Transcript Codes Changed from 570 to 971 - Got Review Notice But No Timeline?

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. According to the IRS website and several tax forums I've obsessively read through, this is their standard verification process. The 570 (hold) to 971 (notice) progression is actually normal when they select returns for verification. In my case last year, I waited about 45 days from the notice date, not the full 60. It's like they build in a buffer. The WMR tool was completely useless during this time - it just showed the generic "still processing" message while my transcript told the real story.

Have you checked what specific verification they're doing? Are they reviewing income, credits, or deductions? Did you claim any tax credits this year that might trigger extra scrutiny? I was caught in a similar situation and found https://taxr.ai incredibly helpful for decoding what was actually happening with my transcript. It analyzed all those cryptic codes and explained that my 971 notice was specifically related to verifying my W-2 information, not a full audit (which I was slightly worried about). The tool predicted my release date within 2 days of when I actually received my refund.

I remember when this happened to me in 2023. I tried calling the IRS to get more details about my review, but spent 3 hours on hold before getting disconnected. After that frustrating experience, I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 30 minutes. The agent confirmed my return was just going through random verification and wasn't flagged for any specific issue. She also told me my case was actually progressing faster than the 60-day timeline in the letter. If you're anxious about the timeline, it might be worth getting that confirmation directly from an agent.

I went through this exact process last month! Here's how it played out for me: Step 1: Saw 570 code on transcript (day 1) Step 2: 971 code appeared 5 days later Step 3: Received verification notice on day 7 Step 4: Waited with no updates for 31 days Step 5: Suddenly transcript updated with 571 code (release of hold) Step 6: 846 code appeared the next day (refund issued) Step 7: Money in my account 2 days later Total time from notice to refund: 33 days, not the full 60. I was honestly impressed when I saw the deposit hit my account well before their deadline!

I work with tax preparation, and I've noticed a significant increase in these verification holds since January 29th, 2024. The IRS appears to be conducting more random verifications this year compared to previous filing seasons. In most cases I've tracked, returns with standard W-2 income are being released between 30-45 days, while returns with self-employment income or certain credits are taking closer to the full 60 days mentioned in the notice.

Just FYI - the 570/971 combo usually means they're just double-checking something. Not a full-blown audit or anything super serious. The fact that your notice says you don't need to do anything is actually a good sign! It's basically the IRS saying "we're just verifying stuff on our end." Pro tip: Keep checking your transcript (not WMR) for a 571 code. That means the hold was released. Then look for 846 which is your refund date. Most ppl in my tax groups got their $ about 35-40 days after the notice, not the full 60.

I'm a bit hesitant to share this, but my experience with this verification process wasn't great last year. I received the same notice, and I thought I could just wait it out... but it turned out they were verifying my dependents, and I ended up having to submit additional documentation after the initial review period. This extended my wait to almost 90 days total. I'm not saying this will happen to you, but if you're depending on this money for important expenses, you might want to have a backup plan just in case. The majority of people do get through the verification without issues though.