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Kiara Greene

Received 846 Code on 2/22 - When Should Direct Deposit Actually Arrive?

I've been monitoring my transcript and noticed code 846 (refund issued) posted on 2/22/24 with a direct deposit date. According to my understanding of IRS processing protocols, this indicates that the funds have been approved for release, but I'm uncertain about the actual timeline for bank receipt. This is particularly concerning as I filed an amended return earlier this tax season to correct some investment income reporting discrepancies. Has anyone with similar transcript notation experienced significant delays between 846 posting and actual deposit? The transcript shows the corrected amount, but I'm questioning whether additional verification processes might introduce further delays.

Kiara Greene

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The 846 code with a direct deposit date is generally reliable, though there are some factors to consider... The standard processing time between 846 posting and actual bank deposit is typically 1-5 business days, depending on your financial institution's processing protocols. Since you mentioned filing an amended return, it's worth noting that this *shouldn't* affect your direct deposit timeline at this point - once the 846 code appears, the verification process for the amended portions has already been completed. I would cautiously suggest that you should see the funds within the standard window, barring any banking holidays or institutional delays.

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Evelyn Kelly

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I've seen this exact situation play out in multiple ways. Didn't my brother-in-law get his refund literally the day after his 846 code appeared? Yet my colleague waited nearly a week despite having the same code and date. Could the difference be related to the banking institutions themselves rather than IRS processing?

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Paloma Clark

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This is exactly what I needed to know! My 846 code appeared exactly 3 days ago, and I've been checking my account every 2 hours. The DDD was 2/24, so I'm a bit worried since it's now 2/25 and nothing has shown up. Should I be concerned if it doesn't arrive by tomorrow?

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According to IRS Publication 5027, the 846 code specifically indicates "refund issued" which means the funds have been released from the IRS systems. However, Treasury Regulation 301.6402-2 clarifies that the actual delivery timeline remains subject to banking system protocols. I'm concerned that many people don't realize this distinction.

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Raul Neal

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Thank you for explaining this so clearly. I had a similar situation last year and the deposit came exactly 2 business days after the 846 code appeared. Is it always this consistent or does it vary by tax season?

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Jenna Sloan

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Have you checked if your bank shows pending deposits? Sometimes they can see it before it posts to your account. Here's what I would do: 1. Log into your bank's online portal and look for pending transactions 2. If nothing shows there, check if your bank has a specific time of day when they post ACH deposits 3. Make sure the bank account on your tax return matches your current active account 4. If nothing appears by the 5th business day after your DDD, then consider calling the IRS Did you receive any email notifications from your bank about incoming deposits?

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I've been in this exact same boat waiting for my return to hit my account. My 846 code showed up last Thursday with a DDD of 2/22, but still nothing in my account. Do credit unions typically take longer than big banks? I'm literally checking my account every hour because I need this money for my car payment that's due in two days.

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Sasha Reese

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Just FYI - some banks (like mine) don't show govt deposits as pending at all. They just magically appear full force on the actual day. Last yr my refund dropped at exactly 3am on my DDD date. No pending notification or anything beforehand. FWIW I have Chase and they seem to be pretty consistent with this.

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I was in a similar situation last year where my 846 code showed up but no deposit for over a week. Compared to most people who get their money within 1-3 days, this was extremely unusual. After calling the IRS for three straight days (busy signals every time), I finally used Claimyr.com to get through - took about 15 minutes instead of hours of redialing. The agent confirmed my bank had rejected the deposit due to a name mismatch that wouldn't have been visible on my transcript. If you're worried about the timing or need confirmation, Claimyr can save you from the endless busy signals and get you answers directly from an agent. Here's their link: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

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Just got my refund yesterday after seeing my 846 code last Wednesday! Exactly 3 business days which seems to be the sweet spot. šŸ˜Ž I'm one of those people who prepares waaaaay too much documentation (my tax folder is literally color-coded with 12 sections lol) and I've tracked this for the past 4 years. For regular direct deposits: - 24% arrived 1 business day after 846 code - 53% arrived 2-3 business days after - 19% arrived 4-5 business days after - 4% took longer than 5 days (usually due to bank issues) Since you had an amended return, you're actually in better shape than you think - once you hit the 846 code, you're in the normal processing queue like everyone else!

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Diez Ellis

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Is anyone else skeptical about the reliability of these deposit dates? My transcript showed 846 on February 10th with a DDD of February 15th, but the money didn't actually hit my account until February 22nd. No explanation from IRS or my bank. How can we trust these codes when they're consistently inaccurate? Has anyone else experienced significant delays beyond what's considered "normal"?

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I've been tracking my tax refunds meticulously for the past 7 years, and I can tell you that the 846 code is actually extremely reliable in predicting the deposit window. Last year, my deposit came exactly on the date specified. The year before, it was one day early. Back in 2020 during the height of COVID processing delays, it was still only 2 days late despite all the chaos. What most people don't realize is that delays are usually caused by the receiving bank's processing schedule, not the IRS. Some banks (especially credit unions) hold ACH deposits for 24-48 hours as standard policy. I'm genuinely impressed with how consistent the 846 code timing has become in recent years.

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I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! As someone who's dealt with tax issues for years, I can confirm that the 846 code is generally very reliable. In my experience, the deposit usually arrives within 2-3 business days of the code appearing, regardless of whether it was a regular or amended return. One thing I'd add is to make sure you're counting *business days* correctly - weekends and federal holidays don't count. Also, if your bank is a smaller institution or credit union, they might have different ACH processing schedules than the big banks. @Kiara Greene - since your 846 posted on 2/22, I'd expect to see the deposit by 2/27 at the latest (assuming no holidays). The amended return factor shouldn't cause any additional delays at this point in the process. Keep us posted on when it arrives!

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I've been following this thread closely because I'm in almost the exact same situation! My 846 code appeared on 2/21 with a DDD of 2/24, and I'm still waiting as of today (2/26). Like you, I also filed an amended return this year to correct some 1099 reporting issues. What's interesting is that I called my bank (Wells Fargo) yesterday and they confirmed they haven't received any pending ACH deposits from the Treasury. This makes me wonder if there might be some additional processing steps for amended returns that aren't reflected in the transcript timing, even after the 846 code posts. Has anyone else with amended returns experienced longer delays between 846 and actual deposit? I'm trying to determine if this is just normal banking variation or if there's something specific about amended returns that might cause additional delays even after the 846 code appears. I'll update this thread as soon as my deposit hits - hoping it's just a banking processing delay and not something more complex!

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Nia Davis

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@Charlotte White I m'in a very similar situation! My 846 code posted on 2/23 with a DDD of 2/26, and I m'also still waiting. I didn t'file an amended return though, so I m'not sure if that s'the common factor here. I m'with Bank of America and they also show no pending deposits from Treasury. It s'reassuring to know I m'not the only one experiencing this delay. The waiting game is really stressful, especially when you re'counting on that money for bills. I ve'been checking my account obsessively every few hours. Based on what others have shared in this thread, it seems like 5 business days is still within the normal range, but I m'definitely getting anxious. Please do update us when yours comes through - I ll'do the same! Fingers crossed we both see our deposits soon.

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Dana Doyle

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I've been through this exact scenario multiple times and wanted to share some insights that might help ease your anxiety. The 846 code with a direct deposit date is indeed very reliable - I've tracked my refunds for the past 5 years and the timing has been consistently within the 1-5 business day window that others have mentioned. What's particularly relevant to your situation is that I also filed an amended return two years ago, and once that 846 code appeared, the deposit timeline was identical to my regular returns. The IRS has already completed all their verification processes by the time you see that code, so the amended return factor shouldn't cause any additional delays. A few practical tips based on my experience: - Check your account in the early morning hours (2-6 AM) as that's when most banks process ACH deposits - Remember that some banks don't show government deposits as "pending" - they just appear suddenly - If you're with a smaller bank or credit union, they might batch process ACH deposits only once or twice per week Given that your 846 posted on 2/22, you should definitely see the deposit by end of this week. The fact that your transcript shows the corrected amount is actually a good sign - it means everything has been properly processed and approved. Keep us updated on when it arrives!

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This is really helpful advice, thank you @Dana Doyle! I'm new to tracking my refund so closely and didn't realize that banks process ACH deposits at different times. I've been checking my account during normal business hours but will definitely start checking early morning like you suggested. It's also reassuring to hear that your amended return didn't cause any delays once the 846 code appeared - that gives me more confidence that mine should arrive within the normal timeframe. I appreciate you sharing your tracking experience over multiple years, it really helps put things in perspective for those of us who are anxiously waiting!

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I wanted to jump in here as someone who's been lurking in tax communities for a while but finally decided to create an account because this thread is so helpful! I'm currently in the exact same boat - my 846 code appeared on 2/20 with a DDD of 2/23, and I'm still waiting as of today. Reading through everyone's experiences has been really reassuring, especially learning that 1-5 business days is the normal range and that banking processing schedules can vary so much. I'm with a local credit union and now I'm wondering if that might explain the delay since several people mentioned credit unions can be slower with ACH processing. One question for those who have been tracking this over multiple years - do you notice any patterns related to the time of year? I'm wondering if refunds issued in late February might take longer due to higher volume compared to earlier in the season. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and data - it's so much more helpful than the generic advice you find on most IRS websites!

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Lauren Zeb

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Welcome to the community @Carmella Fromis! You're absolutely right that this thread has been incredibly helpful - I've learned more about refund timing from reading everyone's experiences here than from hours of searching IRS websites. Regarding your question about seasonal patterns, I haven't tracked it personally but that's a really interesting point about late February volume potentially affecting processing times. Your credit union theory also makes a lot of sense - I've noticed several people mentioning that smaller financial institutions tend to have different ACH schedules than the big banks. Since your DDD was 2/23 and today is still within that normal 1-5 business day window, you should hopefully see it soon! Please keep us updated when it arrives - the more data points we have, the better we can help future people in similar situations.

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Amina Bah

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Based on my experience working in tax preparation for several years, I can confirm that the 846 code is one of the most reliable indicators in the IRS system. Once you see this code with your direct deposit date, the funds have officially been released from the Treasury and are in the banking pipeline. Since your 846 posted on 2/22, you should expect to see the deposit by 2/27 at the absolute latest, assuming no banking holidays. The amended return aspect is actually a non-factor at this point - all verification and processing has been completed before the 846 code appears on your transcript. Here's what I typically tell clients in your situation: - Most deposits arrive within 2-3 business days of the 846 code - Check your account early morning (around 3-6 AM) when banks typically process overnight ACH batches - Don't panic if it takes the full 5 business days - this is still within normal parameters - Your bank may not show it as pending, so it could appear without warning The fact that your transcript shows the corrected amount is actually excellent news - it means all your amended return adjustments have been properly processed and approved. You're in the home stretch now!

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This is such valuable insight from someone with professional tax preparation experience! @Amina Bah - your explanation about the 846 code meaning funds are already in "the banking pipeline really" helps me understand what s'happening behind the scenes. I m'actually dealing with my first amended return situation this year and was worried there might be additional delays even after seeing the code, but your clarification that all verification is complete by that point is really reassuring. The tip about checking early morning makes perfect sense too - I ve'been checking randomly throughout the day but will definitely start looking during those overnight processing hours. Thank you for breaking this down so clearly for those of us who are new to closely tracking our refunds!

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I wanted to share my recent experience since it might help calm some nerves for those waiting! I just went through this exact situation last month - my 846 code appeared on a Tuesday with a DDD for that Friday, and I was checking my account obsessively just like many of you are doing now. The deposit actually hit my account (Chase) at 2:47 AM on the exact DDD, which was exactly 3 business days after the 846 code appeared. No pending notification beforehand, just suddenly there when I checked in the morning. What really struck me reading through this thread is how consistent everyone's experiences seem to be once you account for different banking processing schedules. The 1-5 business day window that keeps getting mentioned appears to be very accurate based on all the data points people are sharing here. For those of you still waiting (especially @Kiara Greene, @Charlotte White, and @Carmella Fromis), you're all still well within the normal timeframe. The anxiety is totally understandable - I was the same way - but based on everything shared here, your deposits should be arriving very soon. Keep checking those early morning hours, and please update us when they come through! This community knowledge sharing is incredibly valuable for future filers.

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Gemma Andrews

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Thank you so much for sharing your recent experience @Fatima Al-Hashimi! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this exact same anxiety-inducing wait. The fact that your deposit hit at 2:47 AM on the exact DDD really reinforces what others have been saying about checking during those early morning hours. I'm actually new to this whole refund tracking process (this is my first time really paying attention to transcript codes), and reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly educational. The consistency in the 1-5 business day window across so many different people and banks is really encouraging. I'm currently on day 3 of waiting for my deposit after seeing my 846 code, so your timeline gives me hope that mine should arrive soon too. This community really is amazing for sharing real experiences rather than just generic IRS website information!

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