IRS Office Visit Guide
How to schedule an appointment at an IRS office
IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers work by appointment. The number to call, the hours, what to say, and how to get seen faster.
IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) do not take walk-ins for most services. If you show up without an appointment, the most likely outcome is that you are handed a phone number and asked to come back another day. Booking ahead is the only reliable way in.
Quick answer: Call 844-545-5640, Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM local time. Have your Social Security number or ITIN ready and say which office you want to visit. The next available slot is often one to three weeks out.
The appointment line
There is a single national number for every TAC in the country: 844-545-5640. You cannot book online and you cannot book by calling the office directly — the local numbers listed on our office pages are for questions about hours and services, not scheduling.
When you call, an automated system asks a few questions before routing you to a representative. Expect a hold. Early morning (right at 7:00 AM local) and mid-week are consistently the shortest waits.
What to have ready when you call
- Your Social Security number or ITIN
- The reason for the visit, in one sentence (ITIN application, identity verification, payment, transcript, Form 2290, and so on)
- Any IRS letter you received, with the letter number (for example 5071C or CP2000) visible in the top right corner
- Which office you want — use our near-me search or the state directory to check hours and services first, because not every TAC offers every service
Services that require an appointment
Almost everything. In practice that means:
- Identity verification after a 5071C, 4883C or 5747C letter
- ITIN applications and renewals with document authentication
- Cash payments (only at the TACs that accept cash, and only with an appointment)
- Form 2290 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax with same-day stamped Schedule 1
- Account questions, payment arrangements and transcripts in person
What you can skip the appointment for
Most TACs keep a small self-service area with blank tax forms and publications you can pick up during business hours without an appointment. Some also have a drop box for payments by check or money order. Everything else goes through the phone line.
Getting seen faster
- Ask for the earliest slot at any office in your area, not just the closest one. A TAC 30 minutes further away may have an opening this week instead of next month.
- Mention if your issue is time-sensitive — a refund hold, a levy notice, a filing deadline. Representatives have some flexibility for urgent cases.
- Check whether you need the visit at all. Transcripts, payment plans, IP PINs and most account questions are faster through your IRS Online Account. TACs will sometimes redirect you there anyway.
Before you go
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Bring a current government photo ID and your taxpayer identification number, plus everything in our what to bring guide for your specific reason. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, the office may cancel the slot.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just walk in?
For forms, yes. For anything that requires a representative, no. Walk-ins for service are the exception, not the rule, and depend entirely on that day's staffing.
Can someone else go for me?
Only with a valid Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) or Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) on file, plus their own photo ID.
Is there an appointment fee?
No. Appointments and all TAC services are free. Anyone charging to "book your IRS appointment" is not the IRS.