IRS

Terrible service. Been here 3 hours and still waiting. Call one number and wait an hour for the next. The guy sit next to me is about to blow the building off lol. Wish I can do it online but doesnt allow me to. Im gonna die starving here

I highly advise you come by 10 am if you’re traveling any kind of distance to this nightmare of a place. Unlike the DMV and other state offices, this place does not serve you even if you are there by closing time. They will stop handing out tickets whenever they think they can’t take anymore people (that sounds like a true and tried system for making such a determination, right?)I got there at 2:30 p.m., and they turned me away in spite of me politely saying I was willing and prepared to wait. Although it’s atrocious to think that you could wait hours and if they don’t get to you by 4:30, they’ll kick you out, I expected nothing but a purely unpleasant experience here.

the us government is a huge joke. so many people who work for this organization can not even speak English.

My experience at the local IRS office was not nearly as bad as I had decided it would be. I think we all hear horror stories of representatives being rude and mean and so it’s only natural that we expect the same treatment. My experience, however, was wonderful. I know… I just said that. I believe the key is to expect to wait (I waited only 30 minutes and arrived about 11am on a Wednesday, maybe that helped), be prepared with any and all paperwork and HAVE PATIENCE. Think good thoughts, be grateful that someone is about to HELP you.
The security guard in the room was amazing. He was friendly, caring and knowledgeable. Mr. Robbin, my representative that helped me via a video-​conference type set-​up was beyond helpful. I keep thinking of a way to send the people I encountered that day a gift. I hugged Mr. Security Guard good-​bye when I left and cannot tell enough people to STOP CALLING the 800# and just go to the local office. It is SO worth it.

It’s really not as bad as everyone is saying in the reviews. The staff at the Downtown San Diego office was courteous, patient and obviously knew what they were doing.
Actually a better experience than I have ever had at a California DMV office. Tips: get there right at 830 and go on a Wednesday. the line was very short for me. park around the block in the two hour parking, it’s only 2.50 and you won’t be there that long if you go on a Wednesday.

In 2013, we had our ID info stolen and used to file a bogus tax return. W/​o insisting on verifiable W-2’s or any other doc’s, the IRS issued a refund to the thieves, and we had to make a report as having been victimized. What followed was a huge nightmare that is on-​going to this day. The IRS is an impenetrable, inaccessible, user-​despising, deceptive, incompetently-​run and staffed gov. agy. We were told no info or refund for us for 6 mo. At that time, a «victim hotline» no. was given, but the wait (on ‘hold’ w/​unbearable synthetic «music» loop) was over an hour, phones shut off automatically at 4:30 p.m. EST, they cannot make out-​going calls, their computers are «slow», and the staffers aren’t sure where to send your files or how you can talk to someone else until they do know. If you wish to speak face-​to-​face w/​a human, you cannot make appts. by phone or on-​line; you must GO to an office, pay to park, stand in one of two lines to get a # to speak to someone. If one of the two counter clerks ends up taking a long time with someone, everybody in that line must wait to get a number. If, after waiting as did I for over an hour, it turns 4:30, everyone must leave, no exceptions, and no priority next day. Start fresh from square one.
We still have not received our refund, and despite the fact I insisted that the IRS flag our acct. so no one could ever again impersonate us (the IRS assured us that would not be a problem), I fear that for our 2014 returns, we have once again been victimized in the exact same way (elec filing w/​o docs, and w/​clearly dif. info): we got the same pamphlets assuring us that the IRS had received our report of ID theft and after six months, we could inquire about it. We haven’t made any such report for 2014. GOOD GRIEF!
There is no figure of «authority» to report this to. I tried Sen. Boxer’s website when this was first happening, and was denied the ability to send my letter about the IRS for some weird and unfathomable hitch in the system, relating to IRS protocol or something.
This is NOT open government. This is a conspiracy to keep citizens from knowing what is going on inside this huge agency, what are their Policies and Procedures that allow purloining our money indefinitely once we prove ID, and how anyone is stupid enough to fall for the same scam two years in a row after having been put on notice. We taxpayers have paid out billions to these scammers due to IRS inefficiency and lack of security, but just try to investigate!
This is a huge problem; undoubtedly, only a Congressional query will get anywhere, and good luck with that…

Best IRS I ever been to. I got there at 8:40 am on Friday (they open at 8:30) and by 9:05 I was already out and got my transcripts ! There wasn’t any wait but again I recommend getting there as early as possible because even the customer services was good!

I mean, what do you expect? Government lines, government wait times, and government customer service. An inconvenient errand sought out by no one, ever.

It’s not so bad… I had a very firm but polite and helpful security guard guiding us through the lines and the gentlemen who first got me signed in was very friendly as was the guy who printed my transcripts.
Here’s what you need to know!
Try to get there before they open so you can get through the security line. They’re not quick so expect at least 15 – 45 minutes. Once you get downstairs to the IRS office you’ll wait in a line outside the door. That could run anywhere from 5 – 45 minutes. Once inside you’ll stand in another line for about 15 minutes if you’re lucky… that’s when you finally get to a desk and you can get issued a number. Pay attention, don’t talk on your phone and be polite… they’re pretty nice but they deal with a lot of a-​holes so don’t be one of them. I waited another 15 minutes to get my transcripts but depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, expect it to take longer.
All in all, I’d plan at least 1 – 2 hours from beginning to end. Bring a book or your smartphone and be patient.

Get there early. In July after tax season… arrived at 7:45am and was 3^rd person in line. By 8:30am when they opened over 20 people in line.
Bring a book.

Please come early, after 10 am, expect to wait 2 theu 4 hrs! Parking is always a challenge in downtown but all should knw that by now. Security is tight but professional n are very helpful outside n inside.

It’s not fun being in this office, cuz u have to wait to b called a while, even if u have an appointment. Make shure u arrive about 20 min before app. Cuz parking suckz, and to get into the building takes anywhere from 5 – 15 min depending on how many ppl. Are waiting to get in. Last time I was here it was kinda quick but it still took the window clerk about 45 min to look up or file info on the computer and stamp my passport :-p
Make shure u take a book cuz u wanna keep u mind buizy.

It just doesn’t make sense to be the first one in line and have the person that came in last be called up first. What’s wrong with these people all I want to do is pay my taxes!!! I tried to talk to the lady at the counter to ask her a question, her name was Lisa and she was very rude. They need to change their people at the counter the ones working there seem like they don’t like their job at all.

The employees at the IRS field office have that unique combination of condescension and ineptitude that you only find in low-​level government employees. I would rather get a root canal, sans Novocaine, performed by a drunken, sadist, with bad breath, than ever visit this office again.
If you do find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing to go here, arrive at least one hour before they open. I have been to this office twice this week. Yesterday I arrived a few minutes after they opened at 8:40 am and spent five hours waiting outside in the cold, only to be smugly turned away due to a processing error with my e-​filing. Today, I arrived at 7:40 am and only waited 50 minutes outside and another 45 inside. On a positive note, the security guards were pleasant.

SERVICE THAT WOULD MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT VERY PROUD
I don’t often post reviews but, when I do, I always give five stars.
I visited the IRS downtown San Diego office on a recent, late Friday afternoon to pick up forms and to file a return that needed to be hand-​stamped and accepted for processing. The security guard in the lobby advised me respectfully that there were still several people waiting for service and that it was unlikely that I would be able to complete my business after arriving so late in the day. Nevertheless, he allowed me to enter so that I could get my forms.
Within five minutes or so, I was motioned up to the reception desk where a man and a woman had been assisting other taxpayers. I had noticed from my vantage point in line that both were obviously very patient and polite. When it was my turn, I explained to Paul that I needed to submit a return and obtain a receipted second copy of the return for a personal matter. He noticed an anomalous feature on the printed return that I had downloaded from a tax preparation website and went to consult with a manager to determine whether the return could be accepted. He came back shortly to the front desk and made the necessary adjustments on the form, and then offered to make copies of the receipted cover page for me as a courtesy before sending me on my way. I had already picked out all the forms I needed, thus I was able to complete all my business within the space of half an hour.
While I was waiting for Paul to return to the reception desk, I chatted briefly with his colleague, Lisa, who seemed very pleased to learn that I had had many pleasant and productive visits to this IRS office in the past. She seemed to be very committed to her job and was genuinely appreciative of the fact that Paul was helping me with uncommon personal initiative and graciousness. My parking meter was running and I had a long hike back to where I had parked, a trek that I knew would be uncomfortable due to a serious health problem. I got back to my car with time to spare, and drove home with the sense that I had been professionally well served and personally supported by two very fine people who conducted themselves with the utmost dignity, pride and concern for my needs.
What made this visit to the IRS most remarkable was the energetic, empathetic and solicitous way that Paul handled my relatively uncomplicated requirements. His personal initiative was over the top and he anticipated every one of my needs without ever having to refer me to a specialist in the office cubicles. Lisa was just as eager to help her clients and, together with Paul, the energy was that of two IRS staffers beginning a new work week, not that of two people chafing at the bit to leave work for the weekend.
I’ve always been treated well in this IRS office, but this visit proved unequivocally that government workers can be and usually are just as receptive to respectful inquiries and just as motivated as workers in other fields of endeavor. I have never believed that harsh criticisms of IRS employees are warranted, and that’s not because I’m naïve, but because I believe that respect gets respect.
In this case, the service I received from Paul was exemplary and worthy of my accolade. He set a fine example for others within his agency and distinguished himself as a real, deferential and service-​oriented individual who was intent on providing the best service he was capable of offering. Overall, this was my most memorable and positive experience on a visit to an IRS office, thanks to Paul and Lisa. Both are committed to serving taxpayers exceptionally well, and they are setting an example that civilian workers would do well to emulate.
The IRS, for its part, is fortunate to have these two stars onboard.

Poor Customer Service. If they ran an ER people would die. Get there by 7:30am. If you come later you might stand in line for 3 hours to only be sent away. Don’t mention the 1 hour lunch break where they completely shut down. Also watch out for prisoners being released nearby from MCC. You can’t miss the blue pants and flip flops… IRS = makes the DMV look good.

Came in for a simple certified tax receipt/​transcript at oh 10am. It’s now 11:22 and the group of number associated with my needs has only increased 3 numbers. They have tvs in here with boring facts and information. I think to keep people from blowing their brains out from bordeum, go ahead and put a movie on! Or a news station. Something!!!
I hate coming here!

I came on here and read some of these reviews and seen the bad ones. I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt and went to check it out my self.
Some tips.
1. If you’re going, go in trolley or bus. If there’s parking any where around there, it has to be paid for.
2. Expect to wait a LONG time. Today I got to the building at 10:30am, got inside at almost 12pm. Afterwards, I waited in line again to get my number (like in the DMV), and on top of that here were only 2 representatives opened helping at least 25 of us. By then, it was almost 1pm. I left, I couldn’t stay and I wasn’t going to pay an expensive parking ticket.
3. Just go online and get all the info you need before deciding to come here in person. All I needed was transcripts for I can receive my financial aid, but unfortunately I had other things to do, so now I’m waiting to get my transcripts in the mail.
I hope you’re reading this on time and not check this last minute. Otherwise, you’re going to have a bad time.

I don’t understand when in this day and age, businesses are all about customer service, but how the IRS tries to be as rude and unfriendly as possible.
They probably do not want you to take advantage of the physical office and rely completely on the phone number to get help with your taxes… That is until you wait on hold for over a hour. I decided to try my luck in the office.
I have been having issues with getting my return back from 2 years ago, and wanted to get some help once and for all. It is very similar to a DMV atmosphere, grab a number and wait. There was only 15 numbers ahead of us, so I figured we’d be in and out of there in no time… Holy HELL was I wrong.
Almost THREE hours later, my number was finally called. The woman who called my number was so rude and unfriendly. Made it seem like the complications I was having was my fault, when the IRS is the one holding my taxes for wrong information about the first time homebuyers tax credit. Finally after I was forced to get equally as rude back, she started to help me out.
I’d rather go to the dentist than to EVER set foot in the IRS office again!

In the toned-​down words of an actor that is both more awesome and in more films than you or I will ever be.
«English, mommyfreaker. Do you speak it?» –Samuel Jackson
The tax code is exactly that. Encoded.
I give up.