With the tax deadline fast approaching, some filers are waiting in line for hours just to get into an IRS office.
The line outside an Orange County IRS office started forming at 7 a.m. Wednesday and initially stretched out onto the blacktop of the parking lot.
"Almost three hours," Hein Pham said, describing the wait.
Petra Prado was in line for the second day trying to get copies of old W-2 forms.
"I thought they should have it online, but I looked and we tried calling and they said, IRS, you have to be here," Prado said.
Four hours later, she made it to the front door, but the wait wasn't over. There was still quite a crowd inside.
There are eight agents in the Orange County office. Four are allowed to go to lunch at the same time, which adds to the backup.
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IRS officials say it takes 90 minutes to answer the average tax question in person.
"Knowing that the individual is speaking with them eye to eye, there's a comfort level there, whereas you don't get over the phone or the web," IRS manager Rudy Borbon said.
But sometimes the phone, 1-800-829-1040, or the web could be the best alternative to waiting in line.
