How to talk to an IRS agent

There are few tasks in the tax filing process more daunting than talking to an IRS agent.

According to the 2023 annual report released by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization affiliated with the IRS, taxpayers who contact the IRS still have to experience long wait times.

However, in some cases, you must contact an agent to ask complex questions about your return or to obtain additional information in order to successfully complete your return.

The good news is that most of the information you may need is available online through the IRS website or its app, IRS2Go. The IRS’s Interactive Tax Assistant Search Tool can answer anonymous questions about multiple tax laws specific to your situation.

The IRS’s Refund Tracking System also tells taxpayers what stage their return is in 24 hours after it is filed. If there is a problem with your refund that requires you to contact the IRS, the Refund Status Checker will notify you to do so.

If you can’t find the answer to your question on the IRS website or app, you can call the agency directly or go to your local IRS office. Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing both:

1. Call the IRS.

You can contact the IRS by phone at 1-800-829-1040 to obtain information about your personal tax return. The hotline operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.

Wait times can average up to four minutes, according to the IRS, but some callers may experience longer waits, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays and around the April tax filing deadline. (When Mashable called on a recent Wednesday afternoon, wait times were estimated at 15 to 30 minutes.)

When searching for information about how to talk to an IRS agent, you may come across non-IRS-related websites that provide phone trees with detailed instructions on choosing tips.

Mashable does not provide similar instructions because phone tree selections may change over time. However, it is crucial to listen carefully to each tip as there are multiple tips depending on your needs.

For example, asking about a refund is a different prompt than personal tax-related questions. The same goes for if you have questions about taxes related to health care laws.

When listening to featured tracks, make sure you’re not multitasking; you can easily miss cues or get confused. Also, allow for uninterrupted time and be prepared for longer wait times. You don’t want to go through the hassle of making a call and browsing the phone tree, only to find that you don’t have enough time to wait for an agent.

2. Visit your local IRS office.

The IRS has local offices across the country and you can contact an agent directly. You can find the location closest to you by searching the IRS’s Taxpayer Assistance Center Office Locator Tool.

The number of offices varies from state to state. For example, there are three offices in Arkansas, one each in Fayetteville, Jonesboro and Little Rock. In California, however, there are 28 locations, including some in the Los Angeles area.

Services typically provided by local offices include account inquiries, basic personal tax assistance and payment arrangements. Call ahead to make an appointment at the location closest to you. Be sure to have your documents ready for your appointment, including a current government-issued photo ID, taxpayer identification number (such as a Social Security number), and any tax documents.

While not every taxpayer can visit a local IRS office in person, for those who do and want to speak face-to-face with someone who can answer their questions, this may be the right solution.