Contacting the IRS by phone can be a necessary step to resolve tax issues or get clarifications. To ensure your phone call is productive and efficient, it’s crucial to be well-prepared. The IRS requires identity verification to protect your personal information, and knowing what to have ready can save you time and frustration. This guide will help you gather everything you need before you dial, so you can handle your tax matters effectively.
When you call the IRS, their representatives are committed to protecting your privacy. Therefore, before they can discuss any personal details about your tax situation, they must verify your identity. Having the right information at hand is essential for this process.
For Individual Taxpayers:
If you are calling as an individual, make sure you have the following information readily available:
- Social Security number (SSN) and date of birth: These are primary identifiers for individual taxpayers.
- Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): If you don’t have an SSN, your ITIN serves as your tax ID.
- Filing status: Know your filing status for the tax year in question (single, head of household, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or qualifying surviving spouse).
- Prior-year tax return: Having your previous year’s tax return can help verify your identity and provide context for your inquiry.
- Tax return you’re calling about: Keep the specific tax return in question accessible, whether it’s for the current year or a previous one.
- Any IRS correspondence: If the IRS has sent you any notices or letters, have them ready as they often contain important reference numbers or details related to your case.
For Third Parties Calling on Behalf of Someone Else:
If you are authorized to call on behalf of another taxpayer, you’ll need to provide additional documentation to confirm your authorization:
- Taxpayer’s name, SSN or ITIN: You will need to provide the taxpayer’s identifying information.
- Tax return you are calling about: Specify the tax year and form related to your call.
- Verbal or written authorization: Be prepared to confirm you have authorization to discuss the account. This could be through Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization or Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative.
- Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) or Personal Identification Number: If you are a tax preparer, have your PTIN ready.
For Third Parties Calling About a Deceased Taxpayer:
When dealing with the tax matters of a deceased individual, you will need to provide:
- Death certificate: This is required to confirm the taxpayer’s passing.
- Court approval letter or IRS Form 56: For estate executors, have a court approval letter or IRS Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship to demonstrate your legal authority to act on behalf of the estate.
Understanding IRS Phone Wait Times:
It’s also helpful to know when the best times are to call and what to expect in terms of wait times.
Filing Season (January – April):
- Expect average wait times of around 3 minutes, although some lines may experience longer delays.
- Mondays and Tuesdays are typically busier, as are periods around Presidents Day weekend and the April tax filing deadline.
Post-Filing Season (May – December):
- Wait times tend to increase to an average of about 12 minutes.
- For shorter wait times, try calling Wednesday through Friday.
The IRS help lines are open from Monday to Friday. For residents in Alaska and Hawaii, Pacific Time should be observed. In Puerto Rico, phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
During peak call periods, the IRS may offer a callback option. If wait times exceed 15 minutes and a representative is available within regular business hours, you might be given the choice to receive a return call instead of waiting on hold. This option is available for most toll-free lines.
IRS Phone Numbers You May Need:
Here are some key IRS phone numbers for different needs:
- Individuals: 800-829-1040 – Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
- Businesses: 800-829-4933 – Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
- Tax Professionals (Practitioner Priority Service): Contact via the Practitioner Priority Service – Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
- Non-profit Taxes: 877-829-5500 – Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time.
- Estate and Gift Taxes (Form 706/709): 866-699-4083 – Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Excise Taxes: 866-699-4096 – Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Overseas Callers: Consult the International Services page for specific instructions.
- Hearing Impaired (TTY/TDD): 800-829-4059.
By preparing all necessary documents and understanding the best times to call, you can make your Phone Call Online to the IRS a much more efficient and less stressful experience. Remember to verify your identity at the start of the call to ensure you can discuss your tax information with the IRS representative.
