Code 971 on Transcript with $0.00 Amount - What Does This Mean?

I had this exact same situation back on April 12th this year. Code 971 with $0.00 typically indicates a notice has been generated and will be mailed to you, but the $0.00 amount usually means it's informational rather than an adjustment. In my case, I received the notice about 10 days after the code appeared on my transcript. It was just confirming my return was selected for review but no immediate action was needed.

When I got this same code, I was completely lost trying to figure it out. I ended up using https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it explained that 971 is a "Notice Issued" code. The $0.00 amount means it's just informational, not a financial adjustment. The tool showed me exactly what was happening with my account and predicted I'd get a letter within 7-10 days. Saved me hours of stress trying to decode IRS language.

After seeing a 971 code on my transcript last month, I tried calling the IRS for three days straight with no luck. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 15 minutes. They confirmed it was just an informational notice being sent about my return being received. Nothing to worry about! Worth the service fee to stop stressing about what might be wrong.

In most cases, a 971 code with $0.00 is probably just indicating a standard notice is being sent. However, it could potentially be related to several different types of communications. You might want to check if there are any other codes like 570 (additional account action pending) that appeared around the same time, as these codes often work together.

I received a TC 971 with $0.00 on my Account Transcript last filing season. It was followed by a CP12 Notice informing me that the IRS made a mathematical correction to my return. The correction didn't affect my refund amount, which is why the dollar amount showed $0.00. Check your mailbox in the next 7-10 business days - you'll likely receive something like a CP12, CP49, or CP05 notice that explains everything.

I believe you may want to verify your mailing address is correct with the IRS. Sometimes a 971 with $0.00 means they're trying to send you information but aren't making any financial changes. If you've moved recently, this could potentially delay processing if they need a response from you.

Code 971 means notice issued. Zero dollar amount means informational only. No financial impact. Check your mail soon. Could be identity verification. Could be processing delay notification. Could be math error with no tax change. Most likely nothing serious.