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For a routine account question, start at IRS.gov; for a notice, follow its contact instructions. If you need a person, call the number on the notice or use the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center locator to book an appointment. If normal IRS channels have failed and you face significant harm or delay, ask the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) whether it can help. If you need representation in a tax dispute, a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) may be an option.
Choose the right IRS help channel
| Your situation | Where to start |
|---|---|
| You need account details, a transcript, refund status, payment or payment-plan information, filing help, or an answer to a tax question. | Use the relevant online service at IRS.gov. The IRS says most tax issues can be handled online or by phone. |
| You received an IRS notice or have a tax-debt question. | Read the notice and use its contact instructions and deadline. For tax-debt questions, the IRS recommends calling the number printed on the notice; it also lists 800-829-1040 for individuals and 800-829-4933 for businesses. A callback may be offered, but is not guaranteed. |
| You need in-person assistance. | Find a Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) through the IRS office locator and make an appointment. Confirm local services and availability before traveling; not every office handles every issue. |
| Your issue remains unresolved and is causing hardship, a significant delay, or another qualifying problem. | Check whether TAS may help using its qualifier tool, phone line, or local office. |
| You need help representing you in a dispute with the IRS or in court. | Contact a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic to ask about eligibility and case acceptance. |
Start with IRS.gov, the notice, or a phone call
For a routine account or transaction
The IRS locator page points to online account information, transcripts, refund status, payments, payment plans, filing resources, and tax-question help. Use the service that matches your task before seeking in-person help.
If you got a notice from the IRS
Read the full notice, including any response date, and follow the contact instructions printed on it. Look up the notice number on IRS.gov for an explanation of what it means and what action is requested. For tax-debt questions, begin with the number on the notice; the IRS’s general phone numbers are 800-829-1040 for individuals and 800-829-4933 for businesses. The IRS says a callback may be available, not that every caller will be offered one. See Get help with tax debt for debt-related routes.
For face-to-face assistance
Use the Taxpayer Assistance Center Office Locator to find an office and arrange an appointment. Check the office’s available services and appointment options before setting out, because local services vary. Bring the notice and relevant records if the office’s instructions call for them.
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When the Taxpayer Advocate Service may help
TAS is part of the IRS, but describes itself as an independent organization within it. Its assistance is free and is intended for taxpayers whose problems have not been resolved through normal IRS channels. Potential eligibility indicators include economic harm or significant professional-representation costs, an issue delayed for more than 30 days, an IRS response or resolution date that was promised but missed, or a failure in an IRS system or procedure. The 30-day figure is an eligibility indicator, not a general IRS processing-time guarantee. TAS decides whether it can accept a case; eligibility indicators do not guarantee acceptance or a particular outcome. Review who may use TAS and its qualifier tool.
Request TAS help
- Check whether your problem fits. Use the TAS qualifier tool or review the eligibility guidance before submitting a request.
- Contact TAS. Call 877-777-4778 or find a local advocate through the TAS contact page.
- If needed, submit Form 911. Follow the current instructions on TAS’s request-for-assistance page. TAS generally says it will contact the requester by phone or letter.
TAS warns that Form 911 submissions and attachments sent by email are not encrypted. If the form contains sensitive information and you are concerned about email security, use an appropriate alternative submission channel described in the current instructions. Include only materials the instructions call for.
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When a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic may be a better fit
LITCs are independent of both the IRS and TAS. Clinics may represent qualifying taxpayers before the IRS or in court in audits, appeals, collection matters, and other tax disputes. They may also help with notices or account problems, and help people who speak English as a second language understand taxpayer rights and responsibilities. Services are free or low cost, but each clinic determines eligibility and whether it can take a case.
For calendar year 2026, TAS lists one-person annual income ceilings of $39,900 in the contiguous states and Washington, D.C.; $49,875 in Alaska; and $45,900 in Hawaii. These are screening ceilings, not a promise of representation. The LITC page provides the full family-size table and clinic information; contact a clinic to ask about its criteria and availability.
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Keep your next step focused
- “I don’t have my refund.” Check refund status through the IRS online tools linked from the IRS locator page; use a notice’s instructions if you received one.
- “I can’t pay my taxes” or “I need help resolving my balance due.” Start with the IRS tax-debt help page and the contact information on any notice.
- “I have tried the IRS and the problem is still causing harm.” Check TAS eligibility and contact the service through its contact options.
- “I need someone to represent me in an IRS dispute.” Ask an LITC whether your income and case meet its criteria using the clinic directory.
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