Why is it literally impossible to reach an actual human at the IRS? Need help ASAP!!

8 I feel your pain! The IRS phone system is notoriously difficult to navigate. Here are some tips that might help you reach a human: Call early in the morning as soon as they open (typically 7 AM local time) as wait times are usually shorter. Choose option 2 for "personal tax questions" and then option 1 for "forms, tax history, or payments," then option 3 for "all other questions." When prompted for your SSN, DON'T enter anything - just wait. After 2-3 prompts with no response, many systems will route you to an agent. Alternatively, you can try requesting your transcript online through the "Get Transcript" tool on irs.gov if you haven't already. The online delivery is typically much faster than mail. If you're on a tight deadline for your mortgage, you might want to try visiting a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. You'll need to schedule an appointment, but at least you're guaranteed to speak with someone in person.

15 After spending WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS last year about a missing refund, I discovered this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me analyze my tax documents and figure out exactly what I needed to follow up on with the IRS. It can actually read and interpret IRS letters, notices and transcripts - which was perfect since I finally got my transcript but couldn't make sense of all the codes. I uploaded my documents and it explained everything in plain English - showed me where the hold-up was with my refund and exactly what I needed to ask for when I finally reached someone. Saved me from wasting my one chance to talk to an agent on asking the wrong questions!

17 Update: I tried that taxr.ai site that was mentioned here and it was surprisingly helpful! I finally managed to download my transcript directly from the IRS website (kept trying different browsers until it worked) and uploaded it to taxr.ai. The system highlighted that I had a "570 code" which apparently means there's an audit hold on my account! No wonder I couldn't get a straight answer. Armed with this specific information, I felt much more confident when I finally reached someone at the IRS. Instead of just asking generic questions, I could ask specifically about the hold code and what documentation they needed from me to resolve it. Huge difference in how the call went - the agent seemed impressed I knew what I was talking about and actually helped expedite the resolution! Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck in IRS limbo.

9 Listen, after dealing with the IRS "customer service" nightmare for months last year, I discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). It's literally the only thing that worked for getting through to a human at the IRS. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, they navigate the phone tree for you and get in the queue, then call you when they have an agent on the line. I was skeptical too, but I was desperate after trying for WEEKS to get through about an amended return. Used Claimyr and had an IRS agent on the phone within 2 hours instead of the 4+ hour wait times I was facing before (if I could even get in the queue at all).

17 I'm back with a shocking update. After being super skeptical about that Claimyr service, I got desperate enough to try it yesterday. I honestly thought it was going to be a waste of time or some kind of scam. Well, I was COMPLETELY wrong. I submitted my request around 9 AM, and at 10:45 AM my phone rang - it was Claimyr connecting me directly to an actual IRS agent! No waiting on hold for hours, no getting disconnected after navigating endless menus. The agent helped me resolve my transcript issue and explained there was a verification flag on my account that was causing the delay. If you're in IRS hell like I was, it's absolutely worth trying. I went from thinking I'd never get this resolved to having it completely handled in less than 2 hours. Consider me completely converted from skeptic to believer!

3 Have you tried contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service? They're an independent organization within the IRS designed to help taxpayers who are experiencing hardship due to IRS issues. They might be able to help expedite your transcript request, especially if it's for something time-sensitive like a mortgage.

22 Has anyone tried going through their local congressman/congresswoman's office? My sister had a similar issue last year and contacted our representative's constituent services. They have dedicated channels to the IRS and were able to get her transcript issue resolved within a week. Worth a shot if nothing else is working!

Wow, reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea there were so many different approaches to dealing with the IRS phone system nightmare. I'm definitely going to try the early morning calling strategy first, and if that doesn't work, the Taxpayer Advocate Service sounds like a really solid backup option. The congressional representative route is something I never would have thought of - that's brilliant! For anyone else struggling with this, it sounds like the key is having multiple strategies and not giving up after the first few attempts. The IRS system is clearly broken, but there are workarounds if you know where to look. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should be bookmarked by anyone dealing with IRS issues!