Taxes can be confusing, even for established business owners. The more your company grows, the more complex the process becomes. If you’ve got questions about your returns, your first instinct may be to call the Internal Revenue Service. How do you speak to a live person at the IRS, and is that the best use of your time?

Speak to a Live Person at the IRS

IRS customer support may be difficult to reach, but they are available to speak with you about your tax return. They are available from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM five days a week – Monday through Friday. According to the official website, www.irs.gov, average wait times can range from fifteen minutes (from January to April) to almost thirty minutes after filing deadlines have passed (May to December).

The primary IRS phone number is (800) 829-1040. This serves as a catchall and will send you to a menu. However, there are also alternative numbers you can dial to reach a live person in a specific department. This may help you to connect directly with someone who deals with the issue you are facing.

NerdWallet has compiled a full list of all extant phone numbers to speak to a live person at the IRS. Click here to see the entire roster. Here is the contact information for the most-used departments:

• Issues with stimulus checks – (800) 919-9835
• Self-employed tax payers – (800) 829-4933
• Estate and gift tax questions – (866) 699-4083
• Check the status of your refund – (800) 829-1954
• Make a payment – (800) 555-4477
• The Office of the Taxpayer Advocate – (877) 777-4778
• Schedule an appointment with your local office – (844) 545-5640
• Request paper tax forms – (800) 829-3676
• Tax filing questions for non-profits – (877) 829-5500
• Corporate taxpayers, nonprofits, and partnerships – (866) 255-0654

What You Need to Know Before You Call

If you’d like to speak to a live person at the IRS, it’s important to have everything prepared beforehand. The customer service agents will have a difficult time helping you if you don’t have the appropriate paperwork on hand! Instead of scrambling for papers with an agent on the line, put everything in one place before you call in. It’s also helpful to write out your questions, so that you’ll be sure not to miss anything.

The IRS recommends prepping these items before you call:

• Your filing status
• Your most recent tax return (from the previous year)
• The current tax return that you are calling about
• Your personal information (date of birth, social security number, and EIN)
• Any letters on the subject that you have received from the IRS

A Note About IRS Scammers

When we discuss trying to speak to a live person at the IRS, it’s important that we mention the subject of identity fraud and tax scams.

In recent years, you may have seen news stories about scammers pretending to work for the Internal Revenue Service. These phishing scams seek to trick a victim into sending highly personal information about their identity and finances. They may use the agency’s name and logo to make their communications seem more legitimate. Sometimes, messages will prompt victims to “update your IRS e-file immediately” or provide information about life insurance and annuity updates.

The government agency has released official guidance on this subject. Your main takeaway? The IRS will not initiate contact with you through email, texts, or social media profiles. Unsolicited messages purporting to be from the government should be assumed fraudulent. You can verify communications by visiting your local IRS office.

Your Tucson Tax Professionals

If you own a small business, you’ll probably have to navigate income tax, payroll tax, sales tax, excise tax, capital gains tax, property tax, and self-employment tax. Luckily, there are resources available to business owners throughout the United States. One such service is the tax preparation offered by Clear View Business Solutions.

Clear View has the expertise and attention to detail needed for tax policy adherence. Our team of Tucson-area “fun accountants” makes running the numbers completely stress-free. Don’t spend all day on the line with the IRS – call Clear View instead.