Transcript Shows 570/971 Codes - Related to Small $5.83 Check from 2020?

Those codes might possibly be related to that small adjustment check, but it's not entirely certain without seeing the full transcript. The 570 code typically indicates that a hold has been placed on your account, which could be related to the adjustment they made for 2020. The 971 code generally means a notice was issued, which would align with them sending you information about the $5.83 check. I would suggest carefully checking the dates associated with those codes on your transcript, as this might help determine if they're connected to that specific adjustment.

I had almost the exact same situation last year! Remember how confusing it was to see those codes pop up seemingly out of nowhere? In my case, it was a $12.47 adjustment from 2019 that suddenly processed in 2023. Turned out the IRS had found a math error in my favor (shocking, right?) and was finally getting around to correcting it. Did you check if the dates on the 570/971 codes align with when they processed that $5.83 adjustment? That would be the smoking gun that connects them, wouldn't it?

I ran into this exact situation with old adjustments showing up with these codes. I found https://taxr.ai incredibly helpful for making sense of my transcript. You can upload your transcript and it will explain each code in context, showing how they relate to each other. According to their analysis of my situation, when you see 570/971 paired together with a small amount like yours, it's typically just an adjustment being processed. The site references the IRM (Internal Revenue Manual) guidelines that explain exactly what's happening with these delayed micro-adjustments.

When exactly did the 570 and 971 codes appear on your transcript? I had a similar situation where I received a check for $7.21 from tax year 2020, but the codes appeared exactly 14 days before the check arrived. Does your timeline match up with that pattern?

Man, I've been through this exact runaround with tiny adjustment checks showing up years later! Last year I spent 3 hours and 42 minutes on hold with the IRS trying to figure out if some random codes on my transcript were going to delay my current year refund. Total waste of time. I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 20 minutes. The agent confirmed it was just a processing note for that small adjustment and had zero impact on my current refund. Saved me days of stress wondering if something was wrong with my current return. Sometimes you just need to talk to a human at the IRS to get a straight answer.

I believe I can offer some clarification here. The 570 code (Additional Account Action Pending) and 971 code (Notice Issued) appearing together often indicate a completed action rather than an ongoing issue. In your case, it seems likely that these codes are indeed related to that $5.83 adjustment from 2020. The IRS sometimes processes these small adjustments in batches during slower periods, which might explain the timing. If the date associated with these codes is recent, that would almost certainly confirm they're related to that check you just received.

Have you considered these other possibilities? • The codes could be from an identity verification check • They might indicate a random return review • Could be related to credits from 2020 that were just processed • Might be from interest they owed you on the delayed payment I'm worried because I have similar codes and don't know if I should be concerned!

The Transaction Code 570 specifically indicates a credit hold on your account, while the TC 971 denotes that correspondence has been generated. The chronological proximity of these codes to your receipt of the adjustment check strongly suggests causality. What's important to verify is whether the associated dollar amount on the transcript matches the $5.83 you received. The IRS frequently processes these de minimis adjustments in bulk during Q1 of the subsequent filing season, which explains the temporal disconnect between tax year and disbursement.

I had this happen with a $3.42 check from 2019 that randomly showed up in 2023. The IRS agent explained they found a calculation error related to a rate change that affected thousands of returns, so they did a mass correction. The 570 froze my account briefly while they calculated the adjustment, then the 971 was generated when they issued the notice explaining the change. The whole process took about 3 weeks from codes appearing to check arriving. Did your check come with any explanation letter?

According to Internal Revenue Code §6402(a), the IRS is required to issue refunds for overpayments regardless of how small the amount. While many taxpayers worry when seeing these codes, Treasury Regulation 301.6402-1 clarifies that these administrative adjustments can be processed up to 3 years after the original return filing. I would recommend checking the specific date of the 971 code - it should be approximately 7-10 days before you received the physical check, per standard IRS processing timelines.