Use Where's My Refund, call us at 800-829-1954 (toll-free) and use the automated system, or speak with a representative by calling 800-829-1040 (see telephone assistance for hours of operation).
IRS phone number - Call wait times
Wait times can average 3 minutes. Some phone lines may have longer wait times. Wait times are longer on Mondays and Tuesdays, during Presidents Day weekend and around the April tax filing deadline.
You can call 1-800-829-1040 to get answers to your federal tax questions 24 hours a day.
Timing makes a huge difference when you contact the IRS by phone. The shortest queues tend to occur early weekday mornings—between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m.—and midweek (Tuesday through Thursday). Avoid Mondays, Fridays, and dates near filing deadlines when hold times spike.
For many taxpayers the most frustrating part about doing their taxes is getting ahold of a real person at the IRS. The IRS is understaffed and unprepared to take on the daily volume of phone calls they receive.
Request an expedited refund by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 (TTY/TDD 800-829-4059). Request a manual refund expedited to you.
How to reach an actual person at the IRS: Use the 1-2-3 hack. The IRS telephone number is 1-800-829-1040, and is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. To speak with someone at the IRS, you have to call, navigate through a menu, and eventually get routed to find an agent if one is available.
Try calling early in the morning. Lines open at 7 a.m. local time. Earlier calls tend to have shorter wait times. Use the IRS's official online tools like “Where's My Refund?” and “Get Transcript” before calling.
Individual taxpayers can call the IRS phone line at 1-800-829-1040 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time Monday through Friday for telephone assistance.
To speak to a live person at the IRS, call the main line (800-829-1040), choose your language, then follow the prompts by selecting options for "Personal Income Tax," and when asked for your SSN/EIN, do not enter it, instead saying "representative" or repeating options until transferred to an agent, preferably calling early mornings on weekdays. Be patient and have specific questions ready, as the automated system tries to handle calls first.
The IRS also established a policy against answering substantive tax questions on the phone. Filers can call taxpayer services to ask process questions, meaning questions about how to file or the status of their filings, but they cannot get help with questions about the taxes themselves.
The IRS will never initiate contact demanding immediate payment via gift cards, prepaid debit, or wire transfers; threaten immediate arrest or deportation; or contact you first by email, text, or social media; these tactics, especially involving urgent demands for specific payment types or threats, are key signs of a tax scam, as the IRS always mails a bill first and allows time to appeal.
The IRS says wait times average 15 minutes during filing season (January to April), with Mondays and Tuesdays being the busiest days. After filing season (May to December), waits can be even longer, averaging 27 minutes. The IRS processes your federal tax return, but your state return is processed by your state.
The Taxpayer Advocate Service is currently experiencing a high volume of assistance requests. As a result, you may experience lengthy wait times while trying to connect with an advocate or while waiting for a return call. See if you qualify for our assistance. If you qualify, you can download and submit a Form 911.
Calling the IRS: Call the IRS Refund Hotline at 800-829-1954 . If the IRS has processed your return, the system will tell you the date your refund will be sent. The IRS suggests you should call about your: E-filed return: 3 weeks after you filed it.
IRS toll-free help
You may call 800-829-1040 with any Federal tax questions.
Errors in your tax return calculations can cause delays as the IRS may need to correct them. A mismatch between your Social Security Number and the records can significantly delay your refund. Filing your tax return too early or too late can lead to delays due to IRS system updates or high processing volumes.
The "$1000 instant tax deduction" refers to a proposed Australian tax policy, specifically from the Albanese Labor government in 2025, allowing eligible workers to claim a flat $1,000 deduction for work-related expenses without needing receipts, simplifying tax returns for those with lower expenses but potentially costing those with higher expenses, starting from 1 July 2026. It's an option to replace itemised work-related deductions, not an extra refund, and doesn't affect non-work-related deductions like charity.
For individual tax returns, call 1-800-829-1040, 7 AM - 7 PM Monday through Friday local time. The wait time to speak with a representative may be long. This option works best for less complex questions. For questions about a business tax return, call 1-800-829-4933, 7 AM - 7 PM Monday through Friday local time.
The IRS 7-year rule primarily applies to keeping records for claiming a deduction for bad debts or losses from worthless securities, allowing a longer period to file for a credit or refund, but it's not a universal audit limit; it's often a recommended safe buffer for general record-keeping, with the standard IRS audit period usually being 3 years, extending to 6 years for substantial income omission (over 25%) or foreign income issues, and indefinitely for fraud.
Otherwise, it will show the IRS toll-free number (800-829-1040). The best days to call the IRS are Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The IRS advises that wait times are the longest on Mondays and Tuesdays. Have your paperwork (such as cancelled checks, amended return, etc.)