IRS letter help
Where to get help with an IRS letter
You have a letter from the IRS and want someone near you to help with it.
IRS offices see you by appointment, and VITA sites help you if you make about $70,244 or less.
If free help cannot reach you in time, call us for private help from a licensed tax professional.
Which numbers matter?
$70,244
If you make about this much or less, a VITA volunteer can help you for free.
Use the VITA Locator Tool or call 800-906-9887 to find a site.
$50,000
A Low Income Taxpayer Clinic takes your IRS dispute if it is under this amount and your income is low enough.
Check the IRS clinic page for the clinic closest to you.
60 and older
TCE and AARP Tax-Aide sites focus on helping you if you are this age.
Call AARP at 888-227-7669 between January and April to find a Tax-Aide site.
When free help cannot wait
Free sites fill up, and a levy notice gives you only 30 days from the date on the letter.
If no clinic can take you in time, a licensed tax professional can ask for the hearing or a plan.
Call now and find out if paid help fits your letter before those 30 days end.
Call 855-964-5291What happens when you call
- You call during business hours and say which letter or bill you have.
- A licensed tax professional asks for the date, the amount and the tax years on the letter.
- You hear your options for this notice and decide what to do. Nothing is filed without your yes.
A licensed tax professional answers, not the IRS. The call costs nothing, and you give up nothing by calling. IRS Code Lookup is a private tax help service.
Would you rather send your notice details?
Send the code and date from your IRS letter, and we can tell which kind of help fits it.
A levy notice, a 90-day letter and a balance reminder each call for a different kind of help.
What changed recently?
Since June 2, 2026, the FTC and Nevada have filed a proposed order banning American Tax Service operators from debt relief and tax preparation. The order sets a $77.7 million judgment, suspended except for about $8 million in cash and other assets.
Source: FTC and Nevada settlement with tax relief operators (June 2, 2026).
Where can I get free help?
| Where | Who it serves |
|---|---|
| IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center | Anyone, by appointment; find one with the IRS office locator |
| VITA volunteer sites | People who generally make about $70,244 or less |
| TCE and AARP Tax-Aide | Focus on people 60 and older; AARP line 888-227-7669 |
| Low Income Taxpayer Clinics | Disputes with the IRS, usually under $50,000 |
| Taxpayer Advocate Service | Problems the normal IRS channels have not fixed; 877-777-4778 |
Sources: IRS free tax preparation, IRS clinic page, Taxpayer Advocate contact page.
Can the IRS help me by phone?
The IRS line for individuals is 800-829-1040; for businesses, 800-829-4933. Call the number on your notice first if there is one. The IRS tax debt page says you may be offered a call-back.
Who offers paid help?
Enrolled agents, CPAs and attorneys can represent you on any IRS matter. Most other preparers cannot represent you on collection or appeals at all, per the IRS credentials page. See enrolled agents and tax attorneys.
When is paying the cheaper choice?
- A levy notice with a 30-day hearing window, and you do not know what to propose.
- A 90-day letter you plan to fight.
- A balance over the $50,000 online plan limit.
- Years of unfiled returns.
Gus, 66, had three unfiled years and a CP504. A clinic could not take his case in time. He paid an EA to file the returns and set up a plan.
What should you read next?
Questions people ask
Where can I get free help with an IRS letter?
An IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center by appointment, a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, or the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
What is the IRS phone number for help?
800-829-1040 for individuals and 800-829-4933 for businesses. Use the number on your notice first.
Who qualifies for a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic?
People under an income threshold, with a dispute usually under $50,000.
Is there free tax help for seniors?
Yes. TCE sites and AARP Tax-Aide focus on people 60 and older.
Sources
- Free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers. Published by irs.gov.
- Low Income Taxpayer Clinics. Published by irs.gov.
- Taxpayer Advocate Service, contact us. Published by taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov.
- Get help with tax debt. Published by irs.gov.
- Understanding tax return preparer credentials and qualifications. Published by irs.gov.
- FTC and Nevada settlement with tax relief operators (June 2, 2026). Published by ftc.gov.
Last checked October 2026
What to do now
- Call the number printed on your notice before any other IRS line.
- Book a Taxpayer Assistance Center visit with the IRS office locator.
- Call the Taxpayer Advocate at 877-777-4778 if normal IRS channels have not fixed your problem.
- Call us for private help if your deadline is close and free sites are full.
Call now and find out if paid help fits your letter before those 30 days end.
A licensed tax professional answers, not the IRS. The call costs nothing, and you give up nothing by calling. IRS Code Lookup is a private tax help service.