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IRS Appointment Phone Number: Live Human Help

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

Have you been dialing the IRS customer service phone line 844-545-5640 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 Taxpayer Assistance Center

Table of contents

How to call the IRS Taxpayer Assistance 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 schedule an appointment at your local IRS office call here to guarantee you reach a human.

For those specifically looking to request a tax return transcript, you can streamline the process by using the IRS Tax Return Transcript Request Phone Number, which may save you time when dealing with tax documentation inquiries.

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

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're setting up a payment plan and need to discuss your options with an agent, you can find detailed instructions and the direct contact number on our IRS Payment Plan Phone Number page, which may save you time before you reach out for live assistance.

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

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

Dial (844) 545-5640

  • Step 1: wait 3 seconds
  • Step 2: press 1
  • Step 3: wait 22 seconds
  • Step 4: press 1

At this point, the IRS Taxpayer Assistance 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 want to reach another department, check out this complete list of IRS phone numbers to find the right department for your needs.

If you're experiencing significant hardship and need specialized assistance, you might consider contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service directly for support.'.

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 or search for "IRS Schedule Appointment With Local Office"
  • 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 Taxpayer Assistance agent on the line!

News coverage of Claimyr for the skeptical:

If you're dealing with specific issues like identity theft, Claimyr also offers direct lines to specialized departments; for instance, you can use their service to quickly connect to the IRS Identity Theft Phone Number without the usual wait times.

IRS Taxpayer Assistance hours of operation

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

If you need to discuss outstanding taxes or payment arrangements, you can find more specific contact information, such as the IRS Collections Phone Number to reach the right department for your needs.

What is the best time to call the IRS Taxpayer Assistance?

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 Taxpayer Assistance 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 Taxpayer Assistance 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 Taxpayer Assistance 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.

Find the best IRS office near you

Check out this complete guide to find the nearest IRS office to you. You can head there and wait to speak with a representative. But keep in mind, you may save more time calling.