Need Customer Service Help With Taxes? Here's What the IRS Says to Do

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Recently, the IRS warned that phone delays should be anticipated during the run-up to the tax-filing deadline for submitting 2023 tax returns. In response to the fact so many taxpayers call for help with their taxes at this time of year, the agency suggested an alternative if you need customer support.

Here's what the IRS wants you to do instead of calling.

Take advantage of these resources if you need assistance

The IRS has advised that you take advantage of online support and resources as much as possible, rather than trying to call the agency.

"We've worked hard to provide better taxpayer service for people this filing season with more options to reach the IRS in convenient ways," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said. "We want taxpayers to have access to the help they need around the clock. IRS.gov's expanded tools and information make that easier for taxpayers, especially during this peak period for IRS phone lines."

The IRS listed a number of different tools that are all designed to help make filing your tax return easier -- and that you can take advantage of to get answers without having to call customer service and potentially get stuck on hold for a long time. Some of these tools include:

• The Where's My Refund tool to track money you're getting back. This will help you determine when to expect an IRS deposit into your bank account.
• Your personalized online account, where you can access past tax records, make and schedule payments, and validate and save bank accounts.
• The Interactive Tax Assistant that can provide answers to common questions specific to your circumstances. These might include whether you're eligible to file a tax return, what your filing status should be, or whether someone qualifies as a dependent.
• A Tax Withholding Estimator tool that helps you to calculate how much tax should be taken out of your paycheck by your employer.
• An Earned Income Tax Credit Assistant that can help you to determine if you are eligible to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and to estimate the amount that you might receive if you are.

By using these supports, you can get IRS help with tax issues that you might be facing, without having to spend a long time on hold trying to get someone to offer personalized answers. There are also guides to what you can do with specific tax forms, like the Form 1099-K, that you can consult if you receive these documents and don't know what they mean.

See if you're eligible for this tax support

The IRS also urges taxpayers to take advantage of free tax prep help if they are eligible for it and need an extra hand.

This includes the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs, which assist elderly individuals, low income and disabled individuals, and non-English speakers with completing their tax forms.

Taking the IRS advice to use these free resources can save you a lot of hassle, so give them a try if you have a tax issue you need help addressing.

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