How to Schedule a Tax Return Appointment at an IRS Office

To schedule an appointment at an IRS office, call the Taxpayer Assistance Center appointment line at 844-545-5640.1Internal Revenue Service. Here’s What Taxpayers Should Know Before Visiting an IRS Office One thing to know before you dial: Taxpayer Assistance Centers do not prepare tax returns. They handle account problems, identity verification, ITIN document review, payments, and similar issues that can’t be resolved online or by phone. If you need help filing, IRS Free File and the VITA and TCE volunteer programs cover most situations at no cost.2Internal Revenue Service. Free Tax Return Preparation for Qualifying Taxpayers

Booking the Appointment

Before you call, find the office closest to you using the locator at irs.gov/appointment and note its hours. Having a preferred location ready shortens the call.

The line routes through automated prompts before you reach a live agent. That agent verifies your identity, confirms the service you need, and offers available time slots. Have these on hand:

  • Your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
  • The tax year or years involved
  • The letter or notice number that prompted the call, if any (upper right corner of the notice)
  • A short, specific description of the issue

From January through April, slots fill up weeks in advance. The agent gives a verbal confirmation of the date, time, and location. Write it down. The IRS does not always send a written confirmation. If you need to change the appointment, call the same number to reschedule rather than skipping it, because open slots are scarce in busy months.3Internal Revenue Service. Contact Your Local IRS Office

Saturday Hours

The IRS opens select TAC locations on certain Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering most of the services available on weekdays. Cash payments are the exception; Saturday hours don’t accept cash. For the 2026 filing season, the scheduled dates are February 28, March 28, April 11, April 25, May 30, and June 27.4Internal Revenue Service. IRS Face-to-Face Saturday Help Not every TAC participates on every date, and the list can change. Check the IRS site before you drive over.

Check Whether You Actually Need to Go In

A lot of what people call the IRS about can be done through the IRS Online Account. From that portal you can view your balance, make payments, check refund status, download transcripts, read digital copies of notices, and request an Identity Protection PIN.5Internal Revenue Service. Online Account for Individuals Ten minutes there can save a scheduled visit.

A TAC appointment is the right choice when your matter needs in-person identity authentication or hands-on record review. Common examples: verifying identity in response to a 5071C or similar letter6Internal Revenue Service. Understanding Your CP5071 Series Notice; requesting an IP PIN when the online and Form 15227 routes haven’t worked7Internal Revenue Service. Get an Identity Protection PIN; getting ITIN documents authenticated in person so you don’t have to mail your passport8Internal Revenue Service. IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers Providing In-Person ITIN Document Review; resolving transcript discrepancies, lien releases, or levy questions phone support couldn’t fix; and making a payment by cash, check, or money order.

What to Bring

Federal law bars the IRS from disclosing your tax information without confirming who you are.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 6103 – Confidentiality and Disclosure of Returns and Return Information If you arrive without proper ID, the appointment ends there. At minimum, bring:

  • A current government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
  • A second form of identification such as a Social Security card, utility bill matching the address on your ID, mortgage statement, or voter registration card3Internal Revenue Service. Contact Your Local IRS Office
  • ID for a spouse or dependents if they’re involved in the matter

Then bring everything tied to the specific issue, sorted by tax year:

  • The IRS notice or letter that prompted the visit, with its reference number
  • The Form 1040 for the year in question and any schedules filed with it
  • Supporting income documents such as W-2s and 1099s10Internal Revenue Service. Understanding Your Letter 5747C
  • Records of payments already made toward a balance, such as bank statements or money order receipts
  • For business matters, the EIN confirmation letter and any relevant formation documents11Internal Revenue Service. Employer Identification Number

If the visit is for identity verification through a letter like the 5071C, bring the letter itself along with the referenced Form 1040 and a prior year’s return if you have one. The letter carries a code the agent needs to unlock your account.12Taxpayer Advocate Service. Letter 5071 C – Return Processing Stopped, Notice Issued Disorganized paperwork burns through your slot. If the agent asks for something you don’t have, write down the exact form or document type so you can send it later or come back.

Sending Someone in Your Place

You don’t have to go yourself. A tax professional you authorize on Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative) can attend on your behalf and access your confidential information.13Internal Revenue Service. About Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative The representative must be eligible to practice before the IRS, meaning an attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent. Students in qualified Low Income Taxpayer Clinics can also represent you under a special authorization from the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

If you only want someone to receive or inspect your tax information without acting on your account, Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) is the lighter option. It grants access but no authority to negotiate or make decisions.14Internal Revenue Service. About Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization Both forms can be submitted online.

Accessibility and Language Help

You can ask for a reasonable accommodation at any IRS facility without using a specific legal phrase or filing a written request. Tell an IRS employee what change would help, and the office will work with you on it.15Internal Revenue Service. Taxpayers With Disabilities Have Equal Access to IRS Services Through Reasonable Accommodations

For IRS notices in Braille, large print, audio, or electronic format, submit Form 9000 (Alternative Media Preference) with your return or by mail. Deaf or hard-of-hearing taxpayers who need sign language interpreter services should call TTY/TDD 800-829-4059 to arrange the appointment.4Internal Revenue Service. IRS Face-to-Face Saturday Help

Getting Into the Building

Most TACs sit inside federal buildings, so you’ll pass through security before reaching the IRS office. Expect a metal detector and X-ray screening of bags and electronics. Once screening has started, you can’t leave, and refusing to comply means you won’t get in.16Department of Homeland Security. FAQ Regarding Items Prohibited from Federal Property

Leave weapons, pocket knives, and anything else that could be flagged as a security risk in your car. Items that are legal but banned by the building’s security committee, like sporting equipment, have to be removed from the premises before entry. Laptops and phones are allowed but may be inspected by hand. If you have a pacemaker or are pregnant, tell the officer at entry and request alternative screening. Arrive at least 15 minutes early for the security line.

When the Taxpayer Advocate Service Is the Better Route

If your issue has gone unresolved for more than 30 days, or an IRS action is causing real financial hardship, the Taxpayer Advocate Service can step in where a standard TAC visit can’t. TAS is an independent organization within the IRS. It takes on cases involving threatened levies or liens, harmful IRS delays, and situations where the system has failed the taxpayer.

Request help by submitting Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance) or by starting a request at taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov. An advocate reviews the case and decides whether it qualifies. TAS isn’t for routine questions, but when normal channels have broken down, it’s one of the most effective options available.