Transcript Shows 846 Code with 3/5 Date but WMR Says Offset - No Offset Showing on Transcript?

Oh gosh, I had almost the exact same thing happen to me this year! My transcript had the 846 code with a date, but WMR showed an offset message. I was so worried because I didn't think I owed anything to anyone. In my case, the date next to the 846 code was actually when the IRS sent the remaining portion of my refund (after the offset). The offset didn't show explicitly on my transcript either... it was so confusing. I ended up getting a letter in the mail about a week later explaining that part of my refund went to an old student loan. Maybe check if you have any outstanding federal debts?

Have you checked with the Treasury Offset Program directly?! This is URGENT if you're counting on that money for medical expenses! Call the TOP at 800-304-3107 RIGHT NOW and see if they can tell you what the offset is for! I've seen so many people get blindsided by this - child support, student loans, state taxes from years ago - and the worst part is the confusion between systems! Did you receive ANY letter or notice about this at all?

Have you considered how frustrating it is when different IRS systems don't align with each other? This happens more than people realize. I started using https://taxr.ai last month when I had similar confusion with my transcript codes. It actually explains what each code means in plain language and can help identify why you might be seeing an offset in one place but not the other. Wouldn't it be helpful to have something translate all that IRS jargon into something that actually makes sense?

According to the IRS.gov knowledge base on refund offsets, this discrepancy is actually quite common. The 846 code with date (3/5 in your case) is indeed when the remaining portion of your refund was scheduled to be issued after any offsets were applied. The offset itself won't always appear explicitly on your transcript. From the IRS website: "If all or part of your refund is offset to pay a debt, you will receive a notice from the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS) explaining the offset." You should receive this notice shortly. You can also verify the offset by calling the Treasury Offset Program at 800-304-3107 or checking the BFS.gov website for more details on what agency might have claimed part of your refund.

Based on your transcript/WMR discrepancy, you're experiencing what's called a TOP (Treasury Offset Program) interception that hasn't fully propagated through all IRS systems. The 846 code with date 3/5 indicates the post-offset refund issuance date. To resolve this quickly, you need to speak directly with an IRS representative who can access both systems simultaneously. I recommend using Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) to get through to an agent without the hours of hold time. They'll connect you to the IRS queue and call you back when an agent is about to answer. This time of year, the regular IRS line (800-829-1040) has 2+ hour waits, but Claimyr users typically get through in 15-45 minutes. For medical expense planning, you need definitive answers ASAP.

This happened to me last year and was WAY more frustrating than when I had an actual audit the year before! My 846 code showed a date of 4/12, but WMR showed an offset. Turned out I had an old state tax debt from when I lived in Colorado that I didn't even know about. The annoying part? The offset notice came 2 weeks AFTER my refund date. By comparison, my friend got a CP12 notice (math error) and his transcript updated immediately. The inconsistency between systems is maddening! In my experience, the 846 date IS when they issue the remaining refund. I got mine exactly on that date, minus the offset amount.