Why is calling the IRS from abroad so hard?
Three things combine to make it painful:
- The toll-free trap. A 1-800 IRS number isn't free from abroad: your carrier bills it at its international per-minute rate, hold time included.
- Long waits. IRS lines are notoriously busy—average waits often exceed 30 minutes, and longer in peak season. Every minute on hold is part of the call.
- Getting connected at all. A reliable, affordable way to call from overseas is a hurdle on its own. You want something that works from any country, on any device, with no special phone or SIM.
With DialHard you call straight from a browser anywhere in the world, and you see the line's per-minute rate before you dial. Hold time is billed at that rate, like the rest of the call.
IRS call planner
Pick your situation to see the right number, the cost with DialHard, the line's hours, and a checklist of what to prepare.
For individual taxpayers (Form 1040)
Call prep checklist
- Your Social Security Number (SSN) or ITIN, and date of birth.
- The same information for your spouse if you filed jointly.
- Your filing status (Single, Married Filing Jointly, and so on).
- A copy of the tax return you're calling about.
- Any IRS notice or letter you've received.
For international taxpayers
Call prep checklist
- Your Social Security Number (SSN) or ITIN.
- Access to your tax records and prior-year returns.
- Any IRS notices or correspondence you've received.
- A valid Power of Attorney (Form 2848) if you're calling for someone else.
- The time difference, so you call within operating hours.
For business tax questions
Call prep checklist
- Your Employer Identification Number (EIN).
- A copy of the business tax form you're calling about (941, 1120, and so on).
- Any IRS notice or letter the business received.
- Authorization to speak on behalf of the business.
- Your business details (name and address).
How much does an IRS call from abroad cost?
With DialHard, every call to the IRS is billed per minute, hold time included, rounded up to the next full minute. Calls to the toll-free lines (1-800) are billed at the rate the dialer shows before you dial. Calls to the international line (+1-267) are billed from $0.06/minute, so an hour on the line costs from $3.60.
Frequently asked questions
Is DialHard secure for discussing sensitive tax info?
Your audio is encrypted between your browser and DialHard's carriers. From there it travels like any phone call. DialHard doesn't keep call audio. If captions are on for a call, its transcript is kept, for your plan's transcript period. Card payments are processed by Stripe. Details are in the privacy notice.
Will the IRS know I'm calling from a web service?
No. To the IRS, your call appears to come from a standard phone number. The technology you use to connect is transparent to them and has no effect on how your call is handled—DialHard connects to regular telephone networks.
Do my DialHard calling credits expire?
They almost never do. Credit you have paid for does not expire. Promotional credit expires after 12 months with no activity on your account; we email you 30 days before it does. There are no monthly fees or subscriptions.
What happens if my call drops?
If DialHard's own system cuts a call that no balance, limit or timeout ended, the minute it was cut in is refunded automatically.
Start calling today
Calls run in your browser — no app, and nothing to install on the other end either.