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IRS Taxpayer Protection Phone Number: Live Human Help

Thomas Maxon, CEO & Co-founder of Claimyr | last updated: 04/14/2024

Have you been dialing the IRS taxpayer protection phone line (800) 908-4490 to reach a human? This guide covers how to call and reach a live human at the IRS regarding taxpayer protection. Also, we provide you with a guaranteed way to speak with an agent within a few hours.

Table of contents

How to call the IRS Taxpayer Protection phone number 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 regarding taxpayer protection. If it's too hard to call the IRS phone number below, you can place an IRS Taxpayer Protection call here to guarantee you reach a human.

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

If you have been the victim of identity theft please read the following guides on reporting identity theft by calling or for verification issues our IRS Identity verification phone number guide can point you to the right person to speak with.

If you need a summary of your tax return for loan applications or to verify income, our guide on the IRS Tax Return Transcript Request Phone Number will help you obtain your tax transcript quickly and efficiently.

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're setting up a payment plan and need to discuss your options with an IRS representative, our guide on the IRS Payment Plan Phone Number provides detailed instructions to get you connected with a live person efficiently.

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) 830-5084

  • Step 1: wait 8 seconds
  • Step 2: press 1

At this point, the IRS will either tell you they're too busy to take your call or you'll be put on hold.

If you find yourself needing more direct assistance after a long wait, consider reaching out to the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for personalized 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/search for "IRS Taxpayer Protection"
  • 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!

For those dealing specifically with identity theft issues, you can directly navigate to the IRS Identity Theft Phone Number section on Claimyr to expedite your request for assistance.

IRS hours of operation

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

For those who need assistance outside of these hours, the IRS Customer Service Phone Number page provides information on how to get in touch with the IRS through other means.

What is the best time to call the IRS regarding taxpayer protection?

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 regarding tax return transcript 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.