Contributed by: BreeS, FreeTaxUSA Agent
Do you need to contact the IRS? There are many reasons you may need to—from checking your tax balance to resolving a filing issue. This article explains when and how to contact them.
The most common reasons to contact the IRS may be:
- Your refund is taking longer than expected (4-6 weeks)
- Your refund amount is different than expected
- You received a notice and have questions about it
- You suspect tax-related identity theft
Let’s briefly go over these scenarios.
Your refund is taking longer than expected (4-6 weeks)
Before calling, check the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool for the most current refund status. In most cases, you don't need to worry about your refund being delayed until it has been more than 4 weeks after e-filing your return or more than 6 weeks since you mailed your return. If you've waited longer than those timelines, you now have reason to contact the IRS to see if they can clarify what’s going on with your refund.
If it has been 6 months or more since filing an accepted return with the expectation of a refund, you have the option to contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
Your refund amount is different than expected
If your refund amount isn’t what you expected, don’t call the IRS just yet. There could be an explanation. Typically, when the IRS adjusts your refund, they’ll send you a notice explaining the change. For example, a CP12 notice explains changes the IRS made and why.
You may also want to check whether your tax refund is being used to pay certain outstanding debts. If you owe back taxes, have unpaid federal or state debts, or owe past-due child support, part or all of your refund may be offset to pay those balances. This could explain why your refund is smaller than expected or why you didn't receive it. In this case, you can contact the Treasury Offset Program at 800-304-3107.
You received a notice and have questions about it
The IRS doesn’t call individuals; they send notices when they have questions or have made adjustments to your tax return. These notices sometimes request more information or explain changes the IRS made based on the information they have. Notices typically include instructions for how to respond. Keep in mind, you don’t have to accept every change they’ve made. If you have documentation proving the change is incorrect, you can dispute the notice. If the dispute requires further conversation, this may be a good reason to contact the IRS.
You suspect tax-related identity theft
One of the most common warning signs for tax-related identity theft is a notice that your return was rejected because someone already filed using your Social Security number or the Social Security number of someone listed on your return. If you didn’t file a return yourself and have no legitimate reason for this (such as a custody agreement allowing a former spouse to file), then you’ll want to reach out to the IRS immediately. This will begin the process of resolving tax-related identity theft. For detailed information, see the IRS’s identity theft guide for individuals.
How to contact the IRS
First, you should check this IRS website to see if they have any specific guidance for your question. If their FAQs don’t help, then you may need to call them. Their main phone number is 800-829-1040, and you can expect different wait times depending on the time of year. Keep in mind there are topics they can't help with over the phone.
You can also find the nearest IRS office and schedule an in-person appointment with an agent to discuss your situation.
Summary
We recommend reviewing the situations and resources outlined above before contacting the IRS. You can also reach out to our Customer Support team through your account to clarify whether your question needs IRS follow-up. If you suspect fraud or identity theft, however, contact the IRS ASAP.