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How to Contact the IRS: A Simple Guide for Insurance Agents

Written by Club Capital | Oct 20, 2022 2:00:00 PM

Calling the IRS is rarely a pleasant experience and the information you need to get through the process can be hard to find. In fact, it's so confusing that many people end up calling the IRS's customer service lines only to get even more confused. 

However, if you're a business owner and you need to contact the IRS, it's important to know how to do this in a way that will get you fast results. 

 

Reasons to contact the IRS 

There are a number of reasons you might need to call the IRS. If you're having trouble filing your taxes online, for example, or if you're wondering about your refund status, it's best to call the customer service line. You can also call if you need help or have questions about:

  • An error on your tax return
  • A payment issue (like not receiving an expected refund)
  • An issue with filing an extension

Have your personal information on hand

Make sure you have your personal information on hand. It’s important that you know the reason why you are calling and how long the call will take so that you can prepare accordingly. 

You'll need:

  • Your social security number
  • Your name, address and phone number
  • The business name and address (if applicable)
  • The business tax ID (EIN) you received when registering your company
  • The type of tax you owe (e.g., employment taxes or income taxes)
  • The amount that's due, including any penalties or interest that may apply

And finally, if you're paying by credit card or by check, be sure to have all the relevant payment information handy as well.

 

Know before you call the IRS 

In case of emergency, you can contact the IRS at 1(800)829-1040. This is a great resource. However, we recommend being careful when calling this number.

There are a few reasons for this:

  • You can get almost all of the same information on their website for free by searching for specific tax forms, schedules, publications and other documents related to your business.
  • If you need more help than that, it's always better to speak with someone directly who specializes in taxes than trying to decipher confusing IRS documents on your own. A tax professional will also be able to guide you through any tax issues specific to your situation.

The IRS offers several different ways to contact them: by phone, mail, or email. If you need to call the IRS for business purposes, be prepared with any relevant paperwork or information that will help them with your case. For example, if you're calling about an audit or tax problem in regards to your business, be sure you have all relevant documents on hand so that they can help as quickly as possible.

Club Capital provides monthly accounting, tax, and CFO services for insurance agency owners. With 100% of our clients in the insurance industry, we are built to help you grow your agency faster with industry-specific accounting, tax, and CFO services.

 

How to contact IRS customer service

Here's a list of other IRS phone numbers to try so you can reach the people you need:

Department 

IRS Phone Number

Hours

General inquiries for individuals

1-800-829-1040

7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

General inquiries for businesses

1-800-829-4933

7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Non-profit taxes

1-877-829-5500

8 a.m. to 5 p.m

Estate and gift taxes

1-866-699-4083

8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Excise taxes

1-866-699-4096

​​​​​8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Callers who are hearing impaired

1-800-829-4059

Check status of a tax refund

1-800-829-1954

-

Whistleblower hotline

1-800-829-0433

-

Identity and refund theft

1-800-908-4490

-

Victims of disaster

1-866-562-5227

-


The IRS is an important resource for businesses, but it can be hard to know where to start. If you're ever unsure about what to do or how to handle a situation, remember that your first step should always be preparing in advance. By knowing what questions will be asked and having your personal information at hand before calling customer service or reaching out directly, you'll have a better chance of getting the help you need right away. 

Club Capital Is Here To Help

For the past 5 years, Club Capital has helped insurance agents better manage their agency's finances through best-in-class monthly accounting, CFO, and tax services. Schedule a demo today!