IRS help is just a click away.

• Author: Gansler, Jill

Tax advisers tired of the IRS's automated telephone service and willing to let their fingers do the walking, can use its website (www. irs.gov/taxpros.index/html). Unlike days of old, it is fast, easy and extremely user-friendly. Some of the site's content is discussed here and can be added to an online favorites list. However, the list should not be limited to these few highlighted resources. It is a mere sample. If tax practitioners still prefer to use the phone, the exhibit on p. 617 contains a handy list of IRS contact numbers.

Exhibit: IRS telephone contacts Telephone Service number Hours of operation Practitioner Priority (866) 860-4259 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Service local time IRS Tax Help Line for (800) 829-1040 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Individuals local time Business and Specialty (800) 829-4933 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Tax Line local time e-Help (Practitioners (866) 255-0654 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET, Only) M-F, and 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m MT, M-F Refund Hotline (800) 829-1954 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., local time (automated service is available after business hours) Forms and Publications (800) 829-3676 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., local time National Taxpayer (811) 777-4778 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Advocate's Help Line local time Centralized Lien Payoff (800) 913-6050 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. ET Centralized Bankruptcy (800) 913-9358 M-F, 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. ET Telephone Device for (800) 829-4059 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., the Deaf (TDD) local time Electronic Federal (800) 555-4477 24/7 Tax Payment System Government Entities (877) 829-5500 M-F, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET (TEGE) Help Line Extension to File (800) 829-4477 24/7 Forms 706 and 709 Help (866) 699-4083 M-F, 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Line local time Automated Collection (800) 829-3903 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., System (Business) local time Automated Collection (800) 829-7650 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., System (Individual) local time Criminal Investigation (800) 829-0433 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Informant Hotline local time Employer Identification (800) 829-4933 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Number (EIN) local time Excise Tax and Form (866) 699-4096 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET 2290 Help Line Information Return (866) 455-7438 M-F, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET Reporting Terrorist Act or Combat (866) 562-5227 M-F, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Zone Special Hotline local time E-Newsletters

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