Can someone explain what the IRS "As of date" means on tax transcript?

Thanks for the explanation. So if my "As of date" suddenly changed from June 3 to August 15, does that mean they're actively working on my amended return, or just that they looked at my account?

When your "As of date" jumps forward like that, it usually means your account has been flagged for some type of review or processing. It doesn't necessarily mean someone is actively working on your return at that moment, but rather that your account has been queued up in their processing system. If the date moved significantly forward (like from June to August), it often indicates your return is moving through their processing pipeline. This is generally a positive sign that things are progressing, though it doesn't guarantee when you'll see final resolution.

Did it actually show you when your refund would arrive? My transcript has been sitting with the same "As of date" for weeks now and I'm getting really anxious about when I'll see my money.

I'm skeptical about these kinds of tools. How does it actually work? Does it just look at the transcript or does it need all your personal tax info? Not trying to be difficult, just cautious about tax stuff.

Yes, it analyzed the specific transaction codes on my transcript and gave me a pretty accurate timeframe! For me, it was able to identify that pattern that showed my amendment was in the final stages, so I knew to expect my refund within about 2 weeks. It only needs your transcript - you just upload the PDF or screenshot of your transcript and it does all the analysis. I was worried about privacy too, but you don't need to provide any financial information or even your SSN since that's already redacted on the transcript. It just looks at the codes and dates that the IRS has already processed.

Wait how does this actually work? Do they just keep calling the IRS for you or something? Sounds too good to be true honestly.

Yeah right, like the IRS is going to tell you anything useful even if you do get through. Every time I've called, the agents just read from the same script and can't tell me anything I don't already know. Waste of time if you ask me.

They use an automated system that basically waits in the IRS phone queue for you. Instead of you sitting on hold for hours, their system does it, and when it detects an agent is about to answer, it connects the call to your phone. You just pick up and you're talking to the IRS! I completely get the skepticism. I was frustrated with calling too - every time I tried before, I either couldn't get through or got disconnected after waiting. But the agent I spoke to through this service actually pulled up my specific account and explained that my amended return was held up because they were verifying my second W2. She even gave me an expected completion date that was much more specific than the general timeframe on the website.

Does the "As of date" ever go backwards? Mine was showing August 5th last week, but now it shows July 22nd. Is that a bad sign?

Yes, the "As of date" can definitely go backwards, and it's not necessarily a bad sign! When it moves backward, it usually means one processing cycle has completed and your account is returning to the regular update cycle. Sometimes it happens when a specific review or action has been completed on your account. The IRS computer systems run on weekly cycles, and when certain processes finish, they reset your "As of date" to align with their standard processing schedule. I've seen this happen right before my refunds were issued - the date jumped back and then my refund appeared within days.

You should focus on the Account Transcript - that's the one that shows the actual processing status of your return. The Return Transcript just shows what you filed, but the Account Transcript shows what actions the IRS has taken.

This is really helpful! I've been staring at my transcript for weeks trying to figure out what all those codes mean. You mentioned code 976 for amended returns - is there a way to know what stage my amendment is in based on the codes? My transcript shows a 976 from when I filed in March, but I'm not sure if there are other codes I should be looking for that would indicate it's moving through the system.

@AstroAdventurer Great breakdown of the "As of date" concept! After dealing with my own amended return confusion last year, I learned that there are indeed specific codes that can help track your amendment's progress. Beyond the 976 code you mentioned, look for code 971 - this usually appears when your amendment enters manual review. If you see a 570 code, that typically means your refund is on hold pending review completion. The code you really want to see is 571, which often indicates the hold has been released and your refund should process soon. @Sergio Neal - The progression usually goes 976 received (→) 971 under (review →) sometimes 570 hold (→) 571 hold (released →) 846 refund (issued .)Not every return will show all these codes, but they can definitely help you understand where you are in the process. The timing between these codes can vary wildly - I ve'seen people get from 976 to 846 in 8 weeks, while others wait the full 20 weeks.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm going through something similar right now - filed my original return in February and then had to amend in April when I realized I missed some 1099 income. My "As of date" has been jumping around and I wasn't sure if that was normal or if something was wrong. It's reassuring to hear that the frequent updates can actually be a good sign. I've been checking my transcript obsessively (probably not healthy lol) and seeing the date change every couple weeks was making me nervous. Now I understand it's just their system processing things in cycles. Did you end up getting your amended refund within the 16-20 week timeframe they quote, or did it take longer? I'm trying to manage my expectations since I know amendments take way longer than regular returns.

@StarSailor I actually got my amended refund in about 14 weeks, which was faster than I expected! The key thing I learned was to watch for patterns in how the "As of date" changes. @Anastasia Popov I totally get the obsessive transcript checking - I was doing the same thing! What I noticed was that when my amendment was getting close to completion, the As "of date started" updating more frequently AND I started seeing new transaction codes appear. The combination of both happening together seemed to be the real indicator that things were moving toward resolution. One thing that might help with managing expectations: if your As "of date stays" the same for 3-4 weeks straight, that usually just means your return is sitting in a queue waiting for review. But when it starts moving again, especially if you see it jump forward by a month or more, that s'when you know someone is actually working on your case. The waiting is brutal, but try not to stress too much about the timeline - amendments are just inherently slow!