What IRS phone number actually works? Automated system keeps hanging up on me

Ugh, I feel your frustration so much! The IRS phone system is absolutely maddening this time of year. The main number (800-829-1040) is practically useless right now with tax season in full swing. I've had better luck with 844-545-5640 which is the tax account help line. You need to call EXACTLY at 7:00am Eastern when they open - not 7:01, not 6:59, but right at 7:00. Then follow these steps: when prompted press 1 for English, then 2 for "tax questions", then 1 for "individual tax questions", then 3 for "all other questions", then 2 for "all other issues". Don't enter your SSN when prompted - just wait, and it should eventually transfer you to a person.

I was in the exact same situation last month. Couldn't get through the IRS Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system no matter what I tried. I eventually used https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and figure out what was actually going on with my return. It showed me exactly which processing stage my return was in and what the hold-up was (in my case, an income verification delay). Saved me days of trying to reach someone on the phone when I just needed to understand what was happening. Have you checked your transcript to see if there are any specific codes or issues that might explain what's going on?

I've been dealing with this EXACT issue for weeks! The Taxpayer Advocate Service is completely overloaded and not taking new cases unless you're facing immediate financial hardship. Here's what actually works: • Call the IRS PPS (Practitioner Priority Service) line: 866-860-4259 • Tell them you're calling about your personal tax return • Have your prior year AGI ready for verification • Be prepared to wait 30-45 minutes even after getting through The regular lines are completely jammed because of the April filing deadline coming up. They're prioritizing calls about filing current returns over amended/prior year issues right now.

What's your specific issue that you need to talk to the IRS about? I've called exactly 17 times over the past 3 weeks and was only able to get through twice. The first time was at 7:03am on a Tuesday, and the second was at 4:27pm on a Thursday. If you're calling about a refund status, they probably won't be able to tell you much more than what's on the Where's My Refund tool unless it's been exactly 21 days since you e-filed or 6 weeks since you paper filed. Have you checked your transcript online? That might give you more information without needing to call.

Isn't it ridiculous that in 2024 we still can't reliably reach our own tax agency? I've been researching this problem extensively and found that the IRS only answers about 13% of calls during peak season. Want to know what finally worked for me? I used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com). Ever wondered why tax professionals seem to get through when we can't? They use priority lines. Claimyr basically waits on hold for you and calls you when they reach an agent. Saved me literally hours of frustration and redial attempts. Worth every penny considering what my time is worth and how important resolving my tax issue was.

According to the National Taxpayer Advocate's 2023 Annual Report to Congress (https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/reports/2023-annual-report-to-congress/), the IRS received approximately 173 million calls during fiscal year 2023 but only answered about 29 million. The official recommendation is to use IRS.gov self-service tools whenever possible, including Where's My Refund, Online Account, and Interactive Tax Assistant. For complex issues requiring human assistance, the report acknowledges significant challenges in phone service that are expected to continue through 2024.

I had a similar issue trying to reach Social Security last year. The IRS situation is even worse during filing season. Just to put this in perspective: imagine if your bank only answered 1 out of every 10 calls, or if Amazon made you call 15 times before you could return something. We've somehow normalized this terrible service from the IRS. I finally got through after two weeks of trying by calling the Spanish line (1-800-829-1040, then press 2) and then asking for an English-speaking representative when someone answered. Not ideal, but it worked when nothing else did.

Have you tried scheduling an in-person appointment at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center? I know it sounds old-school in the age of smartphones, but sometimes face-to-face is the way to go! You can schedule an appointment by calling 844-545-5640. The trick is to just keep saying "representative" or "agent" at every prompt until it gives up and transfers you to a human who can schedule the appointment. I jokingly call it the "Karen technique" - just keep insisting on speaking to a manager until the system surrenders! 😂 Seriously though, once you get the appointment, they're usually pretty helpful and can resolve most issues on the spot.

I completely understand your frustration - the IRS phone situation is absolutely maddening right now! I went through this exact same nightmare last month. Here's what finally worked for me after literally 40+ failed attempts: Call 1-877-777-4778 (the automated refund hotline) early in the morning around 6:45am EST. Even though it's automated, if there's an issue with your return that requires human intervention, it will sometimes transfer you directly to a live agent after going through the automated process. This backdoor approach worked when the main customer service lines kept hanging up on me. Also, since you mentioned post-divorce expenses - if this refund delay is causing you genuine financial hardship (can't pay rent, utilities, medical bills, etc.), you can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778 and explain your hardship situation. They have more resources to expedite cases involving financial difficulties. The key is being persistent but also strategic about WHEN you call. Avoid Mondays and Fridays completely - everyone calls then. Tuesday through Thursday, 7-8am or 2-4pm seem to have the best success rates based on my experience and what I've read from others who've gotten through. Hang in there - you WILL eventually get through to someone!

This is such a common frustration! I actually work as a seasonal tax preparer and deal with this issue constantly on behalf of clients. Here's what I've learned from hundreds of calls: The absolute best strategy is the "early bird" approach - call the main line (800-829-1040) at EXACTLY 7:00am Eastern time. Set multiple alarms if you have to. The system resets overnight and you have the best chance in those first 15-20 minutes. When you get through the menu, try this sequence that works about 70% of the time for me: 1. Press 1 for English 2. Press 2 for personal income tax questions 3. Press 1 for form, tax history, or payment questions 4. Press 3 for all other questions 5. Press 2 for all other questions 6. Do NOT enter your SSN when prompted - just wait through the silence Another tip: if you get the "high call volume" message, don't hang up immediately. Sometimes it will still put you in queue after that message plays. Given that you mentioned this is affecting post-divorce financial planning, you might also qualify for Taxpayer Advocate Service assistance if you can demonstrate financial hardship. They have more pull to get things resolved quickly. The system is definitely broken, but persistence at the right times does pay off. Good luck!

I feel your pain - the IRS phone system is absolutely brutal right now! I went through this exact same nightmare in February and it took me 3 weeks to finally get through. Here's what eventually worked for me: Try calling 1-800-829-0922 (the e-file help line) instead of the main customer service number. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but if you tell them you're having issues with your e-filed return, they can often transfer you to someone who can help with refund questions too. The wait times are usually shorter than the main line. Also, since you mentioned needing the refund for post-divorce expenses, document everything - dates you called, times, what happened. If this delay is causing you financial hardship (can't pay essential bills, etc.), you can file Form 911 for Taxpayer Advocate Service assistance. They take hardship cases seriously and can often get things moving faster than regular customer service. One more tip: if you have a local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site near you, sometimes their coordinators have better luck getting through to the IRS on behalf of taxpayers. It's worth asking if they can help make the call with you. Don't give up - the system is broken but you will eventually get through to someone who can help!

I've been dealing with the exact same issue for the past two weeks! The automated system is absolutely infuriating. Here's what finally worked for me after 30+ failed attempts: Try calling 1-800-829-1040 at exactly 7:15am Eastern Time (not 7:00am when everyone else calls). When you get to the menu: 1. Press 1 for English 2. Press 2 for personal tax questions 3. Press 1 for form/payment questions 4. Press 3 for all other tax questions 5. When it asks for your SSN, enter it but press * immediately after 6. It should then ask you to hold for a representative The key is that slight delay at 7:15am - everyone floods the lines right at 7:00am, but by 7:15am the initial rush has cleared but new agents are still coming online. Also, I found that Wednesday mornings have better success rates than other days. Took me 45 minutes on hold, but I finally got through to someone who could actually help with my refund status. Given your divorce situation, definitely document your attempts and consider filing for hardship assistance if this refund is critical for essential expenses. The Taxpayer Advocate Service can fast-track cases involving genuine financial hardship. Don't give up - the system is broken but persistence at the right times does work!

The IRS phone situation is absolutely maddening during tax season! I've been through this exact frustration myself. Here's what finally worked for me after weeks of failed attempts: Try the callback option if it's available - instead of waiting on hold, the system will sometimes offer to call you back when an agent is available. This saved me hours of sitting with the phone glued to my ear. Also, consider using the "Get Transcript" feature on IRS.gov first. Sometimes what you think requires a phone call can actually be resolved by understanding what's shown on your tax transcript. There are specific codes that explain exactly what's happening with your return and when you can expect resolution. Since you mentioned this is urgent due to post-divorce expenses, document every call attempt (date, time, what happened) and look into filing Form 911 for Taxpayer Advocate Service. They prioritize cases involving financial hardship and can often cut through the bureaucracy much faster than regular customer service. The timing tips others have shared are spot-on - early morning calls (7:00-7:30am EST) on Tuesday-Thursday give you the best shot. Avoid Mondays and Fridays completely. One last thing - if you have a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, you can sometimes schedule an in-person appointment online, which might be faster than getting through by phone. Hang in there - the system is broken but you WILL eventually get the help you need!

I completely feel your pain - the IRS phone system is absolutely broken right now! I went through this exact same nightmare last month trying to resolve an issue with my amended return. After 50+ failed attempts over two weeks, here's what finally worked: Try the "hold music trick" - when you get through the automated menu and it starts playing hold music (even if it's just for a few seconds), DO NOT HANG UP even if you think the call dropped. I hung up so many times thinking the line went dead, but it turns out the system sometimes goes silent for 30-60 seconds before either connecting you or giving you the busy signal. Also, since you mentioned post-divorce expenses, you should definitely look into the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). Call 1-877-777-4778 and explain that the refund delay is causing financial hardship related to your divorce settlement obligations. They have special authority to expedite cases involving genuine hardship and can often resolve issues that regular customer service can't. I know it's incredibly frustrating, but don't give up! The combination of calling at 7:05am (slightly after the initial rush), being patient with the hold music, and having TAS as a backup plan should get you through to someone who can actually help. Document everything in case you need to escalate to TAS - they take detailed records seriously.

I've been in your exact situation and it's absolutely maddening! Here's what worked for me after weeks of failed attempts: Try calling 1-800-829-1040 at exactly 7:07am EST on a Wednesday. I know that sounds weirdly specific, but here's why: most people flood the lines right at 7:00am, but by 7:07am the initial wave has passed while new agents are still coming online. Wednesday is typically their lowest call volume day. When you get to the menu: 1. Press 1 for English 2. Press 2 for personal income tax questions 3. Press 1 for form, tax history, or payment questions 4. Press 3 for all other questions 5. When prompted for SSN, enter it completely then immediately press # (not *, like some suggest) 6. If you hear silence, DO NOT HANG UP - wait at least 90 seconds even if it seems dead The key thing that worked for me was staying on the line during the silent periods. I hung up probably 15 times thinking the call dropped, but it's actually just their system processing. Given your post-divorce situation, definitely consider the Taxpayer Advocate Service as others mentioned. Since you need this refund for essential expenses, that qualifies as financial hardship. Call 1-877-777-4778 and explain how the delay is affecting your ability to meet court-ordered obligations or basic living expenses. Document every call attempt - TAS loves detailed records and it shows you've made good faith efforts to resolve it through normal channels first. You WILL get through eventually - just need the right timing and patience!

I totally get your frustration - went through this exact hell myself a few weeks ago! After 40+ failed attempts, I finally cracked the code. Here's what actually worked: Call 1-800-829-1040 at 7:12am EST on Tuesday or Wednesday. Most people hit the lines right at 7:00am, but there's a sweet spot around 7:10-7:15am where the initial rush clears but agents are still fresh. Menu sequence that worked for me: 1. Press 1 for English 2. Press 2 for personal income tax questions 3. Press 1 for form/payment questions 4. Press 3 for all other questions 5. Enter your full SSN when prompted, then press 0 twice quickly 6. CRITICAL: When you hear dead silence, count to 120 before hanging up - the system often goes quiet for up to 2 minutes before connecting The 0-0 trick after your SSN seems to bypass some automated routing and gets you to a human faster. Since you mentioned post-divorce expenses, definitely file Form 911 with Taxpayer Advocate Service if this refund delay is causing genuine hardship paying essential bills. They can expedite cases when there's documented financial need. Also check your transcript on IRS.gov - look for transaction codes TC 570 (hold) or TC 971 (notice issued). If you see these, you'll definitely need to talk to someone, but at least you'll know what you're dealing with. Keep trying - the system is absolutely broken but persistence at the right times does pay off! You got this!

I went through this exact nightmare last year and finally found a method that works! The key is understanding that the IRS phone system has "soft capacity limits" - meaning even when they say they're at capacity, there are often still available agents if you can get past the initial screening. Here's my foolproof method that worked after 60+ failed attempts: **The "Persistence Loop" Technique:** 1. Call 1-800-829-1040 at exactly 7:08am EST (Tuesday-Thursday only) 2. Follow the standard menu: 1 → 2 → 1 → 3 → 2 3. When you get the "high call volume" message, DO NOT HANG UP 4. Wait exactly 3 minutes after the message ends, then press 0 three times slowly 5. If you hear silence, wait 2 full minutes - I know it feels like the line is dead but it's not 6. The system will either connect you or give you another busy message - if busy, hang up and immediately redial using the same sequence The magic is in the immediate redial - you're now in a priority queue for about 30 seconds. I got through on my 4th attempt using this method. Since you mentioned post-divorce expenses, definitely document these call attempts and consider Taxpayer Advocate Service. They take financial hardship seriously, especially when it involves court-ordered obligations or preventing essential bill payments. Also pro tip: Have your prior year AGI, current year AGI (if known), and your transcript pulled up on IRS.gov before you call. The agents can resolve most issues in 10-15 minutes if you have all the info ready. This system is absolutely broken, but this method has worked for me and 3 friends who were in similar situations. Don't give up - you'll get through!

I feel your pain so much! Been through this exact same ordeal and it's absolutely infuriating. The IRS phone system is basically designed to make you give up before you reach a human. Here's what finally worked for me after literally hundreds of attempts: Try calling 1-800-829-1040 at exactly 7:04am EST on a Wednesday morning. The key timing is crucial - everyone floods the system right at 7:00am, but by 7:04am there's a brief window where the initial wave subsides but fresh agents are still logging in. Menu sequence: 1 for English → 2 for personal tax → 1 for forms/payments → 3 for other questions → enter your SSN completely then press ## (double pound). When you hit silence, DO NOT hang up - I cannot stress this enough. Count to at least 150 seconds. The system goes completely quiet but it's actually still routing you. Since this is affecting your post-divorce financial situation, you should absolutely contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778. If this refund delay is preventing you from meeting essential expenses or court-ordered obligations, that qualifies as financial hardship and they can expedite your case. Before calling, pull up your tax transcript on IRS.gov and look for transaction codes. TC 570 means there's a hold, TC 971 usually means they sent you a notice. Having these details ready will help the agent resolve things faster. Document every single call attempt with dates and times - TAS loves detailed records and it shows you've exhausted normal channels. The system is completely broken but persistence with the right strategy does work. You've got this!

I completely understand your frustration - the IRS phone system is absolutely nightmarish right now! I've been tracking this community's advice and there are some really solid strategies here. Based on what others have shared, the early morning approach (7:00-7:15am EST) on Tuesday-Thursday seems to be the consensus winner. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the mobile app approach - the IRS2Go app sometimes has less traffic than the website for checking refund status and might give you more info without needing to call at all. Also, if you have a smartphone, you can set up multiple alarms for different times and use the callback feature if available - that way you're not tied to holding the phone. Since you mentioned this is urgent due to post-divorce expenses, I'd strongly recommend starting the Taxpayer Advocate Service process in parallel with your call attempts. File Form 911 online and explain how the delay is affecting your ability to meet essential obligations. Even if you get through to regular customer service first, having TAS as a backup shows you're serious about resolving this. The transcript analysis suggestions are spot-on too - those transaction codes can tell you exactly what's happening without needing to reach a human. TC 150 usually means normal processing, but TC 570 or 971 indicate holds that definitely need agent intervention. Hang in there - this system is broken but the collective wisdom in this thread shows there are ways to beat it with the right timing and persistence!

I completely feel your frustration! I went through this exact same nightmare trying to reach the IRS about my refund status. After reading through all the great advice here, I wanted to add something that worked for me just last week. Try the "callback escalation" method: Call 1-800-829-1040 at 7:06am EST (Tuesday or Wednesday work best), go through the usual menu sequence (1→2→1→3→2), and when you get the "high call volume" message, immediately press 2 then 1 then 0. Sometimes this triggers a callback option that isn't normally offered. If you get the callback, they usually call back within 2-4 hours, and when they do, you're connected directly to an agent - no more menu navigation or hold music torture! I got my callback at 10:47am and was able to resolve my refund issue in about 15 minutes. Also, since you mentioned post-divorce expenses, definitely file Form 911 with TAS in parallel. I wish I had done this sooner - they take financial hardship cases seriously and can often resolve issues that regular customer service can't touch. Document everything (dates, times, what happened) because if you do need to escalate to TAS, they want to see you've made good faith efforts through normal channels first. The system is absolutely broken, but don't lose hope - these strategies really do work if you're persistent with the timing. You'll get through eventually!