What does IRS Transcript Code 474 mean?

Code 474 indicates a Refund Hold due to the Injured Spouse Allocation process. It's typically applied when one spouse has a debt (like child support, student loans, or other federal debt) and the other spouse files Form 8379 to protect their portion of the refund from being offset. The IRS essentially freezes the refund while they determine what portion belongs to each spouse. This can add 11-14 weeks to processing time from the date of your return submission or 8 weeks from the date of mailing Form 8379 if you submitted it separately.

To add to the previous comment, here's what you should know about code 474: • It's specifically related to Injured Spouse claims processing • You'll typically see it paired with other codes (like 971 for notices being sent) • The timeline can vary significantly depending on your specific situation • If you didn't file Form 8379, this could indicate an error or misclassification • You should verify if either you or your spouse has any outstanding federal debts

OMG I went through this EXACT situation last year and was so confused about what was happening!!! I finally used https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it explained everything in plain English. It showed me that the 474 code meant my refund was being held because my husband had defaulted student loans (which I didn't even know about 🤦‍♀️). The tool predicted almost to the day when I'd get my portion of the refund. Saved me so much stress and helped me adjust my budget while waiting!

Code 474 specifically relates to the Injured Spouse process as others have mentioned. It's important to note that this code appears on the Non-Master File (NMF) transcript rather than the standard Account Transcript. The allocation process involves a manual review by the IRS Injured Spouse Unit, which determines the appropriate distribution of tax attributes (income, deductions, credits) between spouses. The manual nature of this review contributes significantly to the extended processing timeframe.

Last year I had the same code and needed to get answers fast because I was closing on a house. After wasting three days trying to reach someone at the IRS, I used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They confirmed it was because my ex-wife had some tax debt I didn't know about. The agent was able to tell me exactly when to expect my portion of the refund and what percentage I'd receive. Honestly worth every penny not to spend days redialing the IRS.

Did you file Form 8379 (Injured Spouse Allocation) with your return? Or did this code appear unexpectedly? The appropriate next steps really depend on whether you were expecting this process or if it came as a surprise.

According to the IRS Internal Revenue Manual (IRM 21.4.4-2), code 474 indicates injured spouse processing. You can also check the Transaction Code pocket guide here: https://www.irs.gov/irm/part21/irm_21-004-004r#idm140292277003024 (though it doesn't list every code). If you need to follow up, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, but be prepared for long wait times. The IRS Where's My Refund tool won't show detailed status for returns with code 474 since they're in specialized processing.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and can share some practical advice. Code 474 means your refund is held for Injured Spouse processing, which can be incredibly frustrating when you need the money for medical expenses like you mentioned. A few things that helped me during the wait: • Check your transcript weekly (not daily - it only updates once a week and checking constantly just adds stress) • If you didn't file Form 8379, contact the IRS immediately as this might be an error • Keep documentation ready showing which income/payments belong to which spouse • Consider if you can make payment arrangements for your medical expenses while waiting The timeline really varies - I've seen people get their portion in 8 weeks, others waited 16 weeks. The IRS doesn't provide much communication during this process, so unfortunately patience is required. If you're in urgent financial need, you might qualify for hardship assistance through the Taxpayer Advocate Service (1-877-777-4778). Hang in there - you will eventually get the portion of the refund that belongs to you!

I had code 474 on my transcript last year and it was definitely nerve-wracking waiting for answers. What really helped me was understanding that this code specifically means the IRS is manually reviewing your return to determine how much of the refund belongs to each spouse when there's a debt offset involved. A few practical tips from my experience: • The 11-14 week timeline is pretty accurate - mine took exactly 12 weeks • You can call the Injured Spouse unit directly at 1-800-829-1040 (ask to be transferred) but expect long wait times • If you have urgent medical expenses, document everything - you may be able to request expedited processing in cases of financial hardship • Your "Where's My Refund" tool won't update much during this period, so checking your transcript weekly is more helpful The waiting is the hardest part, especially when you have medical bills pending. But once the review is complete, you'll get your portion of the refund plus any interest that accrued during the delay. Stay patient and keep your documentation organized in case they need additional information from you.

I'm dealing with code 474 on my transcript right now too, and reading through everyone's experiences here has been really reassuring. It's frustrating when you're waiting for money you need, especially for medical expenses like you mentioned. From what I've gathered from this thread and my own research, the key things to remember are: • This is specifically for Injured Spouse processing - your refund is being manually reviewed to separate what belongs to each spouse • The timeline is typically 11-14 weeks from filing, though some people have reported shorter or longer waits • The IRS won't provide much communication during this time, which is the most stressful part One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much - if you filed jointly but didn't submit Form 8379 (Injured Spouse Allocation), definitely call the IRS to make sure this code isn't an error. Sometimes returns get flagged incorrectly. Also, since you mentioned medical expenses, you might want to contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you're facing financial hardship. They can sometimes help expedite processing in urgent situations, though there's no guarantee. Hang in there - the waiting is brutal but you will get your portion of the refund eventually!

I went through code 474 last year and completely understand your frustration, especially when you're counting on that refund for medical expenses. The waiting period is really tough because there's so little communication from the IRS during the process. Here's what I learned from my experience: • Code 474 means your refund is on hold for Injured Spouse processing - the IRS is manually determining how to split the refund between spouses when there's a debt offset involved • The timeline is typically 11-14 weeks, but I've seen it vary from 8-16 weeks depending on the complexity • Your transcript will update weekly (usually overnight between Sunday-Monday), so checking daily won't show changes • The "Where's My Refund" tool won't be very helpful during this period since your return is in specialized processing A few practical tips: • If you didn't file Form 8379 with your return, call the IRS to verify this isn't an error • Keep records of which income/payments belong to which spouse in case they need documentation • Consider reaching out to the Taxpayer Advocate Service (1-877-777-4778) if your medical expenses create a financial hardship - they may be able to help The lack of updates during this process is maddening, but you will eventually receive your portion of the refund. In my case, it took 13 weeks and I received about 60% of the original refund amount. Hang in there!