Do I need photo ID for an IRS appointment?

Yes. Bring a current government-issued photo ID. For identity verification the IRS asks for two forms of ID, including one government photo ID.

Should I bring my IRS letter?

Yes. Bring the full IRS letter or notice, plus the tax return and documents it references. The notice number tells the office why you are there.

What should I not bring to an IRS office?

Leave food, drinks, cameras, and weapons at home. The IRS screens visitors at the door and these items are not allowed inside.

IRS office guide

What to bring to an IRS appointment

A clear, checkable list of what to bring to an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center: photo ID, your taxpayer number, the IRS letter, and the documents for your specific issue.

The one rule that saves the trip

Bring the letter, bring your ID, and bring the paperwork the letter or the phone representative named. Almost every wasted visit happens because someone showed up without a document the office needed and got sent home to get it. When you booked the appointment, the IRS may have read you a specific list. That list wins over any general advice, including this page.

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Everyone brings these

A current government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport)
Your Social Security number or ITIN, and the numbers for anyone else on the issue
The IRS letter or notice you are responding to, in full

Add these for your specific issue

The tax return for the year in question, if one was filed
W-2s, 1099s, and any schedules that support the return
Payment records or an IRS bill if the visit is about a balance
A second form of ID if the visit is for identity verification
Original identity and foreign status documents if the visit is for an ITIN

What not to bring

IRS offices sit inside federal buildings with security screening, so leave these at home or in the car:

Food and drinks
Cameras
Weapons of any kind

Copies or originals?

For most visits, copies of your tax documents are fine, and keeping your originals safe at home is smart. Two situations need originals: identity verification, where you show real IDs, and ITIN document review, where staff authenticate original identity and foreign status documents and hand them back to you the same day. If you are not sure which applies, ask when you call to book, so you are not caught out at the counter.

Find your local IRS office first

Closure notes, limited hours, and the exact services differ from one office to the next. Look up your Taxpayer Assistance Center on the list of IRS offices by state before you call, so you confirm the details for the location you actually plan to visit. The directory covers 329 active offices.

Official IRS sources

Common questions

Do I need photo ID for an IRS appointment?: Yes. Bring a current government-issued photo ID. For identity verification the IRS asks for two forms of ID, including one government photo ID.
Should I bring my IRS letter?: Yes. Bring the full IRS letter or notice, plus the tax return and documents it references. The notice number tells the office why you are there.
What should I not bring to an IRS office?: Leave food, drinks, cameras, and weapons at home. The IRS screens visitors at the door and these items are not allowed inside.

More IRS office guides

Schedule an IRS appointment Walk through booking an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center appointment step by step: the number to call, why you cannot book online, what to say, and how to reschedule. Verify your identity with the IRS The IRS sent a letter asking you to verify your identity. Learn what your 5071C, 5747C, or 4883C letter means and the exact way to respond online, by phone, or in person. Walking in without an appointment IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers run on appointments. See when a walk-in might be handled, the one type of day that does not need one, and how to avoid a wasted trip. Office hours and Saturday help When IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are open, the extended weekday hours during filing season, the 2026 Saturday help dates, and how to check if an office is open today.