The IRS is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in your local time zone, but phone lines close earlier during tax season and some offices have different hours

The IRS operates on a standard business schedule, but the exact hours depend on which service you need and what time of year it is. The main phone line (1-800-829-1040 for individual tax questions) opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern time. During tax season — roughly January through mid-April — phone wait times are longest and some lines close as early as 5 p.m.

Walk-in services at local IRS offices vary by location. Some offices are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., others 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The IRS website has a locator tool where you can search for your nearest office and see its specific hours. Not all offices offer the same services; some handle only certain types of cases, so calling ahead before you visit is worth the time.

The IRS is closed on federal holidays and does not answer phones on weekends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many offices reduced hours or closed temporarily; if you are planning a visit, check the IRS website first to confirm the office is open that day.

Key Takeaways

  • The main IRS phone line operates 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern time, but closes earlier during tax season.
  • Local IRS office hours vary by location and service type, so use the IRS office locator on IRS.gov to find your nearest office and confirm hours before visiting.
  • The IRS is closed on all federal holidays and does not answer phones on weekends.
  • Tax season (January through mid-April) brings longer wait times and reduced hours on some phone lines.
  • Some offices handle only specific types of cases, so calling ahead to confirm they can help with your issue saves a trip.

Phone lines and wait times during tax season

From January through mid-April, the IRS receives millions of calls and wait times can stretch to several hours. The agency prioritizes certain calls — those about refunds, payment plans, and notices — over general tax questions. If you call early in the morning (7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Eastern time) or late in the day (after 5 p.m.), you may wait less time than calling mid-morning.

Outside tax season, wait times are usually shorter, often 15 to 45 minutes. The IRS publishes weekly wait time data on its website, broken down by phone line type, so you can see which lines are busiest before you call. If your question is not urgent, waiting until May or later in the year will almost always mean a shorter hold.

IRS office locations and walk-in services

The IRS operates Taxpayer Assistance Centers in most major cities and many smaller towns. These offices handle in-person help with tax returns, payment plans, notices, and account issues. Hours are typically 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but some offices stay open until 5 p.m. or close as early as 3 p.m. on certain days.

To find your nearest office, go to IRS.gov and use the "Find a Local Office" tool. You can search by zip code or city. The listing shows the office address, phone number, hours, and which services are available there. Some smaller offices do not handle all types of cases, so the listing will tell you whether they can help with your specific issue before you make the trip.

Walk-in services do not require an appointment at most offices, but you may wait 30 minutes to two hours depending on how busy the office is. Bringing all relevant documents — your tax return, notices from the IRS, proof of income, and identification — speeds up the process. If you have a complex issue, calling ahead to ask whether an appointment would be faster is reasonable.

Online and mail services that do not depend on office hours

The IRS website (IRS.gov) is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can download forms, check your refund status, set up a payment plan, and view your tax account online without calling or visiting an office. The "Where's My Refund?" tool updates once a day, usually overnight, so checking multiple times in one day will not give you new information.

You can also mail documents to the IRS, though processing takes weeks or months depending on the service center's workload. The address depends on your state and the type of document you are sending; the IRS website lists the correct mailing address for each situation. Mailing is slower than calling or visiting in person, but it is an option if you cannot reach the IRS by phone during business hours.

Special phone lines and their hours

The IRS operates separate phone lines for different situations, and some have different hours than the main line. The Business and Self-Employed line (1-800-829-4933) is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Eastern time. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) line (1-800-829-1040, then press the option for EITC) follows the same schedule.

The IRS also has a line for people who are deaf or hard of hearing (1-800-829-4059, TTY/TDD) with the same hours. If you are calling from outside the United States, you can reach the IRS at 267-941-1000, though this line has different hours and may charge international calling rates.

During tax season, some specialty lines close earlier than 7 p.m. The IRS website lists current hours for each line, updated weekly, so check there before calling if you are trying to reach a specific department.

Federal holidays when the IRS is closed

The IRS is closed on all federal holidays, including New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. On these days, phone lines do not answer and offices are not staffed. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the IRS is closed on Friday; if it falls on a Sunday, the IRS is closed on Monday.

During holiday weeks, the IRS may have reduced staffing and longer wait times on the days the office is open. If you need to reach the IRS around a holiday, plan ahead and call a few days before or after the holiday itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time should I call the IRS to wait the shortest amount of time?

Call between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Eastern time, or after 5 p.m. if your line is still open. Mid-morning and early afternoon are the busiest times. Outside tax season (May through December), wait times are generally shorter no matter when you call.

Can I reach the IRS on Saturday or Sunday?

No. The IRS does not answer phones on weekends. If you need help on a weekend, use the IRS website (IRS.gov) to download forms, check your refund status, or view your account information.

What if my local IRS office is closed when I need to visit?

Call the office ahead of time to confirm it is open and that it handles your type of case. If the nearest office has limited hours or does not offer the service you need, you can call the main phone line or use the IRS website to handle many issues without visiting in person.

Does the IRS have extended hours during tax season?

No. Phone lines actually close earlier during tax season (as early as 5 p.m. on some lines) because call volume is so high. Office hours stay the same, but wait times are much longer. If possible, handle your issue outside tax season or use the IRS website.