846 Code Dec 13 - Received Treasury Department Letter - Paper Check Coming After 10 Month Wait?

Got the 846 code on my transcript today dated December 13. Not sure if this means im getting a paper check or direct deposit? Anyone know what to expect? Been waiting on this refund since February. I just got a piece of mail from the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, BUREAU OF THE FISCAL SERVICE, P.O. BOX 51315, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19115-6315. It has "OFFICIAL BUSINESS" and "PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300" printed on it. There's also something about "FIRST CLASS PRESORT POSTAGE AND FEES PAID DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY PERMIT NO. G-4". The document mentions something about forgery of endorsements with a maximum penalty of $13,800 fine and imprisonment. There's also text that says "IF RECIPIENT DECEASED" and "Check IM" but I'm not sure what that means in relation to my refund. Does this mean they're sending me a paper check instead of direct deposit? I've been anxiously waiting for this money since filing in February, so I'm trying to figure out exactly when I'll have access to the funds. Has anyone else received something similar after getting the 846 code? How long after this notice did your actual refund arrive?

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24 comments

Mateo Lopez

•11M

Just checked your transcript details. Code 846 indicates that your refund has been approved and scheduled for release. If you had direct deposit info on your return, it'll go to your bank account. If not, you'll get a paper check. The date listed (Dec 13) is typically when the funds are released, so you should see it within 1-5 business days after that date. BTW, if you want a really detailed analysis of your transcript and exact timing predictions, check out taxr.ai - it's pretty amazing at breaking down all these codes and giving you precise estimates.

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Lia Quinn

•5M

That Treasury Department letter you got is totally normal - it's just the standard envelope they use for refund checks. The "forgery" and "deceased recipient" text is just boilerplate legal stuff they print on all their mailings, nothing to worry about! Since you got the 846 code on Dec 13, you should definitely have your refund by now (it's been over a month). If you provided direct deposit info on your return, it would go to your bank first before they mail a check. I'd check your bank account and maybe call the IRS to see what's up with the delay. 10 months is way too long to wait!

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Fatima Al-Farsi

•2M

Hey! I went through the exact same thing last year. That Treasury Department letter you got is actually just the standard envelope they use for all refund checks - all that legal text about forgery and deceased recipients is just boilerplate stuff they print on every envelope, so don't stress about it! Since you got the 846 code on Dec 13th and it's now mid-January, you should definitely have received something by now. If you provided direct deposit info when you filed, they would have tried that first before mailing a paper check. I'd suggest calling the IRS refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954 to see what's causing the delay. After waiting 10+ months, you deserve some answers! Also, you might want to check if your bank rejected the deposit for some reason (wrong account number, closed account, etc.) which would trigger them to mail a check instead. Hope you get your money soon! 💰

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