Once you get code 846 is it final? All deductions already processed?
Once you get that 846 code is that final? Like the IRS already issued the refund so whatever was supposed to be deducted was already deducted right? I've been tracking my transcript daily for exactly 19 days and finally saw the 846 code appear with a date 5 days from now. I'm just wondering if I can count on that exact amount or if there could still be offsets that haven't processed yet. My husband's military pay was garnished once for an old debt that we thought was resolved, so I'm extra cautious about surprise deductions.
13 comments
Amara Nnamani
Yes, code 846 means the refund has been approved and scheduled for direct deposit or check mailing on the date shown. By this point, all offsets and adjustments have already been processed and reflected in the amount. You can see this by comparing your expected refund amount with what's listed next to the 846 code. If there were offsets, you would have seen codes 898 (refund offset) or 706 (offset - notice issued) before the 846 appeared.
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Giovanni Mancini
I would generally agree with this assessment. In my experience, by the time the 846 code appears, all potential offsets have likely been applied. The system typically processes any adjustments before issuing the final refund amount, though there can be rare exceptions in certain situations.
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NebulaNinja
Yep, 846 is basically the finish line. Had mine pop up last week - refund hit my acct exactly on the date shown. Was worried about potential student loan offset but nope - 846 amount was final. The system does all the math before that code hits ur transcript. BTW, if there were offsets, you'd see diff codes first + get a notice explaining what/why.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
I was in your exact position last month. Here's what I learned about offsets: 1. First, I called my bank to confirm the pending deposit amount 2. Then I waited 3 more days with no deposit 3. Finally I tried calling IRS but couldn't get through after 7 attempts 4. Used Claimyr.com to connect with an IRS agent in about 15 minutes 5. Agent confirmed my refund had an offset that wasn't showing on transcript yet The Claimyr service costs a bit but saved me days of frustration. The agent explained exactly what happened and how to appeal the offset. Definitely worth it when you need answers fast: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
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Dylan Mitchell
Did you really need to pay for that service though? I've had success getting through to the IRS by calling right when they open at 7am. It's free and usually only takes a few tries if you're persistent. The IRS website also has an offset phone number you can call directly.
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Sofia Morales
OMG I was SO NERVOUS about this exact situation last year! My transcript showed code 846 with a deposit date of 3/15/2023, and I was terrified something would change. The technical details are that once 846 posts, the refund instruction has been sent to the Treasury Department's Bureau of Fiscal Service for payment processing. At this point, the amount is FINAL from the IRS perspective! My refund hit my account exactly as shown - even came through 1 day early because my bank processes pending deposits quickly!
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Dmitry Popov
I'm curious about one aspect of this process. According to IRM 21.4.1.4, even after the 846 code appears, the Bureau of Fiscal Service still performs a final check for federal debts. While rare, I've seen cases where BFS applied an offset after the 846 code appeared. Did anyone confirm this couldn't happen?
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Ava Garcia
This thread is so helpful. I've been stressing about whether my 846 amount was final. Such a relief to hear most people got exactly what was shown on their transcript!
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StarSailor}
I notice you mentioned your refund arriving on March 15, 2023. For this year's tax season, has anyone received their refund earlier than the date shown with their 846 code? My transcript updated on April 2, 2024 with an 846 date of April 8, 2024.
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Miguel Silva
Have you checked if there are any other codes on your transcript besides the 846? Sometimes there are clues about potential issues that might affect your refund. Did you get any CP notices recently? Is the amount next to the 846 what you expected based on your return? I've found https://taxr.ai incredibly helpful for analyzing transcript codes. It explains each code in detail and can help identify if there are any warning signs. It helped me understand why my refund was different than expected last year - turns out there was a math error adjustment I missed.
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Zainab Ismail
What was your original refund amount? Does it match the 846 amount? Did you receive any notices in the mail? Any previous offset codes on the transcript?
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Connor O'Neill
Watch out for bank issues too! My experience: • Got 846 code - celebrated too early • Amount was correct on transcript • Bank rejected direct deposit due to name mismatch • IRS sent paper check 3 weeks later • Lost almost a month of time Make sure your bank account info is 100% accurate. Double-check the name on the account matches your tax return EXACTLY. My refund was delayed because my bank account had my maiden name but tax return had married name. So frustrating! 🤬
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Yara Nassar
The 846 code is like getting boarding confirmation for a flight - you're definitely on the plane, but there's still a small chance of last-minute changes. I had my 846 code appear in February, but then discovered my state tax refund (not federal) had an offset I wasn't aware of. Made me paranoid about my federal refund too, even though they're separate systems. Thankfully the federal came through exactly as the 846 showed, but I've been checking my account like a hawk watching prey ever since.
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