In the tax filing process, there are few tasks that feel as daunting as talking to a human at the Internal Revenue Service.
Taxpayers who contact the IRS continue to experience long wait times, according to the 2023 annual report published by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization housed by the IRS.
But in some cases, you must reach an agent with a complex question about your filing, or to get more information in order to successfully complete your return.
SEE ALSO:Watch out for these common tax scamsThe good news is that much of what you may need is online, via the IRS' website or its app IRS2Go. The IRS' interactive tax assistant search tool can answer anonymous questions about several tax laws that are specific to your circumstances.
The IRS' refund tracker also tells taxpayers what phase their return is in once it's been filed and 24 hours have elapsed. If there's a problem with your refund that requires you to contact the IRS, the refund status checker will let you know to do so.
If you can't find the answer to your question via the IRS website or app, you can call the agency directly or visit a local IRS office. Here is a step-by-step guide to doing both:
You can contact the IRS via phone about your personal return by calling 1-800-829-1040. This phone line is staffed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
According to the IRS, wait times can average four minutes, though some callers may experience longer wait times, particularly on Monday and Tuesday and around the April deadline to file your taxes. (When Mashable called on a recent Wednesday afternoon, the wait time was an estimated 15 to 30 minutes.)
In your search for information about how to speak to a human at the IRS, you may encounter websites unaffiliated with the IRS that present a phone tree with detailed directions on which prompts to select.
Mashable is not offering similar directions because the phone tree selections may change over time. However, it's crucial to listen closely to each prompt as there are several based on your needs.
For example, asking about a refund is a separate prompt from questions related to your personal taxes. The same is true if you have questions about taxes related to health care law.
When listening to the selections, be sure you're not multitasking; it'll be easy to miss your prompt or get confused. Also, set aside uninterrupted time and prepare for a longer waiting period. You don't want to go through the trouble of calling and navigating the phone tree only to realize you don't have enough time to wait for an agent.
The IRS has local offices across the country where you can speak directly to an agent. You can find the nearest location to you by searching the IRS' Taxpayer Assistance Center Office Locator tool.
The number of offices varies from state to state. In Arkansas, for example, there are three offices, one each in Fayetteville, Jonesboro, and Little Rock. In California, however, there are 28 locations, including a few in the Los Angeles area.
Services typically provided at local offices include account inquiries, basic individual tax law assistance, and payment arrangements. Call the location closest to you in advance to schedule an appointment. Be sure you arrive to the appointment prepared with documents, including a current government-issued photo ID, a taxpayer identification number (like a Social Security number), and any tax documents.
While an in-person visit to a local IRS office may not be possible for every taxpayer, it may be the right solution for those who can access a location and want to talk face-to-face with someone who can answer their questions.
TopicsMoneyTax Season with Mashable
(责任编辑：探索)
You can now play 'Solitaire' and 'Tic'Tully' writer Diablo Cody talks women in film, on screen and offTwitter is down worldwideBalloon failed at its one job, and no one can stop thinking about itTwo astronauts just installed a new parking spot on the International Space StationThis app is giving streaming TV news a second try
Watchup, the once-buzzy news video streaming service, is trying its hand again at the news game with
...[详细]Queen Elizabeth II's last royal corgi passes away
The end of an era. 。Queen Elizabeth II's last royal corgi, Willow, has reportedly passed away, the Da
...[详细]Ecoflow releases River Bank, world's most powerful charging station
As we advance into the future, more and more of our devices need charging: phones, tablets, headphon
...[详细]'Avengers: Infinity War' review roundup: The critics
It's the movie that was ten years in the making, packed with literally too many stars and heroes to
...[详细]Did our grandparents have the best beauty advice?
Do our grandparents really know what's best?They're older and wiser, and they have no shortage of ad
...[详细]This is how NASA's TESS will hunt for alien planets
Billions and billions of worlds lurk beyond our solar system. But most of the time, we can't see the
...[详细]Snap Inc.'s Q1 earnings disappoint investors
It might be a beautiful day in Venice, CA, but things at the beach-headquartered Snap are not so sun
...[详细]Meghan Markle's character gets married in 'Suits' before her IRL wedding in May
Meghan Markle's final episode of 。 Suits
。has aired with just under a month to go until she ties the k
...[详细]The five guys who climbed Australia's highest mountain, in swimwear
Climbing a freezing cold mountain is already hard enough work. But in briefs? Nope. 。It's too late fo
...[详细]Twitter bug means you should change your password
Twitter has a teeny, tiny polite suggestion for everyone on its platform: Maybe go ahead and change
...[详细]Sound the alarms: Simone Biles finally met Zac Efron
An activist came to the Zuckerberg hearing dressed as a 'Russian troll'