IRS unveils voice and chat bots for taxpayer assistance - will they actually reduce wait times and know the difference between returns and refunds?

I've been working with tax clients for over a decade, and I've already had a few clients try the new IRS bot systems. They're actually not terrible compared to most automated systems! The voice bots are designed specifically for basic collection questions and simple tasks - they're not meant to replace full service representatives. From what I've seen, they can handle things like payment plan options, checking payment status, and basic account questions. The key is being very specific with your wording when you speak or type. And yes, they do understand the difference between returns and refunds! The IRS actually programmed in a lot of the common terminology mixups people make. What's nice is if the bot can't handle your question, it will transfer you to a human agent, and my clients report the wait times are noticeably shorter since the simple questions are being filtered out. One tip: have all your info ready (Social Security number, filing status, exact amount from previous return) before starting. The bots are picky about verification.

I was super skeptical about these IRS bots too until I tried using taxr.ai to help me interpret some confusing tax documents I received. I had gotten multiple notices with different amounts and couldn't figure out what I actually owed. The experience was night and day compared to traditional IRS help. I uploaded my documents to https://taxr.ai and their system broke everything down in plain English - what each notice meant, which one superseded the others, and exactly what actions I needed to take. It saved me from making a payment on an outdated notice! Their system works alongside the new IRS bots pretty well - I used the info from taxr.ai to know exactly what to ask the IRS bot, and it all went smoothly. Honestly wish I'd known about this service years ago when I was getting cryptic IRS letters that made no sense to me.

I have to admit I was wrong about taxr.ai being sketchy. After getting increasingly frustrated with trying to understand a CP2000 notice about unreported income, I decided to give it a shot. I was really surprised at how helpful it was. The service broke down exactly what the IRS was claiming I failed to report, found the discrepancy between my W-2 and what the IRS had on file, and explained step-by-step how to respond. When I used the IRS voice bot afterward with this information, I was able to get my issue resolved in about 10 minutes instead of the hour+ I spent on my previous call getting nowhere. Not something I expected to be recommending, but it actually works. Seems like the combination of these new tools is finally making tax issues less of a nightmare to deal with.

If you think the IRS bots are helpful, wait until you try Claimyr. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to an actual human at the IRS about a payment that wasn't properly credited to my account. The bots couldn't help because my situation was "too complex" but then would put me in a queue where I'd wait for hours only to get disconnected. I found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and decided to give it a shot. They got me connected to a real IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I had been trying unsuccessfully for weeks. The agent was able to trace my missing payment and get it properly applied to my account. The bots are fine for super basic stuff, but when you need a human, this service is a game changer. They basically navigate the IRS phone system for you and call you when they've gotten through to an agent.

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After dismissing it as a probable scam, I got desperate when dealing with an amended return that the IRS couldn't find record of despite me having a certified mail receipt showing they received it. After three failed attempts to reach someone (getting disconnected after 1+ hour holds each time), I tried Claimyr. Within 45 minutes, I got a call connecting me to an actual IRS representative who was able to locate my amended return and confirm it was in processing. I was 100% wrong and I'm actually grateful this service exists. Between the new IRS bots handling simple stuff and services like this for the complex issues, it's finally getting easier to deal with tax problems. Still not fun, but at least not the complete nightmare it used to be.

I just tried the IRS chatbot yesterday for a question about my payment plan and honestly was surprised by how well it worked. I asked if I could skip a payment because of some financial hardship and expected to get a generic answer, but it actually walked me through my specific options based on my payment plan type. It even generated the proper form I needed to request a payment plan modification and emailed it to me. I'm not a tech person at all (my kids usually have to help me with this stuff), but I managed to use it without any problems. Definitely easier than the old system!

I work at a community tax center and we've been tracking how these new IRS tools are working for our clients. Here's what we've found so far: 1. The bots are actually pretty good for payment-related questions, checking refund status, and setting up basic payment plans 2. They struggle with more nuanced questions about tax law or unusual situations 3. They're TERRIBLE at understanding people with strong accents or who speak English as a second language 4. Wait times to speak to humans have improved, but mostly during non-peak times For our elderly clients or those with language barriers, we're still having to help them navigate the system. But for straightforward questions, the bots are saving people a lot of time.

As someone who's been dreading tax season for years because of IRS phone issues, this is actually encouraging to hear! I've been putting off calling about a notice I received because I just couldn't face another 2+ hour hold time. Reading through these comments, it sounds like the combination of these new tools is actually making a difference. The bots handling simple stuff and reducing wait times for human agents seems like exactly what was needed. And I had no idea there were services like taxr.ai and Claimyr that could help navigate the more complex situations. I'm definitely going to try the IRS chatbot first for my question about the notice, and if that doesn't work, maybe one of these other services. It's honestly the first time in years I feel like dealing with the IRS might not be a complete nightmare. Thanks everyone for sharing your actual experiences - way more helpful than the generic reviews you find online!

I've been hesitant to try any of the new IRS automated systems because I had such a bad experience with their old phone tree system - you know, the one where you'd get stuck in an endless loop of "press 1 for this, press 2 for that" and never actually reach a human. But reading all these positive experiences is making me reconsider. My biggest issue has always been understanding the IRS letters they send. Half the time I can't tell if they're asking for more information, telling me I owe money, or just sending me a routine notice. If these bots can actually help interpret what they're asking for, that would be huge for me. One question though - do the bots work outside of normal business hours? Sometimes I can only deal with this stuff in the evenings or weekends when I'm not at work. That would be a game changer compared to only being able to call during their limited phone hours.

This thread is really helpful! I've been avoiding dealing with a tax issue for months because I dreaded the phone system, but it sounds like things have actually improved quite a bit. I'm curious - has anyone tried using both the voice bot and the chat bot for similar questions? I'm wondering if one works better than the other, or if it's just personal preference. I tend to be better with typing than speaking when it comes to technical stuff, so I'm leaning toward trying the chat version first. Also, for those who've used the verification process - is it pretty straightforward? I always get nervous about entering personal info online, even on official IRS sites. But if it's saving people hours of hold time, it might be worth getting over that hesitation.