833-282-7220 is a real IRS phone number. It belongs to the IRS Automated Collection System (ACS), the part of the IRS that collects unpaid balances by mail and phone. You’ll find it on ACS letters such as the LT11, LT16 and LT40.
Updated September 25, 2026 · Checked against real notices our clients received
IRS phone number lookup
833-282-7220
✓ Real IRS number
- Who answers
- The IRS Automated Collection System (ACS).
- Printed on
- LT11 (Notice of Intent to Levy), LT16 (Please act on your balance) and LT40 (We may contact others for information).
- Mailing address
- Internal Revenue Service, ACS Support, PO Box 8208, Philadelphia, PA 19101-8208, as printed on the letters we reviewed. Use the address on yours.
- Use it to
- Pay, set up a payment plan, explain a hardship, or ask about a levy.
- Deadline to watch
- An LT11 gives you 30 days from its date to request a Collection Due Process hearing.
- Cost
- Free. It’s a toll-free number.
Is 833-282-7220 really the IRS?
Yes. It’s printed on real ACS letters our clients received. An LT11 we reviewed says: “If you can’t find what you need online or need assistance, you can call the IRS at 833-282-7220.” The LT16 and LT40 we reviewed print the same number.
Because it’s a real number, scammers can spoof it too. Trust it when it’s printed on a letter that came in the mail, and dial it yourself instead of returning a call.
What your letter means
| Letter | What it says | How urgent |
|---|---|---|
| LT11 | Notice of Intent to Levy and Your Collection Due Process Right to a Hearing. Pay by the date shown, or the IRS says it will levy (seize) your property. | Very. You have 30 days to request a hearing. |
| LT16 | Please act on your balance. Some versions also ask you to file missing returns. The IRS warns that your account may be subject to enforcement, including seizing assets or wages. | High. |
| LT40 | We may contact others for information. The IRS is telling you it may contact other people while it tries to collect. | High. |
If you got an LT11, watch the 30-day deadline
An LT11 is the IRS’s final notice before it can levy wages, bank accounts and other property. It also gives you the right to a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing with the IRS Independent Office of Appeals.
- Request the hearing on Form 12153 within 30 days of the letter’s date. The LT11 we reviewed says filing on time preserves your right to take an Appeals decision to the U.S. Tax Court.
- A timely request generally puts levies on hold while your hearing is pending.
- Miss the deadline and you may still get an “equivalent hearing,” but you give up Tax Court review.
The hearing is also a chance to propose a payment plan or another resolution to an appeals officer instead of a collection employee.
What you can do on the call
- Pay the balance, or set up a payment plan.
- Explain a financial hardship. If you can’t cover basic living expenses, the IRS can review your finances and may pause collection (currently not collectible status).
- Find out exactly what the IRS needs from you, including any missing tax returns.
- Ask about a levy that has already hit your paycheck or bank account.
Many people who owe $50,000 or less can skip the call and set up a payment plan at IRS.gov/opa.
Before you call
- The letter, including its date and the tax years it lists.
- Your Social Security number or ITIN.
- Your latest tax return, plus a list of any years you haven’t filed.
- Your monthly income and expenses, and roughly what you have in the bank. ACS may ask if you can’t pay in full.
- Pen and paper for the representative’s name, ID number and what you agreed to.
Getting through to IRS collections
IRS collection lines are among the hardest to reach. The National Taxpayer Advocate’s mid-year report to Congress covered the 2026 filing season, through April 18, 2026.
Source: IRS, IR-2026-79, National Taxpayer Advocate mid-year report to Congress (June 24, 2026).
Skip the hold
Let us call ACS for you
With a signed IRS power of attorney (Form 2848), our CPAs and tax attorney can call the IRS on your behalf, file a Collection Due Process request if you need one, and work out the resolution that fits your finances.
Already levied?
If the IRS has already taken money from your paycheck or bank account, act quickly. We can help with a bank levy release or a wage garnishment release.
833-282-7220 FAQs
Is 833-282-7220 a scam?
No. It's a real IRS number printed on Automated Collection System letters such as the LT11, LT16 and LT40. Scammers can spoof real numbers, so call the number printed on your letter instead of returning a call.
What is the IRS Automated Collection System?
ACS is the IRS operation that collects unpaid balances through letters and phone calls. It can set up payment plans, review hardship requests and issue levies. Larger or more complicated cases may go to a revenue officer instead.
How long do I have after getting an LT11?
You have 30 days from the date on the LT11 to request a Collection Due Process hearing on Form 12153. Filing on time protects your right to go to the U.S. Tax Court. You can ask for an equivalent hearing later, but without Tax Court review.
Can I set up a payment plan without calling 833-282-7220?
Often, yes. If you owe $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties and interest, you can usually apply for a long-term plan at IRS.gov/opa. If you owe less than $100,000, you can apply online for up to 180 days to pay.
What does an LT16 mean?
An LT16 asks you to act on an unpaid balance, and some versions also ask you to file missing returns. It warns that your account may be subject to enforcement action, including seizing assets or wages, so treat it as urgent.
Why do different IRS letters list different phone numbers?
Different IRS units send different notices, and each prints its own contact number. Call the number printed on the letter you received.
“I reached out to Choice Tax Relief with a significant tax situation that was approaching a level of liens and wage garnishments. LuLu was my case manager and from the first conversation was professional and reassuring.”
Other numbers from IRS and state tax notices
Sources
- Real ACS letters received by our clients: LT11, LT16 and LT40.
- IRS, Understanding your LT11 notice or Letter 1058.
- IRS, IR-2026-79 (National Taxpayer Advocate mid-year report).
- IRS, Online payment agreement application.
Choice Tax Relief is a private tax resolution firm. We are not the IRS, the U.S. Treasury, or any government agency, and we are not affiliated with any private collection agency. You can call the IRS yourself at no charge. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice for your situation.