Yes, 833-678-7020 is a real IRS phone number. The IRS prints it on the notices it mails when you owe tax, including the CP14, CP503, CP504 and CP523. If one of those is on your kitchen table right now, this is the number it tells you to call.
Updated September 25, 2026 · Checked against real notices our clients received
IRS phone number lookup
833-678-7020
✓ Real IRS number
- Who answers
- The IRS. This is the line printed on its balance-due and collection notices.
- Printed on
- CP14 (and versions like CP14G), CP503, CP504 and CP523. The IRS also lists it on its page for Notice CP321A.
- Use it to
- Ask about a balance, set up or fix a payment plan, dispute an amount, or request a Collection Appeals Program (CAP) appeal.
- Cost
- Free. It’s a toll-free number.
- Hours
- The notices don’t print hours for this line. The IRS’s main line for individuals is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.
- Expect to wait
- A while. The IRS answered 31% of calls to its balance-due line during the 2026 filing season, and the average wait was 45 minutes.
Is 833-678-7020 really the IRS?
Yes. We’ve seen 833-678-7020 on real notices our clients received, including a CP14G, a CP503, a CP504 and a CP523. The IRS also lists it on its own website, on its page explaining Notice CP321A.
On a CP504 we reviewed, the IRS Help section reads: “If you can’t find what you need online, and still have questions not addressed in this notice call the IRS at 833-678-7020.”
Scammers copy real IRS numbers, though, and caller ID can be faked. So keep it simple: call the number printed on the paper notice you got in the mail, not a number someone gives you by phone, text or email. The IRS says it normally contacts you by mail first, and a demand to pay by gift card, prepaid debit card or wire transfer is a sign of a scam.
Which notices print 833-678-7020
| Notice | What it means |
|---|---|
| CP14 | Your first bill. You owe a balance and the IRS wants it paid by the date on the notice. |
| CP503 | A second reminder. The balance is still unpaid, and the IRS warns it can file a Notice of Federal Tax Lien. |
| CP504 | A notice of intent to levy under Internal Revenue Code section 6331(d). The IRS is telling you it can start seizing property to collect. |
| CP523 | A notice that the IRS intends to end your installment agreement, usually because a payment was missed. |
Different IRS notices print different numbers. If yours shows a different one, call the number on your notice.
What you can take care of on the call
- Confirm how much you owe and which tax years it covers.
- Tell the IRS about a payment you already made, with the date and amount so they can find it.
- Set up a payment plan, or save one that’s in trouble. On a CP523, the IRS asks you to call this number to discuss why the plan defaulted and to give an updated financial statement (Form 433-F).
- Dispute a balance you think is wrong. The CP523 we reviewed says to call 833-678-7020 “to review your account with a representative” if you disagree.
- Request a Collection Appeals Program (CAP) appeal. The CP503 and CP504 say you can call this number or send Form 9423 if you disagree with a planned lien or levy.
Have these ready before you dial
- The notice itself. The representative will ask about details printed on it.
- Your Social Security number or ITIN, plus your spouse’s if you filed jointly.
- Your most recent tax return. The IRS often uses it to confirm who you are.
- Records of payments you’ve made: dates, amounts and confirmation numbers.
- If you want a payment plan: your monthly take-home pay and your main monthly expenses. The IRS may ask.
- Something to write with. Note the representative’s name and ID number, the date, and exactly what was agreed.
How long you’ll wait on hold
The National Taxpayer Advocate, the independent office inside the IRS that looks out for taxpayers, tracks how well the IRS answers its phones. Its 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).
The IRS says its waits run longest on Mondays and Tuesdays, so if you’re calling yourself, Wednesday through Friday is a better bet.
Skip the hold
Let us make the call for you
Once you sign an IRS power of attorney (Form 2848), our CPAs and tax attorney can call the IRS on your behalf, pull your IRS transcripts, and tell you exactly where you stand. Then we’ll help you choose the right fix, whether that’s a payment plan or something that costs you less.
If you can’t pay the full balance
You have options, and some don’t require a phone call at all.
- Short-term payment plan. If you owe less than $100,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest, you can apply online for up to 180 days to pay at IRS.gov/opa.
- Long-term payment plan. If you owe $50,000 or less, you can usually set up monthly payments online without talking to anyone.
- Owe more, or can’t afford the payment? The IRS can still agree to a payment plan based on your finances, pause collection if you can’t cover basic living expenses (currently not collectible status), or in some cases accept an offer in compromise for less than the full amount.
Whatever you choose, interest keeps adding up until the balance is paid. A CP14G we reviewed says it plainly: “Remember that interest continues to be charged until you fully pay your balance.”
What happens if you don’t respond
The letters get more serious. After a CP504, the next step is usually a final notice of intent to levy, such as an LT11 or Letter 1058. That letter gives you 30 days to request a Collection Due Process hearing, and LT11s print a different number: 833-282-7220. After that, the IRS can levy wages and bank accounts.
833-678-7020 FAQs
Is 833-678-7020 a legitimate IRS phone number?
Yes. It's printed on real IRS balance-due notices, including the CP14, CP503, CP504 and CP523, and the IRS lists it on its website. To be safe, dial the number exactly as it's printed on your paper notice, and never pay anyone by gift card, prepaid debit card or wire transfer.
What are the hours for 833-678-7020?
The notices don't list hours for this line. The IRS's main phone line for individuals is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday, with Alaska and Hawaii following Pacific time. The IRS says waits are longer on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Why is it so hard to get through to 833-678-7020?
Call volume. During the 2026 filing season, the IRS answered 31% of the roughly 3.4 million calls to its installment agreement and balance-due line, and callers who got through waited 45 minutes on average, according to the National Taxpayer Advocate.
Can someone call the IRS for me?
Yes. A CPA, attorney or enrolled agent can speak for you once you sign Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative. Tax professionals also use a separate IRS line, the Practitioner Priority Service, which answered 72% of calls with an average hold of 8 minutes during the 2026 filing season.
Do I have to call the IRS about my notice?
No. You can see your balance at IRS.gov/account, pay at IRS.gov/payments, and set up many payment plans at IRS.gov/opa. A call makes sense if the balance looks wrong, you want to appeal, or your situation doesn't fit the online tools. Ignoring the notice is the one choice that makes things worse.
Will the IRS call me from 833-678-7020?
Be careful with any unexpected call that claims to be the IRS, whatever the caller ID shows, because numbers can be faked. The IRS normally contacts you by mail first. If you're unsure, hang up and call the number printed on your notice.
“Lulu was my case manager and she did an amazing job setting up a tax payment plan with great terms. She was kind, professional and very thorough. I could not have asked for a better case manager.”
Other numbers from IRS and state tax notices
Sources
- Real IRS notices received by our clients: CP14G, CP503, CP504 and CP523.
- IRS, Understanding your CP321A notice (lists 833-678-7020).
- IRS, IR-2026-79: National Taxpayer Advocate issues 2026 mid-year report to Congress.
- IRS, Telephone assistance (hours and wait-time guidance).
- IRS, Online payment agreement application.
- IRS, How to know it’s the IRS.
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.