IRS Tax Tip 2018-25, February 15, 2018
The IRS reminds taxpayers to avoid the rush. As with previous years, the agency expects taxpayers to submit a surge of tax returns during the upcoming Presidents Day weekend. Here are some tips and resources to get taxpayers the help that they need.
- Go online. IRS.gov has several online tools to help taxpayers get fast answers to common tax questions:
- Use Where¡¯s My Refund? to track refunds. The IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days. IRS customer service representatives cannot answer refund questions until after this 21-day period. Taxpayers can track their refund anytime by using ¡°Where¡¯s My Refund?¡± They¡¯ll find this tool on IRS.gov and the IRS2Go app. As an alternative, taxpayers can also call the automated IRS refund hotline at 800-829-1954.
- Know how to validate identity. Taxpayers who call the IRS with questions about their account should be ready to verify their identity. IRS telephone assistors may ask a series of questions to authenticate the identity of callers. Many of the answers to these questions come from the taxpayer¡¯s prior year tax return.
- Make an appointment. All Taxpayer Assistance Centers operate by appointment. Anyone who needs face-to-face service can search IRS.gov for their nearest office. The IRS website also has details about how to make an appointment.
- Replace a missing W-2. Anyone who didn¡¯t receive a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, from an employer by January 31 should first contact the employer to alert them about the missing form. Those who don¡¯t get a response by the end of February should call the IRS for a substitute Form W-2.