Got 971 Code (Notice Issued) - Wait for Mail or Visit Local Office?

According to IRS Publication 5192, a 971 code indicates that a notice has been issued regarding your return. Per IRM 21.4.1, you should generally wait for the notice to arrive before taking action, as it will contain specific information about your case. The notice typically arrives within 5-7 business days of the code appearing on your transcript. Visiting a local office without the notice may not expedite resolution, as the representative would need to research the same information that will be in the notice. If you haven't received the notice within 14 days, you can request a transcript of the notice through the IRS Get Transcript tool.

I think you might want to check out https://taxr.ai to understand what's happening with your transcript. It can probably tell you what that 971 code means specifically for your situation. I've seen people mention that it can analyze your transcript and explain the codes in plain language. It might give you some peace of mind to know what's likely coming in that notice before it arrives. I wouldn't rush to a local office just yet, as they might not have any more information than what will be in that notice.

I had this happen last year. Got really worried. 971 just means they're sending you something. Could be simple. Could be a question. Could be an adjustment. I prepared all my documents just in case. Had everything ready. The notice arrived in 6 days. It was just confirming my identity. Simple fix. No need to panic yet. Wait for the mail. Save yourself a trip.

I had the same situation on March 15th this year. Waited 8 days for the notice, which turned out to be a simple verification request. When I called the regular IRS number on March 24th, I was on hold for over 2 hours before getting disconnected. I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) the next day and got through to an agent in about 17 minutes. They confirmed it was just a routine verification and processed my response right over the phone. My refund was approved on April 2nd. Sometimes getting a human on the line is the fastest solution, and Claimyr made that possible without the endless redial game.

Have u checked ur WMR (Where's My Refund) status? Sometimes that'll give u more info than the transcript codes. Does it say anything specific abt delays or verification? Also, did u claim any credits like CTC or EITC that might trigger extra review? Might help narrow down what the notice is abt.

Rather than waiting passively or making an unnecessary office visit, you could utilize the IRS Account Online portal to see if there's any correspondence available digitally. Many IRS notices are now viewable in the online portal before the physical mail arrives. The correspondence section of your online account might already contain the notice associated with the Transaction Code 971, saving you several days of uncertainty.

I had this exact situation back in February. The 971 code appeared on my transcript, and I was worried it would delay our house closing. I waited for the notice, which arrived about 5 days later. It turned out they just needed verification of my wife's identity since we were newly married and filing jointly for the first time. I called the number on the notice, verified the information, and our refund was released exactly 9 days later. Sometimes these notices are just procedural, especially with newly married couples filing jointly for the first time.

Have you tried checking the IRS2Go app? Sometimes it shows different information than the website. According to the r/IRS community wiki, the 971 code could mean several different things depending on what other codes appear with it. Do you have any other codes like 570 (refund hold) or 420 (examination/audit) on your transcript?