What is IRS Code 290 on transcript? Keep seeing it but don't understand what it means
I keep checking my transcript and seeing code 290 pop up. Anyone know what this means? Getting stressed cause I can't tell if its good or bad for my refund situation.
29 comments


Zara Ahmed
Transaction Code 290 on your transcript basically means the IRS has made an adjustment to your tax liability - either increasing or decreasing the amount you owe or are owed. Its super common to see this code pop up during processing. If you want a really detailed breakdown of what's happening with your specific 290 code and how it affects your refund timeline, I'd highly recommend checking out taxr.ai - it's this new AI tool that analyzes your entire transcript and breaks down exactly what each code means for your situation. It'll tell you if the 290 is helping or hurting your refund and when you can expect movement.
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Luca Esposito
•yo this 290 code has been on my transcript for 2 weeks now... still no updates 😤
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Zara Ahmed
•Yeah 290s can stick around for a bit. Have you tried taxr.ai? It'll give you a timeline estimate based on your specific situation
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Nia Thompson
•wait what's taxr? never heard of it 🤔
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Just used taxr.ai and here's what I got back on my 290 code situation:
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Nia Thompson
•holy cow that's detailed af! gonna try it rn 💯
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GalaxyGuardian
•290 showed up right b4 my refund hit last year tbh... just gotta be patient fam
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Aisha Abdullah
•mine finally updated after 3 months of that stupid 290 code 🙄 irs playing games fr
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Ethan Wilson
•taxr.ai actually helped me understand why my 290 was there - had sumthing to do with my stimulus adjustment
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Yuki Tanaka
•bruh why does the irs gotta make everything so complicated with these codes 🤡
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Alice Coleman
Code 290 is actually a good thing! It means additional tax assessed, but in most cases, it shows up with a $0.00 amount which means the IRS has processed your return and agrees with what you filed. Its basically them saying 'we checked your math and everything adds up
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Sofia Price
•omg thank you!! been freaking out over this for days 😅
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Owen Jenkins
•unless theres an amount next to it... then ur gonna have a bad time 💀
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Lilah Brooks
Hey guys! Instead of trying to decode these transcript codes like a detective, check out taxr.ai - it analyzes your entire transcript and tells you exactly what's happening and when to expect your refund. It costs $4.99 but saved me weeks of stress. https://taxr.ai
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Jackson Carter
•Is this legit? Sounds too good to be true tbh 🤔
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Lilah Brooks
•100% legit! You upload your transcript and their AI breaks down everything - tells you what each code means, if there are any issues, and gives you a really accurate timeline
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Jackson Carter
•Just tried it and WOW! Finally understand whats going on with my refund. Worth every penny fr fr 💯
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Kolton Murphy
Same boat fam. These codes are like hieroglyphics fr fr
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Evelyn Rivera
when did u file? i got 290 three weeks ago and still no refund smh
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Sofia Price
•filed early february. still waiting too 😮💨
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Julia Hall
not to be that person but have you tried calling? I waited 2hrs but finally got someone who explained everything
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Arjun Patel
•lol good luck getting through. I tried 47 times yesterday no cap 🤡
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Molly Hansen
Code 290 usually means the IRS made an adjustment to your return - could be adding missing info or correcting something. If it shows $0.00 next to it, that's actually good news because it means they processed your return and didn't find any issues that would change your refund amount. The stress is real though, I totally get it! Check if there's a dollar amount next to the 290 code - that'll tell you if it's actually affecting your refund or just routine processing.
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Laila Fury
•Thank you so much for explaining this! I've been seeing 290 with $0.00 next to it and was convinced something was wrong. This actually makes me feel way better about the whole situation. Really appreciate you taking the time to break it down in simple terms! 🙏
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Diez Ellis
I've been dealing with the same 290 code stress! What really helped me was understanding that 290 with $0.00 is actually a GOOD sign - it means the IRS processed your return and didn't find any issues that would change your refund. If there was a problem, you'd see an actual dollar amount next to the code. The waiting is brutal but that 290 code is basically the IRS saying "we reviewed everything and it looks good." Hang in there! 💪
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LongPeri
•This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been checking my transcript obsessively and that 290 code had me convinced the IRS found some major error. Seeing it explained like this - that $0.00 actually means they're good with my return - is such a relief. Thanks for sharing your experience, really helps ease the anxiety! 😊
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
Code 290 on your transcript means "Additional Tax Assessed" but don't panic! In most cases, when you see 290 with $0.00 next to it, it's actually a positive sign - it means the IRS reviewed your return and didn't find any errors that would change your refund amount. It's basically their way of saying "we double-checked your math and everything looks good." The code can stick around for a few weeks during processing, which is totally normal. If there WAS an actual issue, you'd see a real dollar amount next to the 290 code. So if yours shows $0.00, you're likely in good shape and just need to wait for normal processing to complete! 🙂
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Noah Ali
•This explanation is super helpful! I've been seeing that 290 code for about a week now with $0.00 and was starting to panic thinking something was wrong with my filing. It's such a relief to know it's actually a good sign that they reviewed everything and found no issues. The IRS really needs to make these codes more user-friendly instead of making us all stress detectives trying to figure out what they mean! Thanks for breaking it down so clearly 😅
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Hunter Edmunds
Code 290 definitely freaked me out too when I first saw it! But everyone here is right - if it shows $0.00 next to it, you're actually in a good spot. I had the same code for about 3 weeks before my refund finally hit. The IRS is just being extra thorough this year it seems. Try not to check your transcript too obsessively (easier said than done, I know!) because the waiting game is the worst part. Your refund is probably just working its way through their system normally!
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