What's the Best Method to Reach an IRS Agent?

According to the IRS.gov website, your best bet is to call early morning (right when they open at 7am Eastern) or later in the week (Thursday/Friday). The general number (800-829-1040) has an average wait time of 45-90 minutes right now due to tax season volume. If you're dealing with an audit, you should be calling the specific number on your audit notice instead - that line typically has shorter wait times. Make sure you have all your documentation ready before calling, including your previous year's return, any notices you've received, and your taxpayer ID information. Time is critical right now as we're approaching the April 15 deadline!

I had this EXACT same issue last month with a similar discrepancy situation. After spending 3 hours on hold and getting disconnected twice, I tried https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript first. It helped me pinpoint exactly what the discrepancy was (in my case, unreported investment income that didn't match my W-2). When I finally got through to the IRS, I knew exactly what to ask about and resolved it in one call. The transcript analysis saved me from playing phone tag for weeks. Might be worth checking your transcript first to know exactly what you're dealing with.

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been trying at random times, so maybe a more strategic approach will help. I did look at my transcript online but honestly wasn't sure what I was looking at... might check out that tool. Has anyone had luck with the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service? I've heard they can sometimes intervene when you can't get through normal channels. (Though at this point I'd settle for just talking to a human being at the IRS, lol

I was in the same boat last month and discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). It's a service that basically waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you when an agent is on the line. Costs around $25 but saved me literally hours of hold time. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got through to an agent in about 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days. Just sharing because it saved me a ton of frustration during busy season.

What's your specific issue with the discrepancy? I'm dealing with CP2000 Notice for unreported income and found that mentioning the notice number gets you to a different queue. Are you trying to resolve something before submitting your 2024 return, or is this about an amended return for 2023? The approach might differ based on your specific situation.

One alternative approach is to make an in-person appointment at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center. You can schedule this through the IRS website or by calling 844-545-5640. These appointments are typically available within 1-3 weeks, which might be faster than reaching someone by phone during peak season. Just be sure to bring all relevant documentation: your prior year returns, any notices you've received (CP2000, Letter 12C, etc.), and two forms of identification. The advantage of in-person assistance is that the representative can often resolve multiple issues in one session, rather than being transferred between departments on the phone.