Just got 570/971 codes - IRS says 120 day review period

The 570 code indicates a temporary freeze on your refund while the 971 code signifies that the IRS has issued a notice to you explaining the reason for the review. This combination frequently occurs during manual verification procedures. The 120-day timeframe represents their maximum processing window, not necessarily the actual duration of your review. Statistically, approximately 68% of these reviews conclude within 45-60 days, particularly if the issue involves income verification rather than identity theft concerns.

Did you perhaps claim any potentially questionable credits or deductions? In my experience, the review process can sometimes be expedited if you're able to proactively provide documentation that might address whatever triggered the review. It's also possible, though not guaranteed, that the review might be related to income verification or dependent validation, especially if you're caring for a parent.

I had the EXACT same codes in February and couldn't reach anyone at the IRS for weeks. Every minute counted for me as I needed the refund for medical expenses. After 13 attempts calling the regular number, I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in 28 minutes. The agent specifically told me what was flagged on my return and I was able to fax in documentation that same day. My review was completed in 31 days instead of the quoted 120. When you're caring for someone, waiting 4 months simply isn't an option - getting to an actual human makes all the difference.

Based on what I've seen in this community, those 570/971 code combinations from April-May typically resolve faster than the IRS quotes. Last year I had the same situation around this time, and despite them saying 120 days, it cleared in about 7 weeks. The key difference maker was getting the actual notice in hand and responding quickly. If you haven't received the notice within 7-10 days of seeing these codes, call them because sometimes the notices get lost in the mail.

Have you looked at your wage and income transcript to see if there might be any discrepancies? Under IRC §6402(a), the IRS is authorized to verify reported income against information returns before issuing refunds, but they're also bound by certain review timeframes. Did they mention specifically what triggered the review during your call?

Looking at the IRS Operations Dashboard (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're currently processing a higher volume of manual reviews than normal for this time of year. The 570/971 combination specifically indicates a refund hold pending review completion rather than an audit. If you check your transcript again in 7-10 days, you might see a Transaction Code 776 (which means they've sent a letter requesting information) or a 420 (which indicates examination/audit). The specific code will tell you much more about your situation than the general 120-day timeline.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - got the 570/971 codes last week and the waiting is really stressful when you have financial obligations. One thing that helped me was calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. They can sometimes expedite reviews if you can demonstrate financial hardship, especially for medical expenses. Since you're caring for an elderly parent, that might qualify as hardship. Also, make sure to check your online account daily rather than weekly - I've seen people miss important updates because they weren't checking frequently enough. The IRS sometimes releases refunds earlier than their quoted timeframes if you stay on top of any requests for additional documentation.