IRS Tasks You Can Now Handle Online Instead of Calling

Calling the IRS used to feel almost unavoidable when you needed an old tax record, wanted to confirm a payment, or had questions about money you owed. That’s increasingly no longer the case, and the agency is actively encouraging taxpayers to use its expanding collection of digital services for routine tax matters. In an August 28 announcement, the IRS highlighted online options for accessing tax records, checking refunds, making payments, managing payment plans, viewing notices, obtaining identity-protection PINs, and handling certain tax-professional authorizations. Many IRS online services are available through an Individual Online Account, while other tools on IRS.gov don’t even require you to sign in. Here are eight IRS tasks that you can now handle online instead of calling.

1. Check Exactly How Much You Owe the IRS

If you’re unsure whether an old tax bill is still hanging over you, you don’t necessarily need an IRS employee to look it up. The IRS Individual Online Account lets taxpayers view their balance information broken down by tax year, along with payment activity. That’s particularly useful if you’ve made several payments, are dealing with more than one tax year, or simply can’t remember whether a balance was completely paid. Keep in mind that account information reflects IRS data at the time you sign in and can change when a return or account adjustment is still being processed. Checking IRS online services first can give you the information you need without waiting for a representative to read the same balance over the phone.

2. Make a Tax Payment and Schedule One for Later

Paying the IRS no longer requires writing a check or calling to ask where your money should go. Through an online account, taxpayers can make same-day payments from a bank account or schedule payments as far as 365 days in advance, according to the IRS. You can also see pending and scheduled payments and review up to five years of payment history, including estimated tax payments. People who don’t want to create an account can use IRS Direct Pay to make certain federal tax payments directly from a checking or savings account without a fee. Being able to confirm a payment afterward can be particularly valuable when you’re trying to determine whether money was applied as expected.

3. Apply for a Payment Plan If You Can’t Pay in Full

Owing the IRS more than you can immediately pay can be stressful, but picking up the phone isn’t necessarily the first step. Qualified taxpayers can use the Online Payment Agreement application to request a short-term or long-term payment plan and receive immediate notification of whether the online request was approved. As of 2026, individuals who have filed all required returns may qualify for a simple installment agreement online when they owe $50,000 or less in combined tax, penalties, and interest, while short-term plans can be available for balances below $100,000. Existing agreements may also be modified online in certain circumstances, including changing a monthly payment amount or due date. The IRS notes that setup fees can actually be higher when some payment plans are established by phone, mail, or in person rather than online.

4. Download Tax Transcripts and Some Missing Tax Documents

Lost a W-2 or need information from an old tax return for a mortgage, financial-aid application, or tax issue? The IRS says taxpayers can retrieve account transcripts, including wage and income records, through their online accounts. The agency has also expanded access to downloadable information-return documents, including certain Forms W-2, 1095-A, 1099-NEC, 1099-DIV, 1099-INT, and 1099-MISC. In 2026, available documents cover tax years 2023 through 2025, although what appears in your account depends on information the IRS has received. That’s one of the more useful IRS online services for someone who has moved, changed jobs, misplaced paperwork, or simply needs to reconstruct their tax records.

5. Read Many IRS Notices Without Digging Through Your Mail

That intimidating IRS envelope isn’t necessarily the only copy of a notice anymore. The agency said in February that Individual Online Accounts can provide access to more than 200 digital IRS notices, and taxpayers can manage paperless preferences for certain communications. You can find available digital copies under the “Notices and Letters” portion of your online account and use them to review what the IRS says needs attention. However, the IRS cautions that not every notice is available digitally and some communications are legally required to be sent by mail. In other words, an online account can reduce your dependence on paper, but it isn’t a reason to stop opening IRS mail that arrives at your home.

6. Get an Identity Protection PIN Online

An Identity Protection PIN, or IP PIN, is a six-digit number that helps prevent someone else from filing a federal tax return using your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Instead of contacting the agency to request one, eligible taxpayers can obtain an IP PIN through the profile section of their Individual Online Account. The IRS says requesting the PIN through the account is the fastest way to receive one, and taxpayers can access it throughout the year. This can be especially useful if you’re concerned about identity theft, although you need to retain access to the PIN because it will be required when filing. Never give your IRS username, password, or other online-account credentials to someone who claims they need them to help with your taxes.

7. Approve Your Tax Professional’s Authorization Electronically

Hiring a tax professional doesn’t necessarily mean mailing authorization forms back and forth anymore. An Individual Online Account allows taxpayers to view, approve, and electronically sign certain Power of Attorney and Tax Information Authorization requests submitted by tax professionals. The IRS’s Tax Pro Account system works alongside taxpayer accounts so eligible authorization requests can be handled electronically. This can remove paperwork and mailing time when an accountant, enrolled agent, or other qualified professional needs permission to work with the IRS on your behalf. Just remember that approving an authorization isn’t the same thing as giving your preparer your IRS login credentials, which the agency says should never be shared.

8. Check Refund and Amended-Return Status Without Calling

Wondering where your refund is remains one of the most common reasons taxpayers want an update from the IRS. The agency’s online tools let you check the status of both refunds and amended returns, and the standard refund tracker doesn’t require you to sign into an Individual Online Account. According to the IRS’s August 2026 guidance, refund information is generally available 24 hours after the agency receives an electronically filed current-year return, three days after an electronically filed prior-year return, or four weeks after a paper return is mailed. That means repeatedly calling shortly after filing generally isn’t the fastest way to find out whether anything has happened. Among IRS online services, automated refund tracking is one of the simplest places to start before seeking live assistance.

Check IRS.gov Before You Pick Up the Phone

Online tools won’t replace an IRS representative in every situation, particularly when a notice appears incorrect, an account has an unusual problem, or your tax situation requires individualized assistance. But for many routine tasks, IRS online services can now provide the balance, document, payment option, refund status, notice, or authorization you need without waiting for telephone help. The IRS also offers tools such as its Tax Withholding Estimator and Interactive Tax Assistant for questions that don’t necessarily require access to your personal account. For security, start directly at IRS.gov rather than clicking an unexpected email, text, social-media message, or sponsored search result claiming to take you to your tax account.

Have you used an IRS online account yet, or do you still prefer speaking with someone when dealing with your taxes? Share your experience in the comments.

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Drew Blankenship

Drew Blankenship is a seasoned personal finance and lifestyle writer with more than a decade of professional writing experience crafting clear, actionable advice that helps savers and investors over 40 protect their wealth and make smarter everyday decisions. His bylines appear regularly on SavingAdvice.com, CleverDude.com, and other respected outlets, where he draws on deep industry knowledge to deliver practical insights on cost control, smart spending, and long-term financial security.