IRS Transcript Error & Dropped Calls - How to Actually Reach a Human?
Hey everyone, I'm having some issues with the IRS. I keep getting transcript errors and every time I try to call, the line drops after a few seconds of silence. Has anyone else experienced this? Any advice on how to get through to a real person? I'm starting to get really frustrated with this whole process.
24 comments


Kevin Bell
Ugh, I feel your pain! The IRS phone system is a nightmare. I've been trying to get through for weeks now. It's like they don't want us to actually talk to anyone 🙄
0 coins
Savannah Glover
•Same here! I've tried calling at different times of the day, but no luck. It's so frustrating!
0 coins
Felix Grigori
•Have you tried calling right when they open? I heard that's the best time to get through.
0 coins
Kevin Bell
•Yeah, I've tried that too. Still no luck. It's like playing the lottery at this point 😫
0 coins
Felicity Bud
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
0 coins
Max Reyes
•Wow, that sounds interesting. How long did you have to wait?
0 coins
Mikayla Davison
•Idk, sounds kinda sketchy. Are you sure it's legit?
0 coins
Felicity Bud
•It took about 2 hours, but I didn't have to sit there listening to hold music. And yeah, it's totally legit. I was skeptical at first too, but it really worked for me.
0 coins
Adrian Connor
•$20 seems steep just to talk to someone at the IRS. Shouldn't this be free?
0 coins
Felicity Bud
•I get it, but for me, it was worth it to finally get my issue resolved. Time is money, you know? 🤷♂️
0 coins
Aisha Jackson
Have you tried checking your transcript online? Sometimes you can get the info you need without calling.
0 coins
Ryder Everingham
I had a similar issue last year. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that was causing the calls to drop. It took them like a month to fix it. Might be worth checking if there are any known issues right now.
0 coins
Ella Cofer
•Thanks for the tip! I'll look into that. Did you end up getting your problem resolved?
0 coins
Ryder Everingham
•Yeah, eventually. It was a headache tho. Hang in there!
0 coins
Lilly Curtis
Here's what I've learned from dealing with the IRS for years: 1. Persistence is key. Keep trying different times and days. 2. Use the online tools as much as possible. Sometimes you can resolve issues without calling. 3. If you do need to call, try early morning or late afternoon on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Those tend to be less busy. 4. Have all your documents ready before you call. They'll ask for a ton of info. 5. Be polite but firm with the agents. They're usually trying their best in a broken system. 6. If all else fails, contact your local Taxpayer Advocate Service. They can sometimes help cut through the red tape. Hope this helps! Good luck dealing with the bureaucracy 💪
0 coins
Leo Simmons
•This is gold! Thanks for sharing your wisdom 🙏
0 coins
Lindsey Fry
•What's the Taxpayer Advocate Service? Never heard of it before.
0 coins
Lilly Curtis
•It's an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve problems. They're like the customer service superheroes of the tax world lol
0 coins
Saleem Vaziri
have you tried faxing them? sometimes old school methods work better with these dinosaur agencies 📠
0 coins
Kayla Morgan
Ugh, the IRS is such a joke. They expect us to pay taxes on time but can't even answer the phone. Classic government efficiency 🙄
0 coins
James Maki
•Preach! 🙌 It's like they're stuck in the stone age or something
0 coins
Jasmine Hancock
Maybe try reaching out to your local congressperson's office? They sometimes have ways to expedite IRS issues for constituents.
0 coins
Nathaniel Stewart
I've been dealing with similar issues! What worked for me was calling the practitioner priority line (if you have a tax pro helping you) or trying the automated callback feature - you can request a callback instead of staying on hold. Also, for transcript errors, try accessing them through different browsers or clearing your cache. Sometimes it's just a technical glitch on their website. The IRS2Go mobile app sometimes works better than the website too. Don't give up - I know it's super frustrating but you'll get through eventually!
0 coins
Lia Quinn
•This is really helpful advice, thanks! I didn't know about the automated callback feature - that sounds like a game changer. How long did you typically have to wait for them to call you back? And did you find the mobile app more reliable than the website for getting transcripts?
0 coins