40 IRS Transcript Codes Explained: From Processing (150) to EIC (768) and Refund Status (846) - Complete Guide for PATH Act Filers

Been seeing lots of folks stuck on PATH message and checking WMR daily, so I thought I'd share this detailed breakdown of IRS transcript codes I found. Maybe it'll help some of you understand what's going on with your returns. I've compiled a comprehensive list of all the IRS transcript codes that might appear on your account: 150 - Your return was processed and the tax amount was recorded 196 - Interest was added to your balance 276 - You were charged a penalty for late payment 290 - Additional tax assessed 291 - Reduction of assessed tax (abatement) 300 - Additional tax assessed due to an audit 301 - Reversal of TC 300 (audit assessment) 420 - Examination of tax return initiated 421 - Examination of tax return closed 424 - Examination request indicator 425 - Reversed TC 424 460 - Extension of time to file granted 480 - Offer in compromise pending 520 - Bankruptcy or other legal action pending 521 - Reversal of TC 520 (legal action) 570 - Your return is on hold for further review 582 - Lien placed on assets 583 - Lien released 610 - Payment made with return 611 - Payment made with extension 640 - Payment applied 670 - Payment applied to account 806 - Credit for taxes you already paid (from W-2s, 1099s, etc) 810 - Refund freeze 811 - Reversed refund freeze 846 - Your refund was approved and issued 898 - Refund applied to non-IRS debt (e.g., student loans, child support) 766 - A credit was applied to your account (ACTC) 768 - Earned Income Credit (EIC) was applied 826 - A refund or credit was used to pay other debts 971 - Miscellaneous transaction: often indicated a notice or letter sent by the IRS 977 - Amended return filed 992 - Reversal of TC 977 (amended return) For those getting EIC, look for code 768 which means Earned Income Credit was applied. For Additional Child Tax Credit, you'll see 766 showing a credit was applied to your account. If you see code 570, don't panic immediately - it just means your return is undergoing additional review. This is common for returns with certain credits. If you see TC 810, your refund is currently frozen, but look for TC 811 which would indicate that freeze was reversed! For those with complex tax situations: - TC 480 means an offer in compromise is pending - TC 520 indicates bankruptcy or other legal action is pending - TC 521 is the reversal of that legal action - TC 582/583 show a lien was placed on assets or released For amended returns, look for code 977, and code 992 would show that amended return filing was reversed. Hope this helps everyone understand their transcript codes better while they're waiting! Remember, the PATH act delays some refunds until mid-February, but understanding your transcript can give you insight into where your return stands.

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25 comments

Henrietta Beasley

•10M

The transcript codes shown provide a comprehensive guide to understanding IRS account activity and return processing status. Each three-digit code represents a specific action or status on your tax account. The most fundamental codes for typical tax filers are: - 150 (return processing complete) - 806 (withholding credits applied) - 846 (refund issued) For those affected by PATH Act delays, pay special attention to: - 768 (Earned Income Credit) - 766 (Additional Child Tax Credit) - 570 (review hold) The codes also reveal various account actions like: - Payment activities (610, 611, 640, 670) - Examination statuses (420, 421) - Legal proceedings (520, 521, 582, 583) - Account adjustments (290, 291) If you see codes 196 or 276, these indicate additional charges (interest and penalties). Code 971 typically means the IRS has sent you correspondence about your account. For those with offset refunds, codes 898 and 826 show your refund was applied to other debts (like student loans or child support). This coding system helps track every significant action on your tax account, from initial processing through final resolution.

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CosmicCrusader

•4M

This is exactly what I needed! Been refreshing WMR every day like it's going to magically change lol. One thing I'd add - if anyone sees code 971 followed by code 570, that usually means they sent you a CP05 notice asking for more documentation. Don't ignore it! I made that mistake last year and it delayed my refund by months. Also heads up that code 768 (EIC) sometimes takes an extra week or two to process even after the PATH Act period ends. The IRS does additional verification on earned income credit claims. Thanks for putting this together - definitely bookmarking this post! 📚

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AstroAlpha

•4M

This is such a lifesaver! 🙏 I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out what all these numbers mean on my transcript. Just checked mine and I have codes 150, 806, 768, and 570. Based on your breakdown, it looks like my return processed, withholdings were applied, EIC was credited, but now it's under review? The 570 code has me a little worried but glad to know it doesn't necessarily mean something's wrong. One question - if I have code 768 (EIC), does that automatically mean I'm subject to the PATH Act delay? Or could there be other reasons for the hold? Also seeing a lot of people mention getting letters with code 971 - should I be expecting mail if I only see 570 right now? Thanks again for taking the time to compile all this info. Way better than the IRS website explanations that basically tell you nothing! 💯

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Elliott luviBorBatman

•4M

Yes, having code 768 (EIC) does automatically put you under PATH Act delay - refunds with EIC or ACTC can't be released before mid-February by law. The 570 hold in your case is likely just the standard PATH Act review, not necessarily a problem with your return! As for code 971, it doesn't always mean you'll get mail - sometimes it's just an internal system notice. But if you do see 971 pop up, definitely keep an eye on your mailbox just in case. Sounds like your return is progressing normally for PATH Act timing! The combination of 150, 806, and 768 is actually really good - means everything processed and your credits were applied. Just gotta wait out that mid-Feb release date now 😊

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Sergio Neal

•3M

This breakdown is amazing - thank you so much for putting this together! I've been checking my transcript obsessively and finally understanding what these codes mean is such a relief. I have a quick question about timing - if I see code 846 on my transcript today, roughly how long should I expect before the money actually hits my bank account? I know it varies by bank but wondering if there's a general timeframe. Also wanted to share for anyone else stuck in PATH Act limbo - I called the IRS yesterday (after waiting on hold for 2 hours 🙄) and the rep confirmed that even if your transcript shows all the right codes, they literally cannot release EIC/ACTC refunds until February 15th due to federal law. So if you have codes 766 or 768, we're all just waiting for that magic date regardless of what our transcripts show! Bookmarking this post for sure - way more helpful than anything on the official IRS site! 🔥

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Keisha Taylor

•3M

From what I've experienced, once you see code 846 with a date, it usually takes about 1-3 business days for the money to hit your account if you have direct deposit. Some of the bigger banks like Chase or Wells Fargo might be faster, while smaller credit unions could take the full 3 days. Thanks for sharing that info about the February 15th date too! It's frustrating but at least we know it's not our returns being problematic - just the law doing its thing. I'm in the same boat with code 768, so we're all just counting down the days together 😅 Really glad this community exists to help each other navigate this maze!

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FireflyDreams

•2M

This is exactly what I needed! I've been stressing about my transcript showing codes I couldn't understand. Just checked and I have 150, 806, 766, and 570 - sounds like my return processed, credits applied, but now it's under review for ACTC. Quick question for anyone who's been through this - does having code 766 mean I'm definitely getting the Additional Child Tax Credit, or could it still be denied during the review process? Also, is there typically a specific timeframe for how long the 570 hold lasts for PATH Act returns? Really appreciate posts like this that break down the government speak into something us regular folks can actually understand! The IRS website basically just says "your return is being processed" which tells us absolutely nothing 🤷‍♀️

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NeonNova

•3d

Hey! Having code 766 is actually a really good sign - it means the IRS has already calculated and approved your ACTC, so it's very unlikely to be denied at this point. The 570 hold you're seeing is most likely just the standard PATH Act delay rather than them questioning your credit eligibility. For PATH Act returns, the 570 hold typically lasts until mid-February (around the 15th) when they're legally allowed to release refunds with ACTC or EIC. Once that date passes, you should see the hold lift pretty quickly - usually within a few days to a week. The fact that you have 150 (processed) + 766 (ACTC approved) + 570 (PATH hold) is actually the perfect combination for someone in PATH Act timing. Your return is completely processed and ready to go, just waiting for the legal release date! Totally agree about the IRS website being useless with their vague "processing" messages. At least with transcripts we can see what's actually happening behind the scenes 😊

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