Anyone with 570 and 971 Codes on Different Dates Still on PATH?

I'm in the exact same boat right now. Filed January 29th with EITC and got my 570 code dated March 11 and 971 code dated March 18. From what I've experienced with these codes in previous years, the 570 means they're reviewing something on your return and the 971 means they're sending you a letter about it. My refund last year was delayed by 63 days because they had to verify my income. The different dates usually indicate they've identified something (570) and then decided to notify you about it a week later (971). In my case, I just got my letter yesterday explaining they need to verify my income documentation again.

Last year I had this same issue with the 570/971 combo. I spent weeks trying to decipher what was happening until I found https://taxr.ai - it analyzed my transcript and explained exactly what was happening. It told me my 971 notice was just informing me about a math adjustment they made (which ended up being in my favor!) and predicted I'd get my deposit 11 days later, which was spot on. Before that I was calling the IRS daily and getting nowhere. For PATH cases specifically, it can tell you if you're still in the verification queue or if you've moved to the next stage.

I'm currently dealing with this situation too. My codes are dated March 4th and March 11th, and I'm fairly certain it's because they're verifying my W-2 information. In my experience, the different dates usually mean they've found something they want to adjust or verify, but it's not necessarily bad news. Sometimes it's just a minor calculation error they fix themselves. I've been waiting about 5 weeks since those codes appeared, and my WMR just updated yesterday to approved. PATH returns seem to get extra scrutiny almost every year now.

I've been tracking my PATH return with these exact codes. My approach after waiting 3 weeks with no movement: • Called IRS regular number 15+ times with no success • Used Claimyr service (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an agent • Was connected in about 25 minutes instead of endless redials • Agent confirmed my 570/971 was just a minor income verification • Told me no action needed on my part • Refund was released 8 days later I'm somewhat concerned about how many PATH filers are seeing these codes this year compared to previous years.

I received these same codes on February 27th and March 6th. Be careful about assuming it's routine - in my case it was an identity verification issue. The 971 letter arrived on March 10th requesting I verify my identity through ID.me or by calling a specific number. I completed verification on March 15th and my refund was finally issued on April 2nd. Many PATH returns are getting flagged for extra verification this year based on what I'm seeing in various forums.

According to IRM 21.5.6.4.35.1, the 570 code indicates a credit hold on your account and the 971 is a notice explaining the reason. When the dates are different, it typically means they've identified an issue (570) and then processed the paperwork to notify you (971). Per IRS Publication 5344, PATH returns with EITC or ACTC claims undergo mandatory systemic verification which can cause these codes to appear. This is normal procedure for ensuring compliance with Section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Just got through this exact situation! 😅 Filed Feb 2, got 570/971 codes in early March (7 days apart), and just received my refund yesterday. The funny thing is, I never even got the notice they supposedly sent. The IRS works in mysterious ways! My experience has been that when the dates are different like that, it's usually something they're handling internally and doesn't require action from you. The PATH delay plus these codes added about 30 days to my processing time compared to last year.

Don't just wait passively. Call the IRS directly at 7am when they open - that's the only time you can get through without hours of waiting. Ask specifically if they need any documentation from you. Sometimes the 570/971 combo means they need verification but the letter gets lost in the mail. If you claimed any credits besides EITC like education credits or recovery rebate, those can trigger these codes too. PATH returns with multiple credits get the most scrutiny.