IRS account showing 570/971 codes on transcript - refund on hold for months

This is definitely frustrating! The 570/971 combo usually means the IRS has flagged something on your return that needs verification. The 971 means they've sent you a letter explaining what they need from you. Since the letter hasn't arrived yet, here's what you should do: • Check your address on file with the IRS to make sure it's correct • Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (early morning works best) • Create an ID.me account if you haven't already and check for any notices in your online account • If you claimed any tax credits like EIC, Child Tax Credit, or Recovery Rebate Credit, these often trigger reviews I've found using taxr.ai incredibly helpful for understanding my transcript and predicting what's happening with my refund. It analyzes all your codes and tells you exactly what's going on rather than trying to piece it together yourself. I've been recommending it to everyone dealing with these issues: https://taxr.ai

The absolute best thing I did was use this service called Claimyr which got me a callback from an IRS agent in like 2 hours (claimyr.com). I had these exact same codes and had been waiting since February! Turns out they needed to verify my identity but the letter got lost in the mail. The agent cleared it up immediately and my refund was issued the next week. Without getting through to a live person, I'd probably still be waiting. Seriously - best money I've ever spent to finally get my questions answered.

I had the exact same codes back in 2023! The 971 notice took forever to arrive (almost 3 weeks after the date on my transcript). In my case, they were verifying some education credits I claimed. I responded to their letter with the requested documents and waited another 2 months before finally getting my refund. The most frustrating part was not knowing what was happening. Just keep checking your mail and be patient - eventually you'll get that notice explaining what they need.

the entire system is a joke. they expect us to file perfectly on time but then take 6+ months to process and give zero updates. then they have the audacity to charge penalties and interest when THEY make mistakes. 🤡

I had those codes and waited 5 months for my refund last year. Check your mailbox religiously because if you miss their letter and don't respond, they'll just let it sit. Also try calling the tax advocate service (not the regular IRS line) - sometimes they can help if you have a hardship situation.

Does your transcript show a TC 150 for the tax return being processed? What credits did you claim? Mine was on hold for income verification (I'm self-employed) and it took them literally 7 months to release my refund.

same boat! ive been dealing with thsi since march. im at the point where im just assuming im not getting a refund this year 😂

its almost always identity verification or income verification. most likely they send a letter to verify ur identity. check if you have access to your irs account online - sometimes the letters are posted there before they arrive in mail. just keep checking ur account transcripts weekly for updates.

I finally cracked the code on my tax transcript by using taxr.ai - it pointed out exactly what was happening that I totally missed! My account had a freeze code that needed to be addressed, but the IRS letter never actually reached me. The tool walked me through what steps to take, who to contact, and exactly what to say. Saved me from waiting another 2 months for sure! https://taxr.ai

After not being able to reach a human at the IRS for weeks, I found Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got a callback from an IRS rep in under an hour. Turned out they needed one simple document from me that I never received a letter about. Got my $4,200 refund a week later! Talking to an actual person was the only thing that finally moved this forward.

if u have access to a fax machine, try faxing a letter to the IRS asking about the status of your return. include your name, ssn, filing status, and a copy of your return. might sound old school but i got a response within a week when i did this.

The IRS is still processing millions of backlogged returns from previous years. Those codes usually indicate they're reviewing something specific on your return. Could be a math error, missing form, or verification of credits. The notice should explain what they need. I'm a tax preparer and about 70% of my clients are experiencing delays this year.

I'm going through something similar right now! Filed in March and have been stuck with the 570/971 codes since April. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're counting on that money. A few things that helped me while I'm still waiting: - Set up text alerts through the IRS2Go app so you get notified of any transcript changes - Keep calling early in the morning (7-8am) - I finally got through last week and they confirmed my letter was sent but to the wrong zip code - Document everything - dates you called, reference numbers, what they told you The rep I spoke with said these identity verification cases are taking 12-16 weeks on average right now. Hang in there - I know it's frustrating but you will eventually get your refund. The system is just completely overwhelmed. Have you tried creating an online account to see if there are any notices posted there? Sometimes they show up online before the physical letter arrives.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Had the 570/971 codes for almost 4 months before everything got resolved. The most important thing is to not panic - those codes are super common and usually just mean they need to verify something routine. A couple of suggestions based on my experience: - Check if your address is correct in your IRS online account. I found out they had my old apartment number which is why I never got their letter - Try calling the IRS right when they open at 7am - that's when I finally got through after weeks of busy signals - Keep checking your transcript weekly for any new codes or date changes The waiting is absolutely torture when you need that money, but in my case they eventually released the full refund plus interest for the delay. The 971 notice should arrive soon and will tell you exactly what they need from you. Once you respond to whatever they're asking for, it usually moves pretty quickly after that. Stay strong - you will get your refund! The IRS is just incredibly backed up right now but they do eventually work through everything.