How to Call the IRS From Abroad
9/12/2026
Quick answer: Call the IRS's dedicated line for international and overseas taxpayers at +1-267-941-1000. This is not toll-free, so it works like a normal international call, unlike the domestic 1-800-829-1040 line, which is not set up for callers outside the US. You can also fax a tax question to +1-681-247-3101. To avoid roaming charges on what is usually a long hold, call the 267 number over Wi-Fi from your browser with DialVia.
Why the number on the IRS website doesn't work from overseas
Search for "IRS phone number" and the number that comes up first is usually 1-800-829-1040, the domestic line for individual taxpayers. It is a US toll-free number, and toll-free numbers are only routable within the North American phone network. Dial it from outside the US or Canada and it will typically fail to connect or get blocked by your carrier before it even rings.
The IRS knows this. On its own international taxpayers page, it publishes a completely separate number specifically for people calling from outside the country.
The verified numbers
| Purpose | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| International or overseas taxpayers | +1-267-941-1000 | Not toll-free, standard international call |
| Fax a tax question (overseas taxpayers) | +1-681-247-3101 | For questions that don't need a live conversation |
| Individual taxpayers (domestic) | 1-800-829-1040 | Toll-free, does not connect from outside the US |
| Business taxpayers (domestic) | 1-800-829-4933 | Toll-free, does not connect from outside the US |
Source: the IRS's official international taxpayers help page. If you are calling from Guam, the Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, the IRS says the domestic 1-800-829-1040 line still works for you, so use that one instead of the 267 number.
The IRS does not publish specific hours of operation for the 267 line on that page, so the safest approach is to call during US Eastern business hours, when the domestic lines are staffed.
What to have ready before you call
The IRS verifies your identity before discussing anything account-specific. Have these ready:
- Your Social Security Number or ITIN
- Your filing status and the tax year the call relates to
- Your prior year's Adjusted Gross Income, if you have it, for identity verification
- Any IRS notice or letter reference number, if the call is about correspondence you received
Without these, expect to be asked to call back, which is a hold you do not want to repeat on an international line.
When to call
The IRS does not list hours for the international line itself, but two things are worth planning around:
- Call during US Eastern business hours. The international line is staffed by the same operation as the domestic lines, so calling outside normal US working hours is more likely to mean a longer wait or no answer.
- Avoid the weeks around April 15. US tax filing deadline season means every IRS line, domestic and international, is under heavy load. If your query is not deadline-related, waiting until after mid-April saves significant hold time.
The cheaper way to actually make the call
A call to the IRS is rarely quick, and it is not a toll-free number, so roaming charges apply for the entire hold time plus the conversation. With DialVia, you call the real IRS number over Wi-Fi from your browser instead:
- Open DialVia and sign up (about 30 seconds)
- Select United States as the destination
- Enter 267-941-1000
- Hit call
When you can't call: other ways to reach the IRS
- Fax. For questions that do not need a live conversation, fax +1-681-247-3101.
- IRS online account. Many balance, payment and transcript questions can be resolved through your online IRS account without calling at all.
- International contact address. The IRS's contact my local office internationally page lists mail options for taxpayers based abroad.
Frequently asked questions
How do I contact the IRS from overseas by phone? Call +1-267-941-1000, the IRS's dedicated line for international and overseas taxpayers. It is a standard international call, not toll-free.
Is there a toll-free number to call the IRS from abroad? No. The IRS's toll-free domestic lines (1-800-829-1040 for individuals, 1-800-829-4933 for businesses) generally do not connect from outside the US, except from Guam, the Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where the domestic number still works.
What is the IRS's international phone number? +1-267-941-1000. You can also fax a tax question to +1-681-247-3101 if you do not need a live conversation.
Is it free to call the IRS from abroad? No. The 267 number is a standard chargeable US number, not toll-free. Calling it over Wi-Fi from your browser with a service like DialVia avoids roaming charges, since you only pay a small per-minute VoIP rate.
What if my issue isn't resolved on the phone? The IRS's Taxpayer Advocate Service handles unresolved issues that the regular phone lines cannot fix. Check the IRS's official Taxpayer Advocate Service page for current international contact options.
If you also need to reach a US bank or another agency while abroad, these guides are worth keeping nearby:
- How to Call US Banks from Abroad Without Roaming Charges
- How To Call US Immigration Hotlines From Overseas As An Expat
👉 Try DialVia to call from your browser in 30 seconds. Didn't connect? You don't pay. Or return to the DialVia homepage to learn more.