IRS Hours of Operation, Best Times to Call, and Holiday Schedule

Knowing the hours of operation for IRS phone assistance along with the best times to call can help you more efficiently get your tax questions answered or issues resolved. The IRS has various toll-free numbers you can use to order forms, check refund status, ask account questions, and get help with tax issues.

Understanding when these services are available as well as days the IRS is closed will ensure you call atoptimal times and avoid unnecessary delays.

Key IRS Phone Numbers and Hours

The main IRS toll-free numbers and hours of operation are:

• 800-829-1040 (Individual tax questions): Monday-Friday, 7AM – 7PM local time

• 800-829-4933 (Business tax questions): Monday-Friday, 7AM – 7PM local time

• 800-829-1954 (Tax help for individuals): Monday-Friday, 7AM to 7PM local time

• 800-908-9946 (Tax help for businesses): Monday-Friday, 7AM to 7PM local time

• 800-829-4477 (Recorded tax info on 100+ topics): 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• 800-829-3676 (Tax forms and publications): 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• 800-829-1040 (Refund status): 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

So most live IRS assistors are available from 7AM to 7PM in your local time zone. Certain automated services like forms ordering and refund status are accessible 24/7.

Phone hours are extended to 8PM for taxpayers in Alaska and Hawaii following their local time zones. Phone lines in Puerto Rico are available 8AM to 8PM local time.

Best Times to Call the IRS

While IRS phone lines are open Monday-Friday from 7AM to 7PM, call volumes vary significantly by time of day and day of the week. Here are some tips on the best times to call:

• Early morning, especially Tuesday-Thursday: Call volumes tend to be lightest from 7-8:30AM local time. Mondays often have high call volumes.

• Later afternoon, especially after 5PM local time: Call volumes tend to be lighter in the last 2 hours of operations.

• Avoid mid-day hours: Call volumes spike from 11AM-2PM local time, so hold times can be longer.

• Avoid Mondays and the days after holidays: Mondays tend to have high call volumes. Call volumes also surge on the first business day after federal holidays.

• Have patience near tax deadlines: Call volumes understandably rise in mid-March through April 15 leading up to the tax filing deadline. Hold times also increase.

Hours for the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service

The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service provides specialized help if you’re experiencing economic harm, are facing an immediate threat of adverse action, or have tried resolving issues through normal IRS channels with no success. Their hours of operation are:

• Phone: Monday–Friday, 8AM – 8PM local time
• Walk-In: 8:30AM – 4:30PM local time. Service is by appointment only.

This service has special responsibilities under the taxpayer’s bill of rights to ensure your case is resolved promptly.

Hours for IRS Practitioner Priority Service

Tax professionals who have Centralized Authorization File (CAF) number can utilize the IRS Practitioner Priority Service (PPS) for expedited assistance on client accounts. The PPS hours are:

• Phone: Monday-Friday, 8AM – 8PM local time

So PPS provides an extra hour of phone service in the evenings beyond normal IRS toll-free numbers.

Holidays and Closures

The IRS is closed on all federal holidays for phone assistance and walk-in services. Major closures are:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Jr Day
• Presidents’ Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans’ Day
• Thanksgiving Day and the day after
• Christmas Day

Closures also often occur on the days before or after a holiday. The IRS posts an annual holiday closure schedule online.

Some automated services like the refund status hotline and forms ordering line remain available on holidays when live assistors are not working. But phone wait times can still increase around federal holidays.

Special Hours for Tax Pro Accounts (TACs)

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) provide in-person tax help for issues you can’t resolve online or by phone. As of 2022, all TACs moved to service by appointment only. The hours are generally:

• Monday–Friday, 8:30AM – 4:30PM local time

Hours vary by location. Use the Taxpayer Assistance Center locator tool to find hours for your nearest office. TACs are closed Saturdays, Sundays, and all federal holidays.

Key Takeaways on IRS Hours of Operation

• Most IRS toll-free phones lines are open 7AM – 7PM local time, Monday through Friday.

• Automated phone services like refund status and forms ordering are available 24/7.

• Best times to call are early morning and late afternoon, Tuesday through Thursday. Avoid Mondays and mid-day calls.

• Peak tax season sees increased call volumes and hold times, so have patience.

• IRS offices and phone lines close on all federal holidays like Christmas, New Years, Memorial Day, etc.

• Know the hours for specialized services like the Taxpayer Advocate.

• Check the IRS website annually for updated holiday closures and hours.

Understanding the hours of operation for IRS phone assistance along with best times to call enables you to obtain the tax help you need in an efficient manner. Plan your calls around lighter volume days and times to optimize your experience.

Additional IRS Resources

• Contact the IRS by phone

• Taxpayer Assistance Center locator

• IRS toll-free phone numbers

• IRS holiday schedule