Tips for getting through to IRS for identity verification? Wait times are insane!
Hey everyone, I'm trying to verify my identity with the IRS but I'm having trouble getting through to them. Has anyone had any luck recently? I've been trying to call but the wait times are insane. Any tips or tricks would be really appreciated!
23 comments
Join the conversation
Nora Bennett
Ugh, I feel your pain. I've been trying to get through to the IRS for weeks now. It's like they don't want us to actually talk to them 🙄 Have you tried calling right when they open? I heard that might help.
0 coins
Oscar Murphy
•Thanks for the suggestion! I've tried that a couple times but no luck so far. Maybe I'll give it another shot tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed 🤞
0 coins
Ryan Andre
•Early morning calls are hit or miss tbh. I had better luck calling around 2 PM. Less traffic then.
0 coins
Nora Bennett
•Really? That's interesting. I might have to try that afternoon strategy myself. Thanks for the tip!
0 coins
Lauren Zeb
I found a method to 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
Daniel Washington
•Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this? $20 seems steep just to make a phone call.
0 coins
Lauren Zeb
•I get the skepticism, but it honestly saved me hours of frustration. The $20 was worth it for me to not sit on hold all day.
0 coins
Aurora Lacasse
•How long did it take for them to get through? I'm desperate but also broke lol
0 coins
Lauren Zeb
•It took about 2 hours for me, but I didn't have to be on the phone that whole time. They just called me when an agent was ready.
0 coins
Anthony Young
Pro tip: If you're verifying your identity, make sure you have ALL your documents ready before you call. They'll ask for weird stuff like your prior year AGI, so have your old tax returns handy!
0 coins
Charlotte White
Am I the only one who thinks its ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops just to verify our identity? The system is so broken 😤
0 coins
Admin_Masters
•Preach! 🙌 It's like they're stuck in the stone age or something.
0 coins
Matthew Sanchez
•Totally agree. In this day and age, you'd think they'd have a better system in place. But nope, we're still playing phone tag like it's 1995.
0 coins
Ella Thompson
Here's a comprehensive guide to getting through to the IRS for identity verification: 1. Best times to call: Early morning (7 AM EST) or mid-afternoon (2-3 PM EST) 2. Have these documents ready: - Social Security card - Driver's license or state ID - Prior year tax return - Current year tax return (if filed) - Any IRS notices you've received 3. Use the IRS Identity Verification Service online if possible: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-verification 4. If calling, use the dedicated Identity Verification line: 800-830-5084 5. Be patient and polite with the agents 6. Consider using a call-back service if you're struggling to get through Remember, persistence is key. Don't give up!
0 coins
Oscar Murphy
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed guide! This is super helpful. I'll definitely try the dedicated line tomorrow.
0 coins
JacksonHarris
•This should be pinned or something. Great info!
0 coins
Jeremiah Brown
lol good luck. i've been trying to verify my identity for 3 months now. at this point im convinced the irs is just a myth 🤡
0 coins
Royal_GM_Mark
•Maybe we should start a support group for people stuck in IRS limbo 😂
0 coins
Jeremiah Brown
•Sign me up! We can call it 'IRS Survivors Anonymous' 🤣
0 coins
Diego Fernández
I went through this nightmare last year and finally got through! Here's what worked for me: Call the identity verification line (800-830-5084) at exactly 7:00 AM EST on a Tuesday or Wednesday - those seem to be the least busy days. Also, try the "press 0 repeatedly" trick to bypass some of the phone menu. And definitely try the online ID.me verification first if you haven't already - it's way faster than calling if it works for your situation. Hang in there, it's frustrating but you'll get through eventually!
0 coins
Jay Lincoln
•This is really helpful advice! The Tuesday/Wednesday timing tip is something I hadn't heard before - definitely going to try that. Did you have to wait long even when calling at 7 AM, or did you get through pretty quickly? Also curious about the ID.me option - I keep seeing mixed reviews about whether it actually works or just creates more headaches.
0 coins
Gabriel Ruiz
•When I called at 7 AM on those days, I usually got through within 30-45 minutes which is way better than the 3+ hour waits I was getting other times. As for ID.me, it's hit or miss - if your identity is straightforward and you have all the right documents, it can work great. But if there are any discrepancies or issues, you'll still end up having to call anyway. I'd say try ID.me first since it's free and available 24/7, but don't get discouraged if it doesn't work - the phone route is still your best bet in that case.
0 coins
NebulaNomad
Has anyone had success with the IRS's appointment scheduling system? I saw on their website that you can sometimes schedule a phone appointment for identity verification instead of just calling and waiting on hold. It might be worth checking if that's available in your area - could save you from those brutal wait times! I haven't tried it myself yet but thinking about giving it a shot if the regular phone lines keep being impossible to get through.
0 coins