$4,894 Refund On Hold - Code 570/971 After Feb 17 Processing - Head of Household with EIC - Timeline?

Your transcript shows a total expected refund of $4,894.00, broken down into three components: $184.00 in withheld taxes, $1,105.00 in credits, and $3,605.00 in Earned Income Credit (EIC). The filing looks straightforward as Head of Household with 2 exemptions, and your AGI of $26,500.00 with taxable income of $4,600.00 falls within normal ranges. However, there are two important codes to note: a 570 code posted on February 24th and a 971 code from March 3rd. The 570 code indicates the IRS has temporarily frozen your refund for additional review, while the 971 code means they've sent you a notice explaining the situation. You should receive this notice within approximately 2 weeks of the March 3rd date. Your account currently shows no penalties or interest accrued, and your return was initially processed on February 17th, 2025 (cycle 20250505). The presence of these hold codes after your initial processing date typically indicates the IRS needs to verify some information on your return. While this will delay your refund, it's a relatively common occurrence, especially with returns claiming EIC. Watch your mail for the notice corresponding to the 971 code - this will explain exactly what the IRS needs to complete processing your refund.

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ugh the IRS and their stupid codes 🙄 been waiting 8 months on mine

Those codes usually mean income verification. Did you claim EIC? They're super strict about checking those

pro tip: call the tax advocate service if it goes longer than 21 days. theyre actually helpful unlike regular IRS reps

Just a heads up - with EIC claims they're taking forever this year. My friend just got hers after 6 weeks with same codes

The 570/971 combo on your transcript is actually pretty standard for EIC claims, especially first-time filers. The IRS has increased scrutiny on Earned Income Credit returns this year due to fraud prevention measures. Since you're claiming $3,605 in EIC (which is a significant portion of your $4,894 refund), they're likely verifying your filing status, dependents, and income. The good news is your transcript shows everything processed cleanly on Feb 17th with no math errors or obvious red flags. The hold codes appeared a week later, which suggests automated review rather than a major issue. Most EIC verification holds resolve within 4-6 weeks from the 971 notice date (March 3rd in your case). Keep checking your transcript weekly for updates - you'll typically see the 570 code reverse with a 571 when they release the hold. Make sure you respond quickly to any correspondence they send requesting documentation. The $4,894 balance is already established, so once verification completes, your refund should process within days.