Need the IRS offset hotline number - how to handle and resolve tax refund offsets?

Thank you so much for this detailed info! Just called and apparently its for an old student loan i thought was defered. Now i need to figure out how to deal with that...

Is the automated system working for everyone? I called like 5 times yesterday and kept getting disconnected after entering my ssn 😑

adding to this - if you have multiple offsets, this line only tells you the FIRST agency. You need to call EACH agency to get the full picture of whats going on. Learned that the hard way 🤦‍♂️

Good point about multiple offsets! And @profile3 - yeah the system gets overloaded this time of year. Try calling super early in the morning or late evening. Much better chance of getting through.

One more tip - when you call the agency that has your offset, ask if they offer any hardship programs or settlement options. Sometimes you can pay less than the full amount if youre in a tough financial spot.

Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

It does WAY more than just read the transcript. It actually interprets all those weird codes and tells you what's happening with your refund, explains any delays or offsets, and gives you clear action steps. Best part is it explains EVERYTHING - like your audit risk, refund timeline, and any red flags. I'm telling everyone I know about it now because it saved me literally weeks of stress.

another app trying to make money off desperate ppl? 🙄 what's the catch?

Just tried taxr.ai and WOW - this thing is INCREDIBLE! I've been staring at my transcript for weeks not understanding why my refund was partial. The app showed me exactly which agency had my offset and what steps to take next. Honestly life changing for anyone dealing with IRS issues!

do you work for them or something? seems sus

@profile7 no catch that I found. I was skeptical too but it actually delivered. @profile8 lol no I'm just a regular person who was losing my mind with IRS problems and found something that helped. Take it or leave it 🤷‍♀️

Does this really work? i've been calling the irs for 3 weeks straight with no luck

Yes! Total game changer. I was ready to throw my phone out the window after being on hold for hours day after day. Getting an actual person on the line who could access my file and explain everything made all the difference. The callback system they use somehow bypasses all the wait times.

sounds too good to be true tbh... the irs is basically unreachable these days

I used it last year when my refund was stuck in limbo. Got a call back in about 45 mins and the agent fixed my issue on the spot. Worth every penny considering I was waiting on a $4k refund!

@profile11 I was skeptical too but I was desperate. Talking to a real agent got my offset sorted in one call after weeks of stress. Best money I've spent all year considering how much of my refund was at stake.

Same thing happened to me! Student loan from 2008 that I thought was forgiven came back to haunt me. The interest had nearly doubled the original amount 😭

Just checked my credit report and theres nothing on there! But the offset hotline said it was student loans. Im so confused

They're supposed to send you a notice 60-90 days before they offset but in my experience they rarely do. Just another way the system is broken 🤷‍♂️

They sent me a letter...to an address I lived at 7 years ago. Real helpful guys 👍

Exactly! And then good luck getting a human on the phone to explain anything. My 2023 refund vanished into the void and it took me 3 months to figure out why.

Yep, it's BS. They also don't care if taking your refund causes financial hardship. I was counting on that money to fix my car so I could get to work. Had to take out a payday loan instead. Thanks Uncle Sam! 🙄

That must be what happened to me! I haven't made payments in years but thought everything was still on hold from covid. guess not 😩

You can also get your loans out of default through the Fresh Start program right now. Google it - basically you can get your loans back in good standing without having to pay everything off first.

^^ this is the real advice right here. I adjusted mine so I break even or owe a tiny amount each year. No refund = nothing for them to take 👍

Just be careful not to underpay by too much or you'll get hit with penalties. You need to pay at least 90% of what you owe during the year.

how much does it cost? website doesnt say

I've been watching tax youtube videos and calling the offset line for two weeks and still have no idea what's happening with my refund. Gonna try this taxr thing, thx

@profile26 honestly whatever it costs its worth every penny. The peace of mind alone knowing exactly what's happening instead of guessing is priceless. I was literally losing sleep over my refund before I used it.

I had one for a library book I never returned in 2009. $28 book turned into a $300 debt somehow. Make it make sense 💀

Does the irs actually call you back through this? Seems sketchy that a third party can somehow get priority access 🤔

Yep, it's a legit IRS agent who calls you. The service basically navigates the phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they reach an agent, they connect the call to your phone. It's like having someone wait in line for you. Best thing ever when you're dealing with offset issues!

I used it too when I was going CRAZY trying to figure out why my refund was $2k short. Finally got an actual person who could see my file and explained the whole situation. Sometimes talking to a human is the only way to get answers.

omg this is making me nervous. i need to make sure the offset actually goes to the right place

100% follow up with whoever the debt is with. Get confirmation in writing that they received the offset payment. Don't just assume it happened correctly or you might still have the debt plus they took your refund!

Is there any way to prevent an offset once you know it's coming? Like can you call ahead?

only way to prevent it is to resolve the debt BEFORE you file your return. once your return is in process, the offset is automatic and can't be stopped. you can request a refund from the agency after the fact, but can't stop the offset itself.

another one of these services? how is this any different from just calling the offset hotline?

The offset hotline just tells you IF you have an offset and which agency has it. taxr explains your entire transcript - shows you all refund info, processing dates, audit flags, everything. It goes way beyond what the hotline tells you. I also like that I can look at my info anytime instead of calling and waiting on hold for hours.

Just tried it and wow! My transcript had all these codes I couldn't understand but now I know exactly what's happening with my refund and why part of it was offset. Worth checking out if you're confused about your tax situation.

Same thing happened to me! Had to use Claimyr to finally get a human on the phone who could actually tell me what was going on. claimyr.com got me a callback in under an hour after days of failing to reach anyone. The agent explained everything.

thanks ill check that out. so tired of these useless automated systems

Thanks for this! Im going to look into fresh start asap. My loans have been in default forever and i keep avoiding dealing with it