Before calling the IRS, people should know what info they’ll need to verify their identity

When taxpayers have a question, their first stop should be IRS.gov. The Let Us Help You page is a great way to get answers to tax questions fast. People who call the IRS for additional help will need to have information available to verify their identity. This is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to keep taxpayer data secure from identity thieves.

IRS representatives only discuss personal information with the taxpayer or someone the taxpayer authorizes to speak on their behalf. To ensure they don’t have to call back, taxpayers should have the following information ready:

• Social Security numbers and birth dates for those who were included on the tax return
• An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number letter if the taxpayer has an ITIN instead of an SSN
• Their filing status: single, head of household, married filing jointly, married filing separate, or qualifying widow or widower with a dependent child
• The prior-year tax return. Phone representatives may need to verify taxpayer identity with information from the return before answering certain questions
• A copy of the tax return in question
• IRS letters or notices received by the taxpayer

By law, IRS representatives will only speak with the taxpayer or to the taxpayer’s legally designated representative.

Anyone calling about someone else’s account should be prepared to verify their identity and provide information about the person they are representing including:

• Verbal or written authorization from the taxpayer to discuss their account
• The ability to verify the taxpayer’s name, SSN or ITIN, tax period and tax forms filed
• Preparer Tax Identification Number or PIN if a third-party designee
• One of these forms, which is current, completed, and signed:
  • Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization
  • Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative