Having trouble on tax day? Don’t bother calling the IRS.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not give out its phone numbers to people and it’s extremely hard to figure out how to get their numbers, according to the National Taxpayer Advocate’s 2014 report to Congress.
“The IRS already has a phone directory that provides tax practitioners with the numbers of key offices in their states, but this is not available to the public,” according to the advocate’s report.
“When asked why the IRS does not provide a public directory for taxpayers, the IRS stated, ‘Taxpayers are better served if contacts are made in accordance with Publication 910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services…”
Publication 910 (whatever that is) apparently lists phone numbers on page 17, according to Americans For Tax Reform, which explained in an email that the listing is only for “generic” IRS phone lines.
“The IRS does not answer the phone at local offices and has even removed the option it once provided for taxpayers, including the elderly and disabled, to leave a message,” the report continued.
Wow. Even the federal government is fake-numbering me? (It’s hard to cop digits in D.C. folks).
