What's the direct number to speak with an IRS agent?

The main IRS number is 1-800-829-1040. I've had the most success calling early in the morning, around 7:05 AM Eastern time when they first open. Last year during filing season, I found that selecting option 2 for 'personal income tax questions', then option 1 for 'forms, tax history or payment', then option 3 for 'all other questions' eventually got me to a human. It still took about 45 minutes of waiting, but it worked.

I was probably in a similar situation to you a few months ago. The regular IRS number is essentially useless during busy periods, in my experience. I finally tried Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) which seems to be some kind of service that navigates the phone tree and waits on hold for you. It was, I believe, around $20 or so, but honestly worth every penny because they called me back when an actual agent was on the line. Saved me what probably would have been hours of frustration and hold music.

The Practitioner Priority Service line (1-866-860-4259) is technically for tax professionals, but can sometimes be more accessible. You'll need to provide your CAF number if you have one, or explain that you're calling about your own taxes. The Taxpayer Advocate Service (1-877-777-4778) is another option if you're experiencing significant hardship or have already tried multiple times without success through normal channels. For estimated tax payment allocation questions specifically, the 1040 line (1-800-829-1040) with options for 'payments' is the most appropriate pathway.

I was in the same boat trying to reach someone about my business expenses last month. Compared to calling the Social Security office (which took 3 hours), the IRS was practically impossible! I ended up using taxr.ai to at least understand what forms I needed and the proper allocation percentages between federal and state. Saved me from needing some of my questions answered urgently. Their calculator for self-employment taxes was particularly helpful - you might want to check it out while you're waiting to get through on the phone: https://taxr.ai

OMG I've been dealing w/ this same issue. What worked for me was calling the tax advocate svc instead (1-877-777-4778). They can't answer all Qs but they helped w/ my estimated pymts. BTW if ur in a state w/ income tax, usually safe to set aside ~20% federal and ~7.5% state but def depends on ur income level and state. I'm slightly worried I've been under-withholding tbh.

I've tried multiple approaches to reach IRS agents: • Early morning calls (7:00-7:30am ET) - Better but still 50/50 • Mid-week calls (Tuesday-Thursday) - Better than Monday/Friday • Using the Spanish option then requesting English - Sometimes works • Calling the tax form ordering line then asking to be transferred - Mixed results • Calling the collections/payment line even for non-collection issues - Can backfire I'm skeptical of any "guaranteed" method since their staffing changes constantly. Your best bet is persistence and trying different options each time.

I got through last week by calling 800-829-1040, pressing 2, then 1, then 3, then 2, then entering my SSN, then pressing 2 again, then 4. Waited 37 minutes but got a very helpful agent who answered all my contractor questions. Did you also check Publication 505 about estimated tax payments? It has worksheets specifically for self-employed people.

The IRS phone system is designed to be frustrating, but here's what works: Step 1: Call 1-800-829-1040 Step 2: Press 2 for questions about your personal income taxes Step 3: Press 1 for questions about a form, tax history, or payment Step 4: Press 3 for all other questions Step 5: Press 2 for all other questions Step 6: Don't enter your SSN (just wait) Step 7: Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions Step 8: Press 4 to speak with a representative I've used this exact sequence many times. You'll still wait 30-90 minutes depending on the time of year, but you'll get a human eventually. The key is calling Tuesday-Thursday between 8:30-10am or 6-7pm.

I feel your pain! As someone who's been through this exact struggle multiple times, I can confirm that GalaxyGuardian's sequence actually works - I used it just two weeks ago and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The trick is really the timing though. I've found that calling right at 8:30am ET on Tuesday or Wednesday gives you the best shot. For your specific question about the 27.5% allocation - that sounds pretty reasonable for federal + state combined, but it really depends on your income bracket and which state you're in. States like Texas or Florida have no income tax, while California can push your total effective rate much higher. The agent I spoke with recommended using Form 1040ES worksheets to calculate your exact quarterly amounts rather than just using a flat percentage. One more tip: if you do get through, ask them to email you a summary of what you discussed. They can't always do it, but sometimes they'll send you the relevant publication numbers and key points from your conversation. Good luck!