Contacting the IRS by Phone, Mailing Address, Email, Internet or in Person

While all E-file.com users receive free support from our trained tax specialists, occasional a user will require additional assistance from the IRS itself. The IRS now offers taxpayer support in a variety of different mediums. For starters, a great deal of information can now be found on the IRS website. The website is laid out with links to the various help topics. Topics usually include common tax questions, downloadable forms and publications.

If the website is not able to provide the answer you are looking for or if you would simply prefer to get in touch with an individual at the IRS, you can do so using one of the following ways:

IRS Numbers Offering Live Telephone Assistance

Phone numbers for the IRS are typically split in two different categories, questions from individual fillers and business related questions. Keep in mind that when calling, it is good practice to know the name of the form your question pertains to. If you have a return question, the form is a 1040; if it is an extension question the form is a 4868. If your question is regarding a tax notice you received, make sure to have that near by.

The wait times for telephone assistance can be lengthy, and callers should be aware that they will be randomly assigned an operator that they will not be able to speak to again once the conversation has concluded. Operators will identify themselves with a name and ID number, this is something you may want to keep a record of, for reference in the future.

Individual telephone assistance can be obtained by dialing 1-800-829-1040. The hours of operation for this number are Monday through Friday from 7 am to 7 pm. Note: this is the callers local time specific to whichever area of the country the call is originating from.

Operators are available to answer questions about preparing a tax return and about taxpayer notices. This line should not be used for checking on a refund (for more on how to do this click here) or setting up a payment plan (more here).

Hearing impaired dialers should call 1-800-829-4059. This number offers TTY/TDD assistance so the conversation can be read on devices that support this functionality.

Taxpayers can also access information with little waiting time through a pre-recorded message service. By dialing 1-800-829-4477, callers can listen to messages regarding many common tax concerns. Those interested in receiving order forms and English-language publications can call 1-800-829-4059 for help with this. If an individual believes that they may have been the victim of identity theft, they should dial 1-800-908-4490.

Toll free business telephone assistance is available at 1-800-829-4933. The hours of operation for this number are also 7 am to 7 pm local time.

Businesses that require assistance with E-services can contact the E-help Desk Monday-Friday from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm central standard time. The E-help Desk is staffed with IRS tax professionals who can typically handle inquiries involving E-services products. The toll-free number for this is 1-866-255-0654.

However, this telephone service should not be used by those who are filing electronically using online software or tax preparer software. Those individuals or businesses should refer to the IRS live telephone assistance program or call 1-800-829-1040.

Assistance for Exempt Organizations, Retirement Plan Administrators, and Government Entities can be had at the following number 1-877-829-5500. This line is available only Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm, local time.

IRS Address Information

If you are using our software to electronically file your taxes we make sure that your taxes are sent to the proper location. Some, users may chose not to electronically file and mail their return. This is also an acceptable method for filling your return but if you are going to proceed this way, the return must be sent to the correct locations to complete the process. With IRS mailing centers across the country, it is imperative that each taxpayer submits his or her information to the correct location according to form they are filling and the area in which they are located.

Many IRS taxes forms and applications can be found at local libraries, post offices, city/county/court office and even some credit unions. Meanwhile, nearly all of them are now available on the IRS website. You can also find a clickable map of the United States (here) which makes it simple for visitors to select their home state and determine the appropriate mailing address for each filing.

Taxpayer Assistance Centers

Face-to-face assistance with the IRS is now available in many high population areas throughout the country.  Referred to as Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TAC), these offices are generally open during the workweek (M-F) with hours typically from 7 am to 7 pm. The centers allow in-person help with tax related issues such as notices, foreign translation, finding a taxpayer identification number, dealing with alien status, and transcripts.

As with live telephone assistance, TACs are often very busy, and wait times can be lengthy. Visitors to a TAC may be asked to provide personal information, such as valid photo identification and a Social Security Number in order to receive service. Most TACs follow a first-come, first-served system, although a few are beginning to make appointments. For this reason, you are most likely to receive assistance if you can arrive early in the day rather than closer to close.

Please note: Taxpayer Assistance Centers DO NOT offer tax preparation services. In addition, many offices do not offer printed tax products.

Those interested in visiting a TAC may visit the IRS website (here) to find the nearest location, hours and contact information. Center hours of operation can vary, so it is wise to check this prior to visiting.

What do I do if I get audited?

Try not to panic if you receive an audit letter from the IRS. Most tax issues are simple to fix. Start by finding out what section of your tax return the government wants to audit. Once you know what the auditor is questioning, you can start gathering the requested information. For example, you may need to gather a mileage log if the IRS is questioning your car usage as a business expense. You can even postpone the audit if you need more time to gather information. Never give the IRS more documents than they are requesting. You can also contact a tax professional to help you resolve the matter.

Online Tax Question Submission

The IRS does provide an online service to submit general tax questions. However, it should not be used for more complex inquiries or for those that involve specific individual information. No personal identification information should be submitted through the online form.

Inquiries can involve any of the following topics:

Those submitting questions must provide a valid email address in order to receive a response. In addition, many of these inquiries will be answered with a prepared response that may provide more information than required to answer the question.

Support by Email
The IRS does offer limited support by email, however, to initiate this you must first submit a request on the IRS website via the online submission form mentioned above. In order to make sure the reply is received it is important to add the email address "irs.gov.website.helpdesk@speedymail.com" to your spam filters white list of allowable senders.

Interactive Tax Assistant
The Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) is an online resource provided by the IRS that provides answers to common tax law questions. Taxpayers, as well as their spouses, must be legal United States citizens or resident aliens for these responses to be applicable. Some of the topics covered by ITA are:

In the last few years the government website has expanded providing taxpayers a number of options for them to receive help and guidance in addition to using a telephone or physical location to receive assistance.

Where to File IRS Returns and Documents

If you have taxable income under $100,000, do not claim dependents and satisfy a few other criteria, you may be able to use our software to file for free. Please refer to this page for more information: https://www.e-file.com/how-to-file-free.php. Depending on your location, IRS returns and documents are filed with different IRS offices around the United States. The following is a list of states, other jurisdictions and addresses for mailing your IRS filings.

Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia:

*With payment
Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040V:
P.O. Box 931000
Louisville, KY 40293-1000

Form 1040-ES:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931100
Louisville, KY 40293-1100

Form 1040-ES(NR):
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1300
Charlotte, NC 28201-1300

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999

Form 4868:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 931300
Louisville, KY 40293-1300

*Without payment
Form 1040:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0002

Form 1040A:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0015

Form 1040EZ:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0014

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999

Form 4868:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0045

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming:

*With payment
Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040V:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 7704
San Francisco, CA 94120-7704

Form 1040-ES:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 510000
San Francisco, CA 94151-5100

Form 1040-ES(NR):
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1300
Charlotte, NC 28201-1300

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0422

Form 4868:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 7122
San Francisco, CA 94120-7122

*Without payment
Form 1040:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0002

Form 1040A:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0015

Form 1040EZ:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0014

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0422

Form 4868:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0045

Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia:

*With payment
Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040V:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 37008
Hartford, CT 06176-7008

Form 1040-ES:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 37007
Hartford, CT 06176-7007

Form 1040-ES(NR):
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1300
Charlotte, NC 28201-1300

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999

Form 4868:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 37009
Hartford, CT 06176-7009

*Without payment
Form 1040:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0002

Form 1040A:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0015

Form 1040EZ:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0014

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999

Form 4868:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Kansas City, MO 64999-0045

Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas:

*With payment
Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040V:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1214
Charlotte, NC 28201-1214

Form 1040-ES and 1040-ES(NR):
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1300
Charlotte, NC 28201-1300

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301

Form 4868:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1302
Charlotte, NC 28201-1302

*Without payment
Form 1040:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301-0002

Form 1040A:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301-0015

Form 1040EZ:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301-0014

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301

Form 4868:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301-0045

Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin:

*With payment
Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040V:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 802501
Cincinnati, OH 45280-2501

Form 1040-ES:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 802502
Cincinnati, OH 45280-2502

Form 1040-ES(NR):
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1300
Charlotte, NC 28201-1300

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0422

Form 4868:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 802503
Cincinnati, OH 45280-2503

*Without payment
Form 1040:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0002

Form 1040A:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0015

Form 1040EZ:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0014

Form 1040X:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0422

Form 4868:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Fresno, CA 93888-0045

International

Taxpayers who live in a foreign country or a U.S. possession or territory, taxpayers who use an APO or FPO address, taxpayers who file Form 2555, Form 2555-EZ, or Form 4563, and dual-status aliens

*With payment
Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040V, 1040NR, 1040NR-EZ, 1040PR, 1040SS
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1303
Charlotte, NC 28201-1303
USA

*Without payment
Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040V, 1040NR, 1040NR-EZ, 1040PR, 1040SS
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301-0215
USA

*With or without payment
Form 1040-ES or 1040-ES(NR)
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1300
Charlotte, NC 28201-1300
USA

*With or without payment
Form 1040X
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX  73301-0215
USA

*With payment
Form 4868
Internal Revenue Service
P. O. Box 1302
Charlotte, NC 28201-1302
USA

*Without payment
Form 4868 filed by overseas taxpayers other than those using APO and FPO addresses
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301-0215
USA

*Without payment
Form 4868 filed by overseas taxpayers using APO and FPO addresses
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301-0002
USA

 

 

Q&A: Do you have to send your W-2 with your tax return?

No, you don't have to send your W-2 with your tax return. This is true whether you file electronically or through the mail. Instead, you will enter the information found on your W-2 form when our software prompts you or within the appropriate fields on your tax return.

Now, once you submit your tax return, you do need to retain a copy of your W-2, your tax return, and any other related documentation. How long you keep these depends. For most returns, you should keep your tax paperwork for a period of at least three years after your filing date. However, if you file a loss claim or if you don't report all income you may need to keep the paperwork for up to seven years.