How to Make an IRS Appointment and What to Bring

To make an IRS appointment, call 844-545-5640 to schedule a visit at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC).¹ Every TAC works by appointment only, there is no online booking, and you will need to bring two forms of identification along with any documents tied to your issue. From outside the United States, call 267-941-1000 instead.²

Check Whether You Need an In-Person Visit

Many issues that send people to a TAC can be handled faster through the IRS Online Account at irs.gov. You can view your balance, check refund status, set up or modify a payment plan, download tax transcripts, and read notices there.³ If your issue fits one of those, skip the appointment.

A TAC visit is the right choice for identity verification, working through a complex notice, applying for or renewing an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), making a cash tax payment, or discussing a case that needs a real person walking through the details with you.⁴

One important limit: TAC employees do not prepare tax returns. If you need help filing, use IRS Free File, a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, or a paid preparer.

How to Book the Appointment

Start at irs.gov/appointment. Enter your ZIP code, find the nearest TAC, and confirm the office handles the service you need, since each location lists its own available services.⁵ Then call 844-545-5640. The automated system routes you to a representative who confirms your issue requires an in-person visit, offers dates and times, and sends a confirmation once you accept.

There is no way to book online. Everything runs through the phone line.

Cash Payments

If you plan to pay your taxes in cash, call 30 to 60 days before the date you want to pay. Not every TAC accepts cash, and the scheduler will point you to one that does.⁶

Rescheduling or Canceling

Use the same number, 844-545-5640, or the link in your confirmation email if you have the confirmation number and the phone number you booked with.² A rescheduled appointment must cover the same topic as the original. If you will be more than 15 minutes late, the IRS will ask you to reschedule rather than wait.

Saturday Walk-In Hours

During some filing seasons, the IRS opens select TACs on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with no appointment required. These events are not held every year, and dates change, so check irs.gov early in the filing season. Cash payments are not accepted during Saturday walk-in hours.

What to Bring

Every visit requires two original forms of identification. One must be a current government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, or U.S. passport. The second can be a Social Security card, birth certificate, voter registration card, mortgage statement, lease, or utility bill showing your current address.⁴ A tribal membership card counts as an additional ID but does not replace the primary photo ID.

Also bring your Social Security number or ITIN, plus documents specific to your reason for the visit:

The original IRS notice or letter that prompted the visit. The reference numbers on it let the agent pull your case quickly.
Copies of the federal returns for the years in question, with supporting records like W-2s or 1099s.
Proof of eligibility for any refundable credit you claimed, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit.⁴

If you are missing a prior return or need to review your income records, request tax transcripts through your IRS Online Account before your appointment.⁷

ITIN Applicants

If you are applying for or renewing an ITIN, the rules are stricter. Bring original documents or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted. A valid passport is the simplest option because it proves both identity and foreign status by itself. Without a passport, you need two documents, one for identity and one for foreign status, and at least one must include a photo.⁸ Applicants under 18 without a passport must also provide an original civil birth certificate. The agent verifies your originals at the appointment and hands them back before you leave, so nothing has to go in the mail.⁹

Sending Someone in Your Place

If you cannot attend, the IRS offers two forms depending on how much authority you want to grant. Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) lets an attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent represent you, negotiate, sign on your behalf, and receive your confidential tax information. Your representative should bring a completed copy to the appointment.¹⁰¹¹

Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) lets any person or organization you name view or receive your tax information, but it does not give them authority to represent you, argue your case, or sign anything.¹⁰ For full advocacy, such as negotiating an installment agreement or disputing a lien, choose a licensed professional.

What Happens During the Visit

TACs sit inside federal buildings, so expect airport-style security. You will walk through a metal detector and your bags will go through an X-ray machine.¹² Leave pocket knives, large scissors, and similar items at home or in your car. Check in at the front desk when you arrive.

An IRS employee will bring you to a private booth or office, verify your identity with your two IDs, and focus the conversation on the notice or issue that brought you in. Depending on complexity, the agent may resolve the matter on the spot, such as correcting an account error or accepting a payment, or explain what steps remain and how long they will take.

Language Assistance

The IRS provides interpreters in over 350 languages, either in person or by phone during your appointment.¹³ If you need a sign language interpreter, mention it when you schedule so one can be arranged. If you have to cancel or reschedule a sign language appointment, give at least three business days’ notice.²

TACs are open Monday through Friday, generally 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Arrive a few minutes early to clear security and check in so your full appointment window is spent on your tax issue.

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Internal Revenue Service. Here’s What Taxpayers Should Know Before Visiting an IRS Office
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Internal Revenue Service. 21.3.4 Field Assistance
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Internal Revenue Service. Online Account for Individuals
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Internal Revenue Service. Contact Your Local IRS Office
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Internal Revenue Service. a href=”https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Contact Your Local IRS Office
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Internal Revenue Service. Pay Your Taxes With Cash
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Internal Revenue Service. Transcript Types for Individuals and Ways to Order Them
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Internal Revenue Service. ITIN Supporting Documents
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Internal Revenue Service. IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers Providing In-Person ITIN Document Review
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Internal Revenue Service. Power of Attorney and Other Authorizations
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Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 2848 Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative
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Internal Revenue Service. 10.2.14 Methods of Providing Protection
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Internal Revenue Service. Find Tax Help in Several Languages on IRS.gov