eventually.

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS queue (past that dreaded "call back during business hours" message), the hold times can vary wildly - I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what department you reach. Generally Tuesday/Wednesday mornings have shorter holds, maybe 30-45 minutes, while Mondays can be brutal. As for different area codes, the IRS phone system is centralized so your location shouldn't matter - you're calling the same national call center regardless. Though I've heard some people swear by it, I think it's more about timing than geography. My advice: definitely block out your whole morning when you try the 7:00 AM strategy. Have coffee ready, put it on speaker, and be prepared to wait once you get in the queue. But getting into that queue is the hardest part - once you're in, you will eventually talk to someone. Good luck tomorrow!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through to the IRS queue (which is the hard part), the hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to 2+ hours depending on the day and what department you need. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter end, while Monday mornings and Friday afternoons are brutal. As for the area code theory - I've heard that too but never found any solid evidence it actually works. The IRS phone system routes calls nationally, so I don't think your local area code makes much difference. Though if you're desperate enough to try, it probably can't hurt! One thing I'd add to the great advice already shared: when you do get through, have ALL your documents ready before you call. Tax returns, notices, SSN, previous year's AGI, etc. The agents are usually helpful but they move fast, and having everything at your fingertips will save both of you time. Nothing worse than finally reaching someone after hours of trying, only to have to call back because you couldn't find a document they needed! Good luck with the 7:00 AM sharp strategy tomorrow - I really hope it works for you!

Welcome to the IRS phone struggle club! Once you actually get into their queue system (meaning you hear hold music instead of the "call back during business hours" message), the wait times can vary wildly. I've experienced everything from 20 minutes to over 2 hours, but typically it's around 45-60 minutes during peak tax season. My advice is to definitely block out your whole morning when you try. Have your phone on speaker, your tax documents ready, and be prepared for a long haul. The worst thing is finally getting through only to realize you don't have the paperwork you need! As for the area code theory - I've never seen any evidence that makes a difference since you're calling the same national call centers regardless of where you're calling from. But hey, if you've got a friend in Alaska willing to let you use their number, might be worth a shot! The good news is that once you do reach an agent, they're usually pretty helpful and can resolve most issues in one call. It's just getting to that point that's the nightmare. Good luck tomorrow morning - set that 7:00 AM alarm!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through the initial phone system maze, hold times can vary wildly depending on the day and what you're calling about. In my experience, if you manage to get connected to the queue (instead of getting that "call back during business hours" message), you're usually looking at anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours on hold. Simple refund questions tend to be faster - maybe 30-45 minutes. But if you need to talk to someone about amended returns, payment plans, or account corrections, expect to be on hold for 1-2 hours minimum. I'd definitely block out your whole morning just to be safe. As for different area codes, I don't think that makes a difference since all the IRS phone lines route to the same national call centers regardless of where you're calling from. The key is really just timing and which specific number you call. One tip I didn't see mentioned yet - if you do get through and need to call back later for follow-up, ask the agent for a direct callback number or reference number. Sometimes they can set you up with a faster route for ongoing issues. Good luck tomorrow morning!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through the initial phone system and into the queue, hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 45 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what department you need. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter end of that range. As for different area codes - that's actually a myth. The IRS phone system routes all calls to the same national call centers regardless of where you're calling from. Your local area code won't give you any advantage. One thing I'd add to the great advice already shared: if you do get disconnected while on hold (which unfortunately happens sometimes), call back immediately using the same number and menu path. Sometimes their system will recognize that you were recently in queue and put you back in a priority position. It doesn't always work, but it's worth trying before starting completely over. Also, make sure your phone is fully charged and consider having a backup power source if you're going to be holding for hours. Nothing worse than getting through after a 2-hour wait only to have your phone die right before talking to an agent!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get into the queue, hold times can vary wildly - I've experienced anywhere from 45 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and what you're calling about. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter end of that range. The area code thing is mostly a myth - the IRS routing system doesn't work that way. All calls to their main numbers go to the same call centers regardless of where you're calling from. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here: if you do get through, have ALL your documents ready before you call. Nothing's worse than waiting 2 hours only to realize you need to find your prior year return or a specific form. Have your SSN, filing status, refund amount, and any relevant notices right in front of you. The agents are usually helpful once you reach them, but they can't hold the line while you hunt for paperwork. Good luck with your 7 AM attempt tomorrow - definitely block out at least 2-3 hours just in case!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through the initial phone system and into the queue, wait times can vary wildly depending on the day and issue type. In my experience, I've waited anywhere from 20 minutes to over 2 hours once connected. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings tend to be on the shorter end of that range. As for calling from different area codes, I've never noticed a difference - the IRS phone system routes all calls to the same national centers regardless of where you're calling from. The bottleneck is really at their end, not based on geographic distribution. One tip I'd add: if you do get through and have multiple questions, write them all down beforehand. The agents are usually helpful but the call quality can be poor, and you don't want to have to go through this whole process again just because you forgot to ask something important! Good luck with your 7:00 AM attempt tomorrow - persistence really does pay off with the IRS!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get into the queue (meaning you hear hold music instead of the "call back during business hours" message), wait times can vary wildly. I've experienced everything from 45 minutes to over 3 hours, depending on the day and what type of issue you're calling about. General refund questions tend to have shorter holds than complex account problems. Tuesday/Wednesday mornings usually run 1-2 hours once you're in queue, while Monday mornings can be brutal - sometimes 3+ hours. As for different area codes, the IRS phone system is centralized so your location doesn't matter. All calls get routed to the same national call centers regardless of where you're calling from. My advice: block out at least 2-3 hours when you try calling, bring a good book or something to do while waiting, and use speakerphone to save your neck! Also make sure your phone is fully charged - nothing worse than getting disconnected after waiting 2 hours because your battery died.

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get into the IRS queue (past that dreaded "call back during normal business hours" message), hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to 3+ hours depending on the day and time. During peak tax season like now, I'd definitely block out at least 2-3 hours to be safe. The area code theory is interesting but probably not true - the IRS uses a centralized phone system that routes calls nationally, so your local area code shouldn't matter. What does matter is which specific IRS line you're calling (general taxpayer assistance vs. specific department numbers). One tip I didn't see mentioned yet: if you do get through and get disconnected accidentally, try calling back immediately. Sometimes they can reconnect you to the same agent or at least get you back in the queue faster since you were just connected. Good luck with your 7 AM attempt tomorrow - the early bird really does catch the worm with the IRS!

Welcome to the community, Malik! Once you actually get into the IRS queue (past that dreaded "call back during business hours" message), the hold times can vary wildly. I've experienced anywhere from 20 minutes to over 2 hours, with the average being around 45-60 minutes during peak tax season. My advice is definitely to block out your whole morning if possible. Even if you get through the initial connection quickly, you want to make sure you have time for the actual hold and then the conversation with the agent. Nothing worse than finally getting through only to have to hang up because of other commitments! As for the different area codes theory - I've never seen any evidence that works. The IRS phone system routes calls nationally, so your area code shouldn't matter. But hey, if you want to try a different number, it can't hurt! One more tip since you're new: if you do get disconnected while on hold (it happens more often than it should), don't give up. Sometimes calling back within 10-15 minutes can get you reconnected faster since their system might still have your "place" somewhat reserved. Good luck with your 7 AM attempt tomorrow!

Welcome to the community! Once you actually get through the initial phone system and into the queue, hold times can vary wildly - anywhere from 20 minutes to 2+ hours depending on the day and your specific issue. I'd definitely recommend blocking out at least a full morning when you try, just to be safe. Bring something to do while you wait! As for the area code theory, I've never seen any evidence that makes a difference. The IRS phone system routes calls nationally, so your local area code shouldn't impact which call center you reach or how busy they are. The timing and specific number you call seem to be the only factors that really matter. One more tip since you're new to this struggle - if you do get disconnected after waiting (which unfortunately happens), don't give up for the day. Sometimes calling back immediately can actually work since you might catch a brief window where capacity opens up. Good luck with your 7:00 AM attempt tomorrow!