Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Phone Number & Contact Information
Washington, DC · www.irs.gov
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Phone Number
| Phone | (800) 829-1040 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM local time |
| Website | www.irs.gov |
USA Customer Care is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Official website: www.irs.gov. The numbers below are verified against official sources — always confirm on the official site.
About Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the federal agency that administers and collects US taxes. If you are trying to reach a live person, this page lists the IRS phone numbers that actually connect you to help, the hours each line is open, and the fastest way to get past the automated menu.
Most people call the IRS for one of a few reasons: to ask about a refund that is late, to understand a notice or letter that arrived in the mail, to set up or check a payment plan for taxes owed, or to fix a problem with a return that was filed. The right number depends on which of these applies to you — individual taxpayers, businesses, and refund questions each have a dedicated line below.
Before you call, it helps to know that phone waits are longest on Mondays, on Tuesdays, and in the weeks right before the April filing deadline. Early morning, right when the lines open at 7:00 AM local time, is almost always the shortest wait.
Individual Taxpayers
đ Official source: irs.gov â · ✓ Verified 2026-07-11
Common Individual Taxpayers issues & fixes
This is the main line for personal tax questions: refunds, notices, balances owed, payment plans, and amended returns. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and a copy of the tax return in question ready — the representative cannot pull up your account without verifying your identity first. If you received a letter, keep it in hand; the notice number (top or bottom right, usually starting with CP or LTR) routes your call faster.
Business & Specialty Tax
đ Official source: irs.gov â · ✓ Verified 2026-07-11
Common Business & Specialty Tax issues & fixes
Use this line for Employer ID Number (EIN) questions, business returns, payroll and employment taxes, and questions about business notices. Have your EIN and business details ready.
Refund Hotline (automated)
đ Official source: irs.gov â · ✓ Verified 2026-07-11
Common Refund Hotline (automated) issues & fixes
This automated line reads back the same refund status as the online "Where's My Refund?" tool. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount ready. For a refund that is only a few weeks old, this is faster than waiting for a live agent.
Step-by-Step Guides
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Frequently Asked Questions
Call right when lines open at 7:00 AM your local time. Mid-to-late week (Wednesday to Friday) is quieter than Monday and Tuesday, and the weeks just before the mid-April deadline are the busiest of the year.
Have your Social Security number or ITIN, your filing status, and a copy of the tax return you are calling about. If you received a notice, keep it with you — the notice number helps route your call. The IRS must verify your identity before discussing your account.
Yes. The "Where's My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov and the automated refund line (800-829-1954) both show the same status the phone agents see. E-filed refunds usually post a status within 24 hours and are typically issued within 21 days.
No. The IRS initiates contact by regular mail, not email, text, or social media. Messages claiming to be the IRS asking for payment or personal details by those channels are scams — do not click links or share information.
Follow the step-by-step guide on this page. In short: call the individual line, choose your language, avoid the refund option, and select the personal income tax path, then "all other questions."
Yes. When the automated system answers, choose the option for Spanish (Espanol) to be routed to a Spanish-speaking representative.
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