IRS agent hung up during verification - anyone else experienced this?

This happens a lot more than people realize. The IRS phone system is notorious for disconnecting calls, and it's usually not the agent deliberately hanging up on you. Their phone system is severely outdated and often drops calls randomly, especially during high volume periods like tax season. When you're verifying information, try to provide it as concisely as possible. Have all your documents ready before the call and speak clearly. Sometimes agents are working remotely with spotty connections that can drop unexpectedly. For getting your refund, there are a few alternatives to calling. Have you tried checking your refund status using the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website? That might give you more information. You could also try contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you're experiencing financial hardship due to the delay.

I was having the EXACT same issue trying to figure out why my refund was delayed, kept getting hung up on when verifying my info. Super frustrating! I finally found a solution that worked - I used this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me analyze my return and identify why it might be delayed. It was actually because of a mismatch between what my employer reported on my W-2 and what I entered on my return. The tool helped me spot this immediately. I wouldn't have known this was the issue from the automated IRS system! Once I fixed that and submitted an amended return, my refund was processed within 3 weeks. Might be worth checking if you're still stuck in verification limbo.

Just wanted to update about my experience with taxr.ai after asking about it last week. I was desperate after waiting 3+ months for my refund with no explanation. The service actually found that I had accidentally transposed two digits in my daughter's SSN on my return, which was causing the delay. I never would have caught this on my own! Fixed the error by filing an amended return and called the IRS (still got disconnected twice but finally got through). The agent confirmed that was indeed the issue. My refund is now being processed. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck in refund limbo like I was.

After getting hung up on by the IRS 5 TIMES last month while trying to figure out why my direct deposit info was wrong, I found out about Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) from my tax preparer. It's literally the only reason I finally got to speak with a real IRS agent. The service basically holds your place in line with the IRS and calls you when an agent is about to pick up. You can watch how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was super skeptical but desperate after wasting hours on hold only to get disconnected. With Claimyr I only waited on the phone for about 3 minutes before talking to an actual agent who helped fix my direct deposit info. My refund arrived a week later.

Well I'm eating crow right now. After posting my skeptical comment earlier, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr because I needed to confirm my identity with the IRS to get my refund released. I got disconnected FOUR times today trying to do it myself. Used the service and I'm shocked - it actually worked exactly as described. Got a call back when an agent was ready, spoke to someone within minutes, and got my identity verified. The agent confirmed my refund had been on hold pending verification and is now being processed. I honestly didn't believe it would work, but sometimes desperation leads to solutions. Just wanted to update since I was the skeptic earlier.

Try calling the taxpayer advocate line instead of the main IRS number! I had the same issue with getting disconnected 3 times during verification. The advocate line was actually much easier to get through. 1-877-777-4778. They can't do everything the regular IRS line can, but they helped me with my refund verification.

One trick I learned from my tax guy is to call the IRS appointment scheduling line instead (844-545-5640). They almost always pick up within 10-15 minutes. Once you get someone on that line, just tell them you're having trouble resolving an issue and need help before making an appointment. Most of the time they'll just help you right then instead of scheduling an appointment!

I feel your pain! The exact same thing happened to me last month - got disconnected right in the middle of verifying my AGI. It's so frustrating when you finally get through after hours of waiting just to have the call drop. One thing that helped me was having absolutely everything ready before I called: SSN, filing status, exact refund amount, and AGI from both this year and last year's returns all written down in front of me. When I finally got through again, I rattled off the info super quickly before anything could go wrong. Also, if you haven't already, try using the IRS2Go mobile app or the online "Where's My Refund" tool. Sometimes you can get status updates there without having to call at all. I know it doesn't solve the verification issue, but at least you might get some insight into what's holding things up. The whole system is just overwhelmed right now. Don't give up - that $3,400 is yours and you'll get it eventually!

This is incredibly frustrating and unfortunately way too common. I've been dealing with the IRS for years and their phone system is absolutely terrible - those disconnections are usually system issues, not agents deliberately hanging up. Here's what I've learned from multiple experiences like yours: First, call right when they open at 7 AM your time zone. The system is more stable and there are fewer people calling. Second, when you do get through, immediately ask the agent if they can hear you clearly and if the connection seems stable before starting verification. For your specific situation with the $3,400 refund, make sure you're calling the right number. If it's just a standard refund delay, use 1-800-829-1040. But if there's an actual hold or flag on your account requiring verification, you might need to call the identity verification line at 1-800-830-5084. One more tip - if you keep getting disconnected during verification, ask the agent at the very beginning of the call to make a note in your account that you've been trying to verify. That way if you get disconnected again, the next agent will see the history and might be able to expedite the process. Don't give up - that money is rightfully yours!

I've been through this exact nightmare! Got disconnected THREE times last month while trying to verify my identity for a delayed refund. What finally worked for me was calling the IRS at exactly 7:00 AM on a Tuesday - got through in 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. The key thing I learned is to have EVERYTHING written down before you call: your SSN, exact AGI from last year's return, filing status, and the exact refund amount you're expecting. When the agent picks up, immediately ask "Can you hear me clearly? Is this connection stable?" If they say yes, then rapid-fire give them all your info without pausing. Also, right at the start of the call, ask them to put a note in your account that you've been trying to complete verification multiple times due to system disconnections. This way if you do get cut off again, the next agent will see the history and hopefully expedite things. One more thing - if you filed electronically, make sure you have your exact PIN or signature method ready too. Sometimes they ask for additional verification beyond just the basic info. That $3,400 is yours and you WILL get it - just keep trying! The system is broken but persistent people eventually get through.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Got disconnected twice this week while trying to verify my identity for a refund that's been stuck for over a month. It's maddening to wait hours on hold just to get cut off when you're finally making progress. One thing that's helped me is calling the automated refund status line (1-800-829-1954) first to see if there are any updates before attempting the verification call. Sometimes the automated system will tell you if your return is still being processed or if there's a specific hold that requires phone verification. I'm going to try some of the strategies mentioned here - especially the early morning timing and having everything written down beforehand. The tip about asking the agent to note disconnection attempts in your account is genius. Has anyone had success getting their refund released after finally completing verification? I'm wondering how long it typically takes once you actually get through the process successfully.

This is so frustrating and I completely understand your anger! The same exact thing happened to me twice last month - waited over an hour each time only to get disconnected right during verification. It's incredibly maddening when you finally get a human and then lose the connection. From my experience, those disconnections are almost always system issues rather than agents hanging up intentionally. Their phone infrastructure is ancient and gets overloaded during tax season. That doesn't make it less infuriating though! Here's what finally worked for me: I called at exactly 7:00 AM on a Wednesday and got through in about 45 minutes. When the agent picked up, I immediately said "Before we start, can you confirm this connection is stable? I've been disconnected twice during verification." Then I had all my info written down and gave it to them as quickly and clearly as possible. Also try the "Where's My Refund" tool on IRS.gov first - sometimes it'll show if there's a specific issue holding up your return without needing to call. If you do need to verify by phone, consider asking the agent at the very start to note in your account that you've attempted verification multiple times due to disconnections. That way if it happens again, the next agent will see the history. Don't give up - that $3,400 refund is yours and you'll get it! The system is broken but persistence usually wins in the end.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the IRS phone system disconnections are absolutely infuriating! I've been there multiple times and it feels like they're doing it on purpose, but it's usually their ancient phone infrastructure failing during peak times. A few things that have helped me get through: Call at 7 AM sharp on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday - the system is more stable then. Have everything written down beforehand (SSN, last year's AGI, filing status, exact refund amount) so you can rapid-fire the info without pausing to look anything up. Most importantly, when an agent picks up, immediately ask "Can you hear me clearly and is this connection stable?" If they confirm it's good, then ask them to make a note in your account that you've been disconnected multiple times during verification attempts. This creates a paper trail so future agents can see your history and potentially expedite things. Also try the IRS2Go app or "Where's My Refund" online first - sometimes you can get status updates without calling. And if you keep getting disconnected, the Taxpayer Advocate Service line (1-877-777-4778) sometimes has more stable connections for verification issues. That $3,400 is rightfully yours and you WILL get it - don't let their broken system defeat you. The persistence really does pay off eventually!

I'm going through the EXACT same nightmare right now! Just got disconnected yesterday after waiting 2.5 hours - right when I was about to give my SSN for verification. I actually started crying from frustration because this was my fourth attempt this month. What's really helped me is keeping a detailed log of every call attempt with dates, times, wait duration, and exactly what happened. When I finally do get through to an agent, I plan to mention this documentation right away so they understand I'm not just some random caller but someone who's been genuinely trying to resolve this for weeks. I've also started calling from different phones (landline vs cell) because I read somewhere that certain phone carriers have better connections to government systems. Not sure if that's true but I'm desperate enough to try anything at this point. Your situation with the $3,400 refund delay is so frustrating - especially when it should have been deposited weeks ago. The IRS really needs to fix their phone system because this level of dysfunction is completely unacceptable for taxpayers trying to access their own money. Hang in there - we'll both get through this eventually! The amount of people sharing similar experiences shows this is definitely a systemic problem and not something we're doing wrong.

This exact thing happened to me THREE times last week! I was so frustrated I almost threw my phone. After waiting 90+ minutes each time, I'd get to an agent, start the verification process, and then... silence. Dead line. It's absolutely maddening. What finally worked for me was calling the IRS at exactly 7:00 AM on a Thursday morning. I got through in about 30 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour nightmare. The moment the agent picked up, I said "Hi, before we start - can you confirm this connection is stable? I've been disconnected three times this week during verification and I really need to get this resolved today." The agent was actually very understanding and said they see this constantly - their phone system is from the stone age and crashes under heavy load. She immediately made a note in my account about the previous disconnections, which she said would help if I got cut off again. I had everything written down and ready: SSN, exact AGI from 2023, filing status, refund amount. When she asked for verification, I rattled it all off quickly without pausing to look anything up. Got it done in under 5 minutes and my refund was released within a week. The early morning timing really seems to be key - their system is more stable and there are way fewer people calling. Don't give up on that $3,400! It's your money and you WILL get it eventually.

I completely feel your frustration! This exact same thing happened to me last month - got disconnected twice right in the middle of providing my verification information after waiting over an hour each time. It's absolutely infuriating when you finally get through just to have the call drop. What eventually worked for me was calling at exactly 7:00 AM on a Tuesday. The connection seemed much more stable in the early morning, and I got through in about 40 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. When the agent picked up, I immediately asked "Can you hear me clearly and is this connection stable?" before starting any verification. I also had absolutely everything written down beforehand - SSN, last year's AGI, filing status, exact refund amount - so I could provide it all quickly without fumbling around looking for documents. The agent was able to complete my verification in just a few minutes, and she even made a note in my account about the previous disconnections. My refund was processed and deposited within about 10 days after the verification was completed. Don't give up - that $3,400 is rightfully yours! The early morning timing really does seem to make a huge difference with their system stability. Try again tomorrow morning right when they open and you should have much better luck.

This is absolutely infuriating and I completely understand your frustration! I went through the exact same nightmare two months ago - got disconnected FOUR times during verification attempts after waiting 2+ hours each time. I was ready to give up on my $2,800 refund. What finally worked for me was calling at exactly 7:00 AM on a Wednesday morning. I got through in about 25 minutes instead of the usual marathon wait. The key things I did differently: 1) Asked immediately if the connection was stable before starting verification, 2) Had everything written down and ready (SSN, 2023 AGI, filing status, exact refund amount), and 3) Asked the agent to note in my account that I'd been disconnected multiple times previously. The agent was actually very understanding and said these disconnections happen constantly due to their outdated phone system. She made the notation, completed my verification in under 3 minutes, and my refund was deposited exactly 8 days later. The early morning timing really seems to be crucial - their system is way more stable then and there are fewer people calling. Don't give up on that $3,400! It's your money and you absolutely will get it. Try the 7 AM approach next week and I bet you'll finally get through successfully.