You can call the IRS at 1-80 for general questions or refund status information. However, if you’re not able to resolve a tax issue, it may be helpful to contact the Taxpayer’s Advocate Service (TAS) at 1-87. The agency’s ability to serve consumers last year, according to National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins, “was horrendous.” Last year, customer service representatives only answered 11% of the 282 million calls consumers made to the IRS. If you got through, you waited on hold for an average of 23 minutes, according to a report from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), an independent office within the IRS. What’s a taxpayer to do if you have questions and the information in your online account doesn’t solve the mystery? What if the IRS sends you a billing notice for something you already paid? However, people want to go directly to a real person to get answers to their financial matters instead of checking online, says Alton Bell II, founder at Bell Tax Accountants & Advisors.īell adds, “It’s up to taxpayers to be patient” as they try to get answers to their questions.īefore you pick up your phone, the IRS has advised taxpayers that processing refunds takes about three weeks for returns filed online, and up to eight months for paper returns-including those in backlogs from previous tax years.

Your first step should be to check your online account at IRS.gov. This free account is free to set up, and allows you to view information about your balances, prior tax records, payments and economic impact payments (better known as stimulus checks). Use The Where’s My Refund Tool-but Understand its Limitations If your online account doesn’t have the information you need, Bell offers a few tips for maintaining your cool as you navigate IRS systems during this incredibly trying time. The IRS encourages taxpayers to use the Where’s My Refund tool to check the status of their tax return instead of calling the agency. The tool displays your refund status for the most recent tax year the IRS has on file with one of three status notes: refund received, refund approved, or refund sent. You’ll need to enter your Social Security number, filing status and the expected refund amount to access this information.īut the Taxpayer Advocate Service notes limitations to the tool: It doesn’t explain why your refund is delayed, where the return is in the filing process, or steps you need to take to address the delay. “It just reflects that the return has been received, that the refund was approved, or that the refund was sent,” the office’s 2021 report to Congress, written by Collins, explained. “For millions of taxpayers, that meant many months without any status updates, and some are still waiting for their refunds.”Ĭustomer service representatives often lack additional information that can put a taxpayer at ease, the report said.

“Particularly for taxpayers who need their refunds to pay for current living expenses, the absence of information can cause deep concern and sometimes panic, leading to more telephone calls that are just as unproductive.” 2. The process of calling the IRS can be daunting. If this data is unavailable or inaccurate and you own or represent this business, click here for more information on how you may be able to correct it.You may work your way through automated systems only to be stuck on hold for hours, taking time out of your day.īut Bell says you may need to call often to reach a representative. VIEW ADDITIONAL DATA Select from over 115 networks below to view available data about this business.

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