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IRS Phone Number Live Person

Thomas Maxon, CEO & Co-founder of Claimyr | last updated: 11/04/2023

Have you been dialing the IRS customer service phone line 800-829-1040 to reach a human? This guide covers how to call and reach a live human at the IRS. Also, we provide you with a guaranteed way to speak with an agent within a few hours.

Calling the IRS to reach a live person

Table of contents

How to call the IRS and speak with a human using a shortcut

Use the widget below to find out the best times, how to call, and a guaranteed method to reach a live IRS customer service agent. If it's too hard to call the IRS phone number below, you can place an IRS call here to guarantee you reach a human.

For specialized assistance with resolving tax issues, consider contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, which is an independent organization within the IRS designed to help taxpayers navigate complex tax situations.

How can I speak to a live person at the IRS?

There are two methods to reach a live person:

  • 1.) by calling manually over and over again, get on a long hold, and then hope the call doesn't drop -- and I'll show you how to do that,
  • 2.) use a calling tool that dials for you, stays on hold, and forwards a call to your phone number when an agent is on the line. (RECOMMENDED)

If you want to reach a specific department, check out this complete list of IRS phone numbers to find the right department for your needs.

For those needing detailed information from past filings, you can request your IRS Tax Return Transcript by phone, which may be necessary for loan applications or for more complex tax situations.'.

Option 1 (SLOW): call manually - time to a human rep = 2+ hours.

Below is the best way to dial through their menu faster:

Dial (800) 829-1040

  • Step 1: wait 15 seconds
  • Step 2: press 1
  • Step 3: wait 27 seconds
  • Step 4: press 2
  • Step 5: wait 16 seconds
  • Step 6: press 1
  • Step 7: wait 18 seconds
  • Step 8: press 3
  • Step 9: wait 12 seconds
  • Step 10: press 2
  • Step 11: wait 63 seconds
  • Step 12: press 1
  • Step 13: wait 14 seconds
  • Step 14: press 2
  • Step 15: wait 15 seconds

repeat the above steps as needed; usually between 20-100 attempts

At this point, the IRS will either tell you they're too busy to take your call or you'll be put on hold. But again, calling manually often is just not realistic.

If you're calling to set up an IRS Payment Plan, you might find it more efficient to use the direct payment plan number, which you can find detailed information on at IRS Payment Plan, to potentially reduce your wait time.

Option 2 (FAST): use a call app - time to a human rep = 5-40 min.

By far the fastest option is to use software. Robots are simply better at this task than humans ever can be.

  • Step 1: head to Claimyr
  • Step 2: select the IRS line
  • Step 3: pay for Claimyr to call for you (yes it's a paid version, but it honestly works very well. You can research Claimyr before buying to be sure)
  • Step 4: kick back, relax, and wait for your phone to ring with an IRS agent on the line!

News coverage of Claimyr for the skeptical:

If you're specifically dealing with issues of identity theft, you may want to use Claimyr's specialized IRS Identity Theft Assistance service to get in touch with the right department quickly.

IRS hours of operation

The IRS is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

If you need to discuss outstanding taxes or payment plans outside of the regular IRS hours of operation, you can find more information on how to contact the IRS Collections department here.

What is the best time to call the IRS?

Do not call during these times (unless you are using Claimyr, which then you can order a callback 24/7 Monday - Sunday):

  • 👎 Monday mornings
  • 👎 After 5 pm on any day
  • 👎 Friday afternoons (as you'll likely not solve your issue until the following week)

But again, if you are using Claimyr's automated callback tool, then you will be able to place a call literally anytime during the day and get a callback soon after.

The best time to call the IRS is Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. ⚠️WARNING⚠️: please beware that you often need to dedicate an entire day to dialing over and over just to get on hold. Also, the IRS is notorious for dropping calls even when you finally do get on hold! So if you decide to start calling mid-week, due to excessive call volume, you may not be able to reach an agent until the following week or longer.

If you don't consider calling the IRS a full-time profession, consider using a calling tool such as Claimyr to guarantee a callback with an agent on the line with zero hold time.

How to Speak to a Live Person at the IRS in 2023

Step-by-Step Guide to Reaching a Human Agent

To speak with a live person at the IRS in 2023, follow these steps:

  1. Dial the IRS customer service phone number: 800-829-1040
  2. Follow the steps provided in the How can I speak to a live person at the IRS? section.

Live Chat with an IRS Agent

As of 2023, the IRS does not offer a live chat option. However, you can use tools like Claimyr to expedite the process of reaching a live person on the phone.