IRS Tax Tip 2019-25, March 18, 2019
Before visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center for in-person help with their tax issues, a taxpayer needs to call 844-545-5640to schedule an appointment. All TACs provide service by appointment. The Contact Your Local Office tool on IRS.gov helps taxpayers find the closest IRS TAC, the days and hours of operation and a list of services provided.
Once they make an appointment , taxpayers will receive an automated email to the address they provide. The email will confirm the day and time of their appointment. Taxpayers should consider the self-service options on IRS.gov before calling for an appointment. Taxpayers can resolve many questions online without taxpayers having to travel to a Tax Assistance Center.
Taxpayers checking on a tax refund status can:
- Use the “Where’s My Refund?” online tool.
- Call 800-829-1954 anytime to access the audio version of this tool.
Before using these tools, a taxpayer should have their Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount ready.
Taxpayers who need answers to tax questions can:
- Use the Interactive Tax Assistant, which asks the taxpayer a series of questions and provides answers based on their input.
- Check out Publication 17, which covers a broad range of topics and updates on tax law changes.
- Visit the IRS Tax Map to find tax information on a variety of tax topics.
- Visit IRS.gov for info about what to do when a letter from the IRS arrives.
- View Publication 5136, IRS Services Guide (PDF), for additional ways taxpayers and tax professionals can get help.
Taxpayers who need to make a payment can:
- Use IRS Direct Pay on IRS.gov – a free, secure electronic payment method from a checking or savings account.
- Visit the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System for online and phone options.
- Pay when using tax software when e-filing, Taxpayers can pay online, by phone, or with a mobile device using the IRS2Go app.
- View their balance online or refer to the information in the notice they received to determine the amount owed. They can also access their tax account to view recent payment history.
- Make a cash payment in-person at more than 7,000 retail stores nationwide.
- Mail a personal, cashier’s check or money order made payable to “U.S. Treasury” along with a completed Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher. Taxpayers should never send cash.
Taxpayers who need forms & publications can:
- View, download and print federal tax forms and publications anytime. Dozens of IRS publications are available to download.