Visiting an IRS Office
Sometimes taxpayers will have questions that require them to visit an IRS office. If you plan to visit an IRS office you need to be aware that most IRS offices are located in buildings with other federal agencies. For security purposes, you may have to go through routine screening, including showing photo identification. Below are important things to remember when you visit an IRS office.
- Bring Tax Information
- Bring Acceptable Identification
- Applying for an ITIN
- When to Call IRS Customer Service
Bring Tax Information
When visiting an IRS office, be sure to bring any information requested in your appointment letter or information that will be helpful in resolving your tax issue. For example, if you are making a payment, be sure to know what tax period and type of tax the payment is for.
Bring Acceptable Identification
Acceptable forms of identification include, your passport, a state or federally issued identification with photo or your driver’s license. Please note that if your identification documents have expired, or the building’s security screener believes your documents appear suspicious, you may be subject to a more in-depth screening.
Applying for an ITIN
If you’re visiting an IRS office to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), the documentation the IRS accepts for the ITIN application may not be sufficient to gain entrance to a building where an IRS office is located.
If you do not have an accepted form of identification and you are applying for an ITIN, consider applying for your ITIN by mail or with an IRS authorized accepting agent. A list of authorized accepting agents can be found on the ITIN page of www.irs.gov or by calling the IRS toll-free number listed below. If you do decide to visit an IRS office for an ITIN, be sure to bring all required identification documents. For a list of required identification documents, refer to the ITIN application or call the IRS.
When to Call IRS Customer Service
Rather than visit an IRS office, many situations can be handled by simply calling the IRS Customer Service number. These situations may include:
- Making a payment on your federal taxes.
- Needing to visit the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
- Questions about your tax return.
- Filing a federal tax return and needing an ITIN.
