Need to contact the IRS? Here’s what you need to know.
When in the course of the tax season it becomes necessary to contact the IRS, you may have to wade into the tangled thickets of the nation’s tax bureaucracy. But never fear! Talking to the IRS is not as dreadful as it seems on first take.
Individuals can reach the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040, Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. your local time (though Alaska and Hawaii should follow Pacific Time).
The IRS has a special phone number for those who believe they are the victim of identity theft. If this has happened to you call 1-800-908-4490.
When you call, you will have to navigate through an automatic system designed to direct your call to the right department. If you wish to bypass the automated system, press “0” repeatedly and you will be immediately routed to a live agent. Try it: it works!
And if you need general information or wish to access one of their online tools, you can always go to the agency’s trusty website, irs.gov.
What about my state?
It’s equally likely that you may end up having to contact your state tax authority too. Here’s where it gets a little more complicated. That’s because there is no one number or website that everyone can go to to take care of their state tax issues.
That means you’ll have to find your state and click on the link to its state tax authority. From there you should be able to find the information you need or a number where you can speak to someone about your problem.
Photo via Rick Harris on Flickr.
