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IRS Taxpayer Advocate Phone Number: Live Human Help

Thomas Maxon, CEO & Co-founder of Claimyr | last updated: 05/13/2024

Have you been trying to reach the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service at (877) 777-4778 but having trouble getting through? This guide covers how to call and reach a live human at the IRS Taxpayer Advocate. 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 Advocate 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 Taxpayer Advocate customer service agent. If it's too hard to call the IRS Taxpayer Advocate phone number below, you can place an IRS Taxpayer Advocate call here to guarantee you reach a human.

For those specifically looking to request a tax return transcript, you can find detailed instructions and the direct phone number on our IRS Tax Return Transcript Request Phone Number page, which may save you time before reaching out to the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

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

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.

If your inquiry is related to setting up or managing an existing payment plan, you may want to directly contact the appropriate department using the IRS Payment Plan Phone Number for more specialized 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 (877) 777-4778

  • Step 1: wait 3 seconds
  • Step 2: press 1
  • Step 3: wait 20 seconds
  • Step 4: press 1
  • Step 5: wait 20.5 seconds

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

At this point, the TAS 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 looking for alternative methods to reach the IRS or need additional contact information, you may find the IRS Collections Phone Number page helpful in navigating the complexities of IRS phone systems.

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 Taxpayer Advocate 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 Taxpayer Advocate on the line!

News coverage of Claimyr for the skeptical:

If you're dealing with specific issues such as identity theft, Claimyr also offers direct assistance with their IRS Identity Theft Phone Number service, ensuring you get connected to the right department for your needs.

IRS Taxpayer Advocate hours of operation

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

If you need to contact the IRS outside of the Taxpayer Advocate's hours, you can find the IRS Customer Service Phone Number for assistance at any time.

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

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 Advocate 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 Advocate 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 Advocate 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.