How to schedule an appointment at an IRS office

The call, step by step

1. Have your taxpayer number ready. The system asks for your Social Security number or ITIN before routing you.
2. Get through the automated menu. Follow the prompts for scheduling an in-person appointment. Expect a hold; the first hour of the day is shortest.
3. State the reason in one sentence. "Identity verification for a 5747C letter." "ITIN application with document authentication." "Cash payment." "Form 2290 with stamped Schedule 1." The reason determines which centers can help you.
4. Name the office you want — check near me or the state directory first, because not every center offers every service.
5. Ask for the earliest slot at any center in your area. A location 30 minutes further out may have an opening this week.
6. Write down the confirmation and the address. You can opt in to text reminders during the call.

Getting an earlier appointment

• Call at 7:00 AM sharp in your time zone. Cancellations from the previous day are released in the morning.
• Say if it is time-sensitive. A frozen refund, a levy notice, a filing deadline or an immigration process that needs an ITIN. Representatives have discretion for urgent cases.
• Be flexible on location. Our office pages list the nearest alternative centers by distance for exactly this reason.
• Avoid March, April and mid-October if your issue can wait. Lead times double around the filing and extension deadlines.

What you can do without an appointment

Pick up blank forms and publications from the self-service area during business hours, and at many centers drop a check or money order in the secure payment drop box. Everything that involves a representative — verification, ITINs, transcripts, payment arrangements, account questions — requires a booked slot.

Do you need the visit at all?

Most reasons people call for an appointment are faster online. Before you book, check whether yours is on this list:

• Tax transcript: instant in your IRS Online Account. Guide
• Identity Protection PIN: issued on screen through the online tool. Guide
• Payment plan: approved instantly online for most individual balances. Guide
• Balance, payments, notices: all visible in the Online Account.
• Identity verification for 5071C or 6331C: online through ID.me. Only 5747C requires in-person. Guide

In-person is genuinely needed for ITIN document authentication, 5747C verification, cash payments and same-day Form 2290 stamping.