e-Help Desk Toll-Free Number

e-Help Desk assists tax professionals such as Enrolled Agents, Reporting Agents, Electronic Return Originators, Certified Public Accountants, Software Developers, and Transmitters with non-account related questions and issues concerning e-products.

e-Help Desk Toll Free Nunber

1-866-255-0654

Note: Callers who are outside of the 50 U.S. States and/or U.S. Territories should use the International phone number: 1-512-416-7750.

Taxpayers who file their returns electronically using a tax preparer or online software should not be referred to the e-Help Desk.  Taxpayers must call Customer Service at 1-800-829-1040.

The e-Help Desk assistors support IRS e-file Individual and Business, EFTPS, CCR, and e-services customers. 

Hours of operation for the e-Help Desk

Peak Season extended hours (January 28, 2013 - April 19, 2013)

What Products does the e-help Desk support?

• e-Services: a suite of web-based products that allows third parties and payers to conduct business with the IRS electronically.
• Registration: establishes an electronic account which enable individuals to login, apply for, and use e-services products.
• IRS e-file Application: allows a business or organization to become an Authorized e-file provider to participate in the e-file program.
• Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Matching: enables authorized payers (firms who withhold or make specified payments to the IRS) to verify a TIN and name combination.
• Disclosure Authorization (DA): allows the submission of a taxpayer’s authorization (Forms 2848 and 8821) to inspect and receive confidential tax data and/or represent the taxpayer before the IRS.
• Electronic Account Resolution (EAR): enables third party account inquiries regarding refunds, installment agreements, notices or missing payments.
• Transcript Delivery System (TDS): allows the tax preparer to request transcripts and Wage and Income documents from the IRS.
  

  e-file: an electronic submission of taxpayer return data

• Individual returns: filing any of the Form 1040 family of returns and associated forms and schedules and the processing of electronic payments attached to the return.
• Employment and Fiduciary returns: filing of Forms 940, 941, 944, and 1041.
• Business returns: filing of Forms 720, 1065, 1065-B, 1120, 1120-F, 1120-S, 2290, 7004, and 8849.
• Exempt Organizations information returns: filing of Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 1120-POL, 8868, 7004, and 990N e-Postcard.
• Participants Acceptance Testing System (PATS), Assurance Testing System (ATS), and Business Acceptance Testing System (BATS): testing required for software developers and transmitters who transmit individual and business returns to the IRS.

Who Must e-file?

e-file Requirement for Tax Return Preparers: The law requires tax return preparers and firms who reasonably expect to file 11 or more covered returns in calendar year 2012 and thereafter, to e-file the returns they prepare and file. For 2012, covered returns are Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, and 1041. If this requirement will cause an undue hardship, apply for a waiver by completing Form 8944, Preparer e-file Hardship Waiver Request. For more
information, go to www.irs.gov, keyword ‘e-file requirement’.

Excise Tax Filers of Form 2290, Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return, who register 25 or more vehicles for any taxable period.

Corporations and Tax-Exempt Organizations who file Forms 990, 1120, 1120F, and 1120S have assets of $10 million or more, and who file at least 250 returns annually. These returns include income tax, excise tax, employment tax, and information returns such as Forms W-2 and 1099.

Private Foundations and Charitable Trusts who file at least 250 returns annually (including Forms W-2, 1099, and others).

Partnerships with more than 100 partners.

Tools and Tips for Authorized IRS e-file Providers

• Need to know where to transmit individual e-file returns? Refer to Part 1 of Publication 1346, Electronic Return File Specifications for Individual Income Tax Returns. Go to www.irs.gov, keyword ‘Pub 1346’.
• Subscribe to Quick Alerts to receive valuable and important e-file information throughout the filing season. Go to www.irs.gov, keyword ‘Quick Alerts.
• Contact your state e-file coordinator to take advantage of filing Federal and State returns at the same time. Go to www.irs.gov, keyword ‘federal/state e-file’.
• Avoid the most common e-file processing errors for individual tax returns by searching ‘common error reject codes’ at www.irs.gov.
• Update an e-file Application within 30 days of any change to prevent an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) from being deactivated. Refer to Publication 3112, IRS e-file Application and Participation, for rules and requirements for participation in IRS e-file. Go to www.irs.gov, keyword ‘Pub 3112’.
• Order or download the following publications from www.irs.gov:
     - Pub 1345 - Handbook for Authorized IRS e-file Providers of Individual
       Income Tax Returns
     -Pub 2043 - IRS Refund Information Guidelines for the Tax Preparation Community
• Report suspected tax fraud activity by completing Form 3949A, Information Referral, at www.irs.gov, keyword ‘Form 3949A’, or by calling the Tax Fraud Hotline at 800-829-0433.