Need NY unemployment tax refund IRS phone number - anyone have direct contact?
I'm trying to get information about my unemployment tax refund from 2025 but the NY unemployment office keeps telling me to contact the IRS directly. Does anyone have a working phone number to reach an actual human at the IRS about this? I've tried the general number but kept getting disconnected after waiting forever. My tax transcript shows an adjustment but no refund has been processed yet, and it's been over 2 months!
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Nathan Kim
the main IRS number is 800-829-1040 but good luck getting through lol
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Gavin King
•Yeah that's the one I tried! Was on hold for 47 minutes before it just disconnected me.
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Eleanor Foster
For unemployment tax refund specific questions, you need to call 800-829-0582, then when prompted enter extension 012. That's the dedicated line for unemployment tax refund issues. Make sure you have your tax transcript and any adjustment letters with you when you call. They'll ask for verification information.
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Gavin King
•Thank you! Do you know what hours they're open? I'll try calling first thing tomorrow.
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Eleanor Foster
•They're open Monday through Friday 7am to 7pm local time. Best times to call are either right when they open or between 1-2pm when call volume is typically lower.
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Lucas Turner
That number never works either. I've been trying for WEEKS!!! The whole system is designed to prevent you from talking to anyone. They dont want to help us!!!!
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Kai Rivera
•I was in the exact same situation last month trying to reach the IRS about my unemployment tax refund. After multiple failed attempts with those numbers, I used Claimyr.com and got through in about 20 minutes. They connect you directly with an agent instead of dealing with the phone tree nightmare. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE. It saved me from pulling my hair out after weeks of frustration.
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Anna Stewart
For NY unemployment tax refund questions specifically, you might need to contact both agencies. Start with the IRS at the number others mentioned (800-829-0582 ext 012), but also reach out to the NY Department of Taxation and Finance at 518-457-5181 if your issue involves state tax on unemployment. Many people don't realize NY state might hold separate refunds related to unemployment tax adjustments.
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Gavin King
•Oh wow, I didn't even think about the state tax side of things. Do you know if NY automatically adjusts state taxes based on federal unemployment tax refunds or do I need to file an amended state return?
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Anna Stewart
•New York doesn't automatically adjust based on federal changes. If you received a federal adjustment for unemployment taxes, you likely need to file Form IT-213 (Claim for Credit or Refund of Personal Income Tax) with NY state. The form specifically has a section for claiming refunds based on federal changes to unemployment taxation.
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Layla Sanders
i had this same issue trying to reach IRS last month, but if u call exactly at 7:01am u might get thru without the crazy wait. thats what worked 4 me
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Morgan Washington
•I tried calling right at 7am for THREE days straight and still got the "we're experiencing high call volume" message every single time. I think it depends on what time of month/year you're calling. Tax season is basically impossible to get through.
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Nathan Kim
why are you dealing with IRS about unemployment tax stuff anyway? isn't that handled by NY unemployment directly?
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Anna Stewart
•The confusion is understandable. NY unemployment handles the benefits themselves, but the IRS handles any federal tax adjustments or refunds related to unemployment benefits. In 2025, there was a partial tax exclusion for unemployment benefits similar to what happened a few years ago, which means some people who paid taxes on their full unemployment benefits are eligible for refunds. The IRS processes these refunds, not NYSDOL.
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Morgan Washington
When I had to deal with this, I actually had better luck contacting my local Taxpayer Advocate Service. They can help with IRS issues when you've tried normal channels without success. For NY, try calling 877-777-4778 to reach the Taxpayer Advocate. They helped me resolve my unemployment tax refund issue when I couldn't get through to the IRS directly. Worth a shot if other methods fail.
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Gavin King
•Thank you! I didn't even know this service existed. How long did it take for them to help you resolve your issue?
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Morgan Washington
•It took about 3 weeks from my first contact with them until my refund was processed. They assigned me a specific advocate who handled my case. Make sure you can demonstrate you've tried to resolve through normal channels first - they usually ask for documentation of your attempts to contact the IRS directly.
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Layla Sanders
anybody got their unemployment tax refund yet? been waiting since february and nothing
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Eleanor Foster
•The IRS is processing these refunds in batches based on filing date and complexity. Simple returns are being processed first. According to the latest IRS statement, they should complete all unemployment tax adjustment refunds by October 2025. You can check your tax transcript online at irs.gov/transcripts to see if an adjustment has been made to your account yet.
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