Has anyone received their refund before transcript showed 846 code?

In my experience tracking exactly 11 refunds over the past 3 tax seasons, I've never once received a deposit without the 846 code appearing first. The transcript typically updates 24-72 hours before the actual deposit hits your account. I appreciate when people share real data points instead of just theories about this stuff.

According to IRS Publication 5344 (Rev. 4-2023), Transaction Code 846 is defined as "Refund issued - The refund amount shown has been scheduled for release." Have you checked if your transcript is updating properly? The IRS Master File updates transcript information weekly, typically overnight between Thursday and Friday, while the refund disbursement system operates on a different schedule. What filing status and credits did you claim this year?

I was in EXACTLY the same boat last month, refreshing my transcript every few hours and driving myself CRAZY!! After waiting THREE WEEKS with no movement on my transcript, I finally broke down and used Claimyr to get through to an actual IRS agent. I was honestly skeptical it would work, but I got connected in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for DAYS on my own!! The agent confirmed my return was just stuck in processing and needed manual review. Not what I wanted to hear but at least I could stop obsessively checking!! Here's their link if you're losing your mind like I was: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

I actually had a strange situation last year where my bank showed a pending deposit, but my transcript hadn't updated with the 846 code yet. I got excited thinking the money was coming early, but then the pending deposit disappeared! Turns out it was some kind of bank error or false notification. The deposit didn't actually arrive until 3 days after the 846 code finally appeared on my transcript. Has anyone else experienced something like this with their bank showing false pending deposits?

When did you file? Path Act return? Any credits claimed? Might explain delays.

There's a lot of confusion about this, so let me clarify. The 846 code isn't just a notification - it's the actual authorization for payment. Did you know the IRS processes these in batches? They run their main cycle on Wednesdays, which is why many people see transcript updates on Thursdays and Fridays. Your bank might show a pending deposit before you check your transcript, but the 846 code was almost certainly there if you had checked at the right time. The code and the payment authorization are essentially the same process.

Last year I was in the same boat as you, checking my transcript constantly! Then one morning I checked my bank account first and the refund was there - I was shocked! When I checked my transcript immediately after, there was still no 846 code. I panicked thinking maybe it wasn't really my refund. About 6 hours later when I checked again, the transcript had finally updated with the 846 code dated for that same day. So technically I got my refund before seeing the code, but I think it was just a timing issue with when the systems update. The stress of tax season is real!

I've been following this thread and wanted to share my experience from this year. Filed early February and have been obsessively checking my transcript too! What I've learned is that the 846 code is basically the IRS's way of saying "payment authorized and scheduled." From what I can tell, some banks might show pending deposits in their systems before the IRS transcript updates are visible to us, but the 846 code was likely already generated internally. It's just a matter of when their public-facing transcript system refreshes versus when your bank's ACH system picks up the incoming transfer. The whole process is definitely more complex than I initially thought! Are you seeing any other codes on your transcript or is it completely static?

I can relate to the obsessive checking! Filed in early February and I've been refreshing my transcript probably 20 times a day. What I've noticed from reading all these experiences is that while the timing might feel different due to when we personally check our accounts versus transcripts, the 846 code really does seem to be the key indicator. I'm still stuck at the 150 code myself, so seeing everyone's data points about the 846 coming first is actually reassuring - at least I know what to look for! Has anyone found that certain times of day are better for checking transcript updates, or is it really just random when they refresh?

I've been through this exact same anxiety spiral! Filed in late January and spent weeks refreshing my transcript every few hours. In my case, I never saw the refund hit my bank account before the 846 code appeared on my transcript. What I learned is that the IRS processes these updates in batches, usually overnight Thursday into Friday. The 846 code literally means "refund issued" - it's the actual authorization that triggers the payment to your bank. While some people report seeing pending deposits before checking their transcript, the 846 was almost certainly already generated in the system. My advice? Check your transcript Friday mornings and try to limit yourself to once a day (easier said than done, I know!). The 846 code with a deposit date is what you're waiting for, and once you see it, you can expect your refund within 1-3 business days.

I've been dealing with this same question! Filed in mid-February and have been checking my transcript obsessively too. From everything I've read here and my own research, it seems like the 846 code really is the definitive indicator. I found a helpful explanation that the 846 code isn't just a status update - it's literally the transaction code that authorizes the Treasury to release your refund. So while your bank might show a pending deposit at roughly the same time, the 846 code is what actually triggers that process. I'm still waiting for mine to appear, but reading everyone's experiences here has helped me understand that once I see that 846 with a date, I can finally stop the constant checking and know my refund is actually on the way! The consistency in everyone's stories about seeing the 846 first is pretty convincing evidence.

I'm a newer member here and this thread has been incredibly educational! I filed my return on February 15th and have definitely fallen into the same obsessive checking pattern everyone's describing. Reading through all these experiences, I'm really convinced now that the 846 code is the reliable indicator to watch for. What strikes me most is how consistent everyone's stories are - even when there might be slight timing differences between when banks show pending deposits versus when we can see transcript updates, the 846 code seems to always be the actual trigger. I'm still stuck at the 150 code myself, but at least now I know exactly what to look for and can maybe try to limit my checking to Friday mornings like some of you suggested. Thanks to everyone for sharing your real experiences and data points - it's so much more helpful than just speculation!