How Can I Help? – Frequently Asked Questions:
IRS
This page provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions on the Internal Revenue Service to help you resolve concerns with federal agencies on your own.
However if you still need help after reviewing this information, contact my Camarillo or Solvang office and my staff will open a case and we will act as your liaison with the appropriate federal agency.
• How can I contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if I have a tax question?
• What are my rights as a taxpayer?
• What should I do if I can’t resolve a problem with the IRS?
• How can I contact the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service?
• How can I check on the status of my refund?
• What if I have not received my refund?
• I lost my refund check. How do I get a new one?
• What if I receive a larger or smaller refund than I was expecting?
• I just received an e-mail from the IRS saying I am under investigation and requesting that I click on a link to an IRS website for more information, what should I do?
Question: How can I contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if I have a tax question?
Answer: If you are an individual, call 1-800-829-1040, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific Time.
If you are hearing impaired, call 1-800-829-4059 (TDD), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Pacific Time.
If you are calling on behalf of a business, call 1-800-829-4933 Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. Pacific Time.
If you are calling on behalf of an exempt organization or retirement plan, call 1-877-829-5500, Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Central Time.
Residents of Ventura County may go in person to the local IRS office:
751 Daily Dr.
Camarillo, CA 93010
(805) 445-4771
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Residents of Santa Barbara County may go in person to the local IRS offices:
1332 Anacapa St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 564-7555
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.
(Closed 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
2384 Professional Parkway
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 352-0355
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.
(Closed 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
If you are outside of the United States, please go to the IRS International Services webpage. Hours of services vary.
Question: What are my rights as a taxpayer?
Answer: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a detailed brochure describing your rights as a taxpayer.
Question: What should I do if I can’t resolve a problem with the IRS?
Answer: You can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service, which is an independent organization within the IRS that assist taxpayers who are experiencing economic harm, who are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, or who believe that an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should.
Question: How can I contact the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service?
Answer: The Los Angeles Taxpayer Advocate
300 N. Los Angeles Street
Stop 6710 LA
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-576-3140
213-576-3141 (fax)
Question: How can I check on the status of my refund?
Answer: You can generally get information about your refund 72 hours after IRS acknowledges receipt of your e-filed return, or three to four weeks after mailing a paper return.
To check on the status of your refund, have a copy of your tax return handy. You will need to provide the following information from your return:
• Your Social Security Number (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number);
• Filing status (Single, Married Filing Joint Return, Married Filing Separate Return, Head of Household, or Qualifying Widow(er));
• The exact whole dollar amount of your refund.
To check the status of your refund online, go to www.irs.gov and click on the “Where’s My Refund” link.
To check the status of your refund by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call 1-800-827-4477.
You may also call 1-800-829-1954 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Pacific Time.
Question: What if I have not received my refund?
Answer: If your refund was been returned to the IRS by the Postal Service because of an incorrect address, change your address online by going to www.irs.gov, click on the “Check on Your Refund” link and follow the prompts to change your address.
In all other cases, please call 1-800-829-1954.
Question: I lost my refund check. How do I get a new one?
Answer: Call the IRS at (800) 829-1954. If your refund check has not been cashed, the IRS can normally provide a replacement within six to eight weeks. If your refund check has been cashed, the Financial Management Service (FMS) will provide a copy of the check and a Form 3911 Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund, to initiate a claim. The signature on the cancelled check will be reviewed before determining whether another refund can be issued.
Question: What if I receive a larger or smaller refund than I was expecting?
Answer: If you receive a larger refund than expected, the IRS recommends that you do not cash the check until you receive a notice explaining the difference. Follow the directions on the notice.
If you receive a smaller refund than expected, you may cash the check. If you do not receive a notice explaining why you received a smaller refund within 2 weeks of receiving the check, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
Question: I just received an e-mail from the IRS saying I am under investigation and requesting that I click on a link to an IRS website for more information, what should I do?
Answer: Do not respond to any unsolicited emails from the IRS. The IRS never sends out unsolicited emails nor does it request credit card information and pin numbers through email. Persons receiving emails that claim to be from the IRS should not attempt to visit any site contained within the email and should forward any suspicious e-mail to phishing@irs.gov.
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