Need IRS Live Representative Number - Filed in January, Still Waiting

I need to urgently speak with an IRS representative as well. When calling the 800-829-1040 number, what specific prompts should I select to reach a human? My return was accepted on January 29th and the WMR tool shows no progress whatsoever.

Wait, we can check transcripts online? I had no idea that was even possible. Is that something anyone can do, or do you need special access? And why would January filers get more scrutiny than others? Seems unfair to punish early filers.

I believe the menu options might have changed recently, but I think you press 1 for English, then 2 for tax questions, then 1 for questions about a form, then 3 for all other questions, then 2 for all other topics, and finally 4 for speaking with a representative... though I'm not entirely sure if that's still accurate.

Checking transcripts is way more useful than WMR. My brother got his refund two weeks before WMR even updated, but his transcript showed the deposit date ahead of time.

I tried the Taxpayer Advocate route last year when my refund was delayed. They wouldn't take my case until it had been at least 30 days past the normal processing time, which they said was 21 days. So basically I had to wait almost 2 months before they'd even look at it. Did you have better luck with them?

OMG thank you for mentioning the best days to call! I've been trying Mondays thinking it would be better but that explains why I can never get through! 😫 Do you know what time they open? Is it 7am Eastern or something different?

I've heard about these services before, but I'm not entirely convinced. From what I understand, they essentially just wait on hold for you, which is helpful, but doesn't actually speed up the processing of your return. I had a similar delay last year and it eventually resolved itself after about 12 weeks without any intervention.

It's like having a friend stand in line for you at the DMV. Sure, you still have to deal with the bureaucracy, but at least you don't waste half your day waiting! I used something similar when dealing with my state tax department last year, and it saved me hours of frustration.

Did they tell you why your return was flagged specifically because of the move? I'm wondering because I also moved states last year and now I'm worried my return might get flagged too.

The IRS verification process sometimes includes confirming your address matches what they have on file. If there's a mismatch, it can trigger a manual review.

When you say you had all your documents ready - did they actually ask for your prior year AGI during the call? I thought they only used that for identity verification when filing.

Thanks for sharing such detailed instructions! I've been trying for weeks with no luck. Going to set my alarm for 6:55am tomorrow and follow your exact steps.

I had a similar experience last tax season. Called so many times I memorized their hold music. Finally got through at 7:03am on a Wednesday. The agent told me my return was in ERS (Error Resolution System) because my W-2 and what my employer reported didn't match by $12.48. Once that was cleared up, I got my refund in 8 days.

Is there any way to check if your return is in this ERS system without talking to an agent? Like does the transcript show a specific code for that?

What happens if you call the practitioner line without being a tax professional? Do they just hang up on you or transfer you to the regular line?

Thank you so much for this! I've been trying to get through for weeks and this is exactly the kind of step-by-step guide I needed.

When you say don't enter SSN when prompted, does the system eventually time out and transfer you automatically, or do you have to press a specific button?

The IRS changed their phone tree slightly in February. After pressing 2 for all other topics, you now need to press 3 (not 4) to request a representative.

This timing trick worked for me too! I called at exactly 7:00am Eastern (which was 4am my time on the west coast, ugh) but I got through in less than 10 minutes. My issue was different though - they needed verification of my dependents because my ex had also tried to claim them. Had to mail in additional documentation.

The IRS processing timeline varies by return type. Paper returns take longer than electronic, and returns claiming certain credits may be delayed further. Where did you see the update about mid-February processing?

This is super helpful! I've been trying at random times with no luck. Setting my alarm for tomorrow morning to try the 7am trick. Thanks for sharing your experience!