Code 971 Miscellaneous Review on Transcript - What Does This Mean for My Refund?

Tax professional here - Code 971 is a notice issued indicator. The 'miscellaneous review' typically means the IRS needs to verify something on your return. Could be income verification, credits claimed, or other documentation. Usually takes 45-120 days to resolve, but timelines vary based on the specific issue they're reviewing.

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Im in the same boat. Got 971 three weeks ago still nothing happening smh

Call the tax advocate service! They helped me resolve my review in like 2 weeks

the irs is such a joke fr... why they gotta make everything so complicated

Got the same code last year. Turned out they needed proof of my kids enrollment in school. Sent the docs and got my refund 6 weeks later. Hang in there!

Code 971 can be stressful but try not to panic! I went through this last year and it ended up being routine verification. The IRS just wanted to confirm some W-2 info that didn't match exactly what my employer reported (minor discrepancy in timing). Took about 8 weeks total but I did get my full refund plus interest. Keep checking your transcript weekly - you'll see progress with new codes when they start processing again. The waiting is the worst part but most of these reviews do resolve successfully!

I had code 971 show up about 6 weeks ago and just got an update! Mine was related to the Earned Income Tax Credit - they wanted to verify my filing status and dependent info. I didn't have to send anything in, they just cross-referenced with other databases. Got code 846 (refund issued) yesterday so there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel. The key is checking your transcript every Friday when they update - you'll see movement eventually. Stay patient Derek, most of these reviews are just routine verification!

I'm dealing with the same thing right now - got code 971 about 2 weeks ago and it's driving me crazy not knowing what's happening! Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really helpful though. Sounds like it could be anything from income verification to dependent issues. I filed pretty straightforward this year so hoping it's just routine like some of you mentioned. Going to start checking my transcript every Friday and maybe try calling the tax advocate line early morning like Seraphina suggested. Thanks for all the info everyone - this community is way more helpful than the IRS website! 🙏

Code 971 definitely stresses everyone out but you're not alone in this! I went through the exact same thing last tax season - had code 971 for about 10 weeks and was convinced something was seriously wrong. Turned out they were just verifying some 1099 income that got reported slightly differently by one of my clients. The IRS eventually sorted it out without me having to do anything, and I got my full refund plus that 7% interest Danielle mentioned (which was actually a nice bonus!). The hardest part is definitely the waiting and not knowing, but most of these reviews really are routine. Keep checking your transcript on Fridays and try not to stress too much - I know easier said than done! 🤞

Hey Derek! I just went through this exact same situation a couple months ago. Code 971 showed up and I was freaking out thinking I did something wrong on my return. Turns out they were just double-checking my child tax credit eligibility since I had claimed it for the first time. The whole process took about 7 weeks from start to finish, and I didn't have to submit any additional documents - they handled everything on their end. The waiting absolutely sucks but try to stay positive! Most people in this thread seem to have gotten through it just fine. I'd definitely recommend checking your transcript every Friday like others mentioned, that's when I saw my codes update. You'll probably see some movement soon! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got code 971 about 3 weeks ago and have been checking my transcript obsessively ever since. Reading everyone's experiences here is really reassuring though - seems like most people do get their refunds eventually, just takes patience. I filed pretty standard this year with W-2 income and standard deduction, so hopefully it's just routine verification like many of you mentioned. Going to start that Friday checking schedule and maybe try calling the tax advocate service early morning. Thanks for sharing all your stories - makes me feel way less alone in this stressful waiting game! 🙏