[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Article","articleBody":"Getting ahold of someone at the IRS over the phone is notoriously difficult, but it can be done if you select the correct options \u2014 and are willing to wait a bit.  Step-by-step instructions on which menu options to select are below, but keep in mind that if the IRS phone lines are particularly understaffed that day, you may be facing a long wait time to reach someone at the IRS, even if you correctly follow the steps below.  Although the IRS phone lines are open between 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM in your local time (with Alaska and Hawaii following Pacific Time), the IRS says that the best time to call is before 10:00 AM.  In my experience, the earlier you call, the better.  Also, Mondays (followed by Tuesdays) tend to be the busiest days for IRS phone lines, so call later in the week if possible.  Can\u2019t pay your taxes?  Watch this YouTube video.  How to Speak to Someone at the IRS (Step-by-Step) Here\u2019s exactly how to speak to someone at the IRS over the phone:  1. Call 1-800-829-1040 between the hours of 7:00 AM \u2013 7:00 PM local time.  2. Press \u201c1\u201d for English or \u201c2\u201d for Spanish.  3. Press \u201c2\u201d for \u201canswers about your personal income taxes.\u201d  4. Press \u201c1\u201d for \u201cquestions about a form you have already submitted or a payment or to order a tax transcript.\u201d  5. Press \u201c3\u201d for \u201call other questions about your tax history or payment.\u201d  6. Press \u201c2\u201d for \u201call other questions about your tax history or payment.\u201d  7. Do not input your Social Security Number when the recording tells you to.  8. Press \u201c2\u201d for \u201cpersonal- or individual-tax related question.\u201d  9. Press \u201c4\u201d for \u201call other inquiries.\u201d  10. Wait to be connected to someone at the IRS.  What Is the IRS Phone Wait Time? According to the IRS, the IRS phone wait time varies based on what month it is.  See the table below for average wait times by time of year.  IRS Call Wait Times Time of Year Average Wait Time Busiest Days Filing Season (January - April)\t15 Minutes\tMondays Tuesdays Presidents Day Weekend Around April 15 Post-Filing Season (May - December)\t27 Minutes\tMondays Tuesdays Information You Need When Calling the IRS When you call the IRS, make sure you have this information handy:  Your Social Security number and birth date Your filing status Your previous year\u2019s tax return Any correspondences (letters, notices, etc.) from the IRS pertaining to your question If you are calling for somebody else, you will need their information as well as a valid Form 8821 or Form 2848.  If you are calling for a deceased taxpayer, you will need their death certificate and either a court approval letter or IRS Form 56 to speak to the IRS on behalf of the decedent.  What the IRS Will Not Discuss With You Over the Phone According to the IRS, IRS telephone operators cannot assist with every question.  Here is a partial list of topics that you will not be able to get help with from an IRS operator over the phone:  1031 Exchanges 529 Plans for Primary School Education 754 Election Basis Calculation Change in Accounting Method Corporate Consolidations, Mergers, or Reorganizations Cryptocurrency Day Trading Depreciation Entity Classification Election Excess Business Losses Health Savings Accounts Net Operating Losses Opportunity Zones Qualified Business Income Deduction Sale of Business Stock Options Trusts","image":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/How-to-Speak-to-Someone-at-the-IRS.jpg","headline":"How to Speak to Someone at the IRS","name":"How to Speak to Someone at the IRS Article","description":"This article is about how to speak to someone at the IRS.","datePublished":"2021-10-15","dateModified":"2022-08-04","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/personal-taxes\/how-to-speak-to-someone-at-the-irs\/","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","name":"Money Done Right Logo","height":"488","width":"60","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/#ImageObject"},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","name":"Money Done Right Address","addressCountry":"United States","addressLocality":"Valencia","addressRegion":"California","postalCode":"91354","streetAddress":"23890 Copper Hill Dr Ste 139","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/#PostalAddress"},"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/","publishingPrinciples":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/methodology\/","additionalType":"Blog","name":"Money Done Right","email":"support@moneydoneright.com","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/moneydoneright","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/moneydoneright\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/moneydoneright\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/money-done-right\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/moneydoneright\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/MoneyDoneRight"],"foundingLocation":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Santa_Clarita,_California","legalName":"Allec Media LLC","naics":"519130","parentOrganization":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/#ParentOrganization","founder":{"@type":"Person","hasCredential":["https:\/\/cslainstitute.org\/","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Certified_Public_Accountant"],"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/","spouse":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/caroline-allec\/","image":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Logan-Allec-Money-Done-Right.jpg","name":"Logan Allec","description":"Logan Allec is a practicing Certified Public Accountant, Certified Student Loan Professional, and the founder of personal finance blog Money Done Right.  He provides a second level of review for the site\u2019s more technical articles, particularly those pertaining to taxation, credit, and student loans. He also educates thousands of people every week on The Money Done Right Show.","email":"logan.allec@moneydoneright.com","sameAs":["https:\/\/loganallec.com\/","https:\/\/twitter.com\/loganallec","https:\/\/www.benzinga.com\/author\/logan-allec","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/logan.allec","https:\/\/www.fareverse.com\/writer\/logan-allec-cpa-freelance-writer\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/loganallec\/","https:\/\/www.legalzoom.com\/author\/logan-allec","https:\/\/www.rent.com\/blog\/author\/logan-allec\/","https:\/\/www.thebalance.com\/logan-allec-5192331","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC3Jg7eUCBPsjX13X7kTW1hQ"],"familyName":"Allec","givenName":"Logan","birthDate":"1988-08-04","birthPlace":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anaheim,_California","alumniOf":["http:\/\/www.ucla.edu\/","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ernst_%26_Young","https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/"],"gender":"Male","jobTitle":"Founder","nationality":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Americans","worksFor":{"@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/#Organization"},"@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/"},"@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/#Organization"},"author":{"@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/"},"@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/personal-taxes\/how-to-speak-to-someone-at-the-irs\/#Article"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Taxes","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Personal Taxes","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/\/personal-taxes\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Speak to Someone at the IRS","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/personal-taxes\/how-to-speak-to-someone-at-the-irs\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]