We're just about two weeks out from the April 15 tax deadline. If you haven't already filed, you might be spending the next several days gathering your important tax documents or trying to decipher your W-2. Even if you're using tax software or having someone else file taxes for you, you are likely to still run into questions.
While you can call the IRS with questions, you may experience long wait times. Plus, you're likely to find the answer to your tax questions online at IRS.gov. Below, we break down helpful IRS tools and resources and provide IRS contact information for when you've exhausted all the online options and still haven't solved your problem.
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For more tax info, check out CNET's taxes cheat sheet and this roundup of important deadlines for this upcoming tax season.
What IRS tools and resources are available online?
There are many -- and free -- tools online to help you through your taxes.
- Interactive Tax Assistant: A virtual assistant that responds to various inquiries to help you determine whether your income is taxable, whom you can claim as a dependent and what your filing status is.
- Get Refund Status: A tool to help you track the status of your tax refund.
- Personal IRS account: Create your own account to find information about your prior year's tax return.
Can I ask the IRS tax questions in person?
The IRS staffs a toll-free hotline, but yes, there are in-person options.
The IRS has roughly 600 local offices nationwide, and if there's one close to you, you can schedule an in-person appointment. Here's how:
- Visit the IRS Office Locator page and enter your ZIP code, then click "Search."
- Select the closest location and choose "Make Appointment."
- Call the office's appointment phone number to schedule your visit.
- When you go to your local office, remember to bring a government-issued photo ID along with your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Social Security number.
Can I call the IRS when I have tax questions?
Yes, you can call the IRS with tax inquiries, but before calling be aware that call volumes are often high, so you may experience long wait times to speak with a representative.
You can dial 800-829-1040 for assistance with your tax-related issue. Have the following information ready to verify your identity:
- Your Social Security number or ITIN
- Your birthdate
- Your filing status (e.g., single, head of household, married filing jointly or married filing separately)
IRS phone numbers
There are several IRS phone numbers that address a specific tax question or topic such as checking the status of an amended tax return, and reporting tax scams or phishing. Here's the breakdown:
IRS Phone Numbers
| Purpose | Number |
|---|---|
| Scheduling an appointment with the IRS | 844-545-5640 |
| Locating free tax clinic near you | 800-906-9887 |
| Taxpayer Advocate Service | 877-777-4778 |
| Interpretation services for Spanish speakers | 800-829-1040 |
| Interpretation services for other languages | 833-553-9895 |
| Deaf or hard of hearing assistance | 800-829-4059 |
| IRS Disaster Hotline | 866-562-5227 |
| Requesting IRS to mail paper tax forms | 800-829-3676 |
| Ordering a tax transcript | 800-908-9946 |
| Checking status of a tax refund | 800-829-1954 |
| Self-employed taxpayer assistance | 800-829-4933 |
| Reporting phishing or tax scams | 800-366-4484 |
| Estate and gift tax law questions | 800-829-1040 |
| Victims of identity theft assistance | 800-908-4490 |
| Checking status of amended tax return | 866-464-2050 |
Topics the IRS won't discuss over the phone
There are a few complex tax topics the IRS does not discuss on the phone. These topics include:
- Business sale and business depreciation
- Capital gains and losses
- Commuting
- Corporations, exempt organizations and partnerships
- Education
- Healthcare
- International-related tax questions (such as branch profits tax, foreign tax credits and expatriation tax)
- Rentals and residential property tax
- Trusts
- Specific forms
The IRS has a list of resources online to help with each of the above topics. You can also make an in-person appointment with a representative instead of searching online.
For more tax tips, here's how to get your tax refund up to five days sooner and all the states with tax filing deadlines later than April 15.