Who to contact depends on what you need to know
The person you talk to about your tax refund depends on what question you have. If you filed your taxes yourself, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) handles federal refunds. If a tax preparer or accountant filed for you, they can answer questions about what they submitted. If your refund came from a state or local tax return, contact your state's tax agency. Each of these handles different parts of the process, so knowing who to call saves you time.
Before you contact anyone, gather the documents you have: your Social Security number, the tax year in question, and any notice letters the IRS or state sent you. Having these ready means the person helping you can look up your account quickly instead of asking you to find information later.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS handles federal tax refunds; your state tax agency handles state refunds — they are separate systems and you may need to contact both.
- The IRS phone line has long wait times, but the Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov lets you check status without calling.
- A tax preparer or accountant who filed your return can explain what they submitted and why, and can contact the IRS on your behalf.
- Have your Social Security number and tax year ready before you call, and call during early morning or late afternoon for shorter waits.
- If you cannot reach the IRS by phone, the Taxpayer Advocate Service offers free help for people stuck in the system.
Contacting the IRS about a federal refund
The IRS phone number is 1-800-829-1040. Wait times are long — often 30 minutes to over an hour, especially during tax season (January through April). The IRS does not take appointments, so you call and wait in a queue. Early morning calls (before 9 a.m.) and calls after 4 p.m. tend to have shorter waits than midday.
Before you call, try the Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov. You enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount, and the tool tells you whether your refund has been received, is being processed, or has been sent. This tool is updated once per day and is faster than calling if you only need a status update.
When you do call, have your Social Security number, the tax year, and your mailing address ready. The IRS representative can look up your account and tell you the status of your refund, explain why it has been delayed, or discuss an issue with your return. If the IRS sent you a notice letter, have that in front of you — it usually explains what they need from you.
Talking to a tax preparer or accountant
If someone else prepared your tax return, they can answer questions about what they filed and why. They can also contact the IRS on your behalf if there is a problem — the IRS will speak to a preparer or accountant about your account if you give permission. This is often faster than trying to reach the IRS yourself.
Call the office where you had your taxes prepared. If you used a large chain like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt, ask for the specific preparer who worked on your return. If you used a local accountant or CPA, call their office directly. Have your tax year and Social Security number ready.
If your refund was delayed or the IRS sent you a notice, your preparer can review the notice with you and explain what went wrong. They may charge a fee for this service if it is outside the original preparation work, so ask before they spend time on it.
Contacting your state tax agency about a state refund
State tax refunds are handled separately from federal refunds. Each state has its own tax agency — for example, the California Franchise Tax Board, the New York Department of Taxation and Finance, or the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Search "[your state] tax refund status" to find the right agency and their phone number.
Most states have an online tool similar to the IRS's Where's My Refund. You can check your state refund status without calling. If you need to speak to someone, call the number on your state's website. State agencies often have shorter wait times than the IRS, but this varies by state and time of year.
What to do if you cannot reach anyone
If you have called the IRS multiple times and cannot get through, or if you have a problem that the IRS is not solving, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) offers free help. TAS is part of the IRS but works independently to help people who are stuck. You can call 1-877-777-4778 or visit TaxpayerAdvocate.irs.gov to request help.
TAS can contact the IRS on your behalf, push your case forward, and help resolve disputes. You do not pay for this service. TAS is most useful if your refund is months overdue, the IRS sent you conflicting notices, or you have tried to resolve the problem yourself and hit a wall.
What information to have ready before you call
Gather these items before you contact anyone about your refund:
- Your Social Security number
- The tax year in question (for example, 2023 or 2024)
- The exact refund amount you expected
- Your mailing address as it appears on the return
- Any notice letters from the IRS or state
- A copy of the return you filed, if you have one
Having these ready means the person helping you can find your account and answer your question without putting you on hold to look for information. It also helps you explain the problem clearly if something went wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it usually take to speak to someone at the IRS?
Wait times vary widely depending on the time of year and time of day. During tax season (January through April), expect 30 minutes to over an hour. Outside tax season, waits are usually shorter. Calling early in the morning or after 4 p.m. tends to reduce wait time. The Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov avoids the wait entirely if you only need a status update.
Can I email the IRS about my refund instead of calling?
The IRS does not have a general email address for refund questions. However, if the IRS sent you a notice letter, it may include a specific email address or online form to respond. Some tax preparers can email the IRS on your behalf. For most questions, calling or using the Where's My Refund tool is the fastest route.
What if my refund was sent to the wrong address?
Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and explain that your refund was mailed to an old address. They can tell you when it was sent and may be able to intercept it or issue a replacement. Have your current address and the address where it was sent ready. If the check was cashed by someone else, the IRS can investigate, but this takes longer.
Do I need to pay a tax preparer to ask them about my refund?
Most preparers will answer basic questions about a return they prepared at no extra cost. If they need to contact the IRS on your behalf or spend significant time investigating a problem, they may charge a fee. Ask before they start work on it so you know what to expect.
What if I filed my taxes but have not received my refund after several months?
First, check the Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov to confirm the IRS has your return and knows about the refund. If it shows the refund was sent but you did not receive it, call the IRS. If the tool shows no activity after three weeks from filing, or if the IRS cannot explain the delay, contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778 for free help.