Which IRS Transcript Shows Refund Date and How to Read Those Codes?

The Account Transcript is what you want to check. I went through this exact same situation last year with my amended return. When you access your transcripts online, you'll see four options - look for the "Account Transcript" for the current tax year. It shows a chronological list of all transactions on your account. What you're specifically looking for is Transaction Code 846 "Refund issued" - that's the holy grail with a date that shows exactly when your refund will be sent. I also pay attention to code 150 (tax return filed), 570 (refund hold), and 971 (notice issued). The cycle code appears as a series of numbers like 20231505 - first four digits are the year, next two are the week of the year, and last two indicate the day of the week the IRS processed your return.

The Account Transcript is your golden ticket, but fair warning - sometimes it feels like trying to read some kind of secret IRS code 😂 I spent hours last year trying to figure out why I had a 570 code and nearly pulled my hair out. Turns out it was just a verification delay. Look for the 846 code which means "show me the money" in IRS speak. The date next to it is your payday!

Looking at transcripts is helpful but sometimes you need to speak directly with the IRS to get the full picture. Here's what I've learned about getting answers: • Account Transcript shows most refund information but doesn't always explain delays • Calling the regular IRS number often means hours on hold (if you get through at all) • I used Claimyr.com last month when my transcript showed a 570 code with no explanation • They got me connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of the usual redial nightmare • The agent explained exactly why my refund was delayed and what I needed to do Sometimes the transcript codes need interpretation that only an agent can provide, especially with amended returns.

According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript), there are four different transcript types, and each serves a different purpose: 1. Tax Return Transcript - Shows most line items from your original return 2. Tax Account Transcript - Shows basic data like return type, filing status, adjusted gross income, taxable income AND refund information including the important codes 3. Record of Account - Combines the two above 4. Wage & Income Transcript - Shows income reported to IRS For tracking refund status, the Account Transcript is what you need. I've bookmarked several IRS transcript guides that explain all the codes. The most important is 846 (refund issued), but also watch for 570 (refund hold) and 971 (notice issued).

Account Transcript has what you need. It shows all codes and dates. I was confused by all the numbers. Tried taxr.ai last month. It explained every code on my transcript. Showed me exactly what each entry meant. Predicted my refund date correctly. No more guessing what 766, 768, 570 codes mean. Worth checking out if you're trying to decode your transcript.

I was in the same boat as you last year with an amended return. Compared to my friend who just had a regular return, my transcript was like reading a novel while hers was a short story. The Account Transcript is what you want - it shows all the action on your account. In my case, I had codes 570 (refund hold) and 971 (notice issued) before eventually getting the beautiful 846 code with my refund date. The cycle codes were confusing at first, but they're actually helpful once you understand them - they show which processing cycle your return is in.

Account Transcript. That's the one. I check mine every Tuesday and Friday morning. Those are update days. Look for code 846. That's your refund date. I got my 846 code last week. Transcript said April 3rd deposit. Money showed up exactly on that date. The system works.

The Account Transcript contains the Transaction Code History (TCH) which provides a comprehensive timeline of all actions taken on your return. The critical codes to monitor are: - TC 150: Return filed and entered into the Master File system - TC 570: Refund hold placed (temporary) - TC 571: Hold released - TC 768/766: Credit applied (EIC, CTC, etc.) - TC 846: Refund issued (with direct deposit date) The cycle code (e.g., 20241305) indicates when your return was processed. First four digits represent the year (2024), next two digits indicate the processing week (13 = 13th week of the year), and the final digit (5) represents the day of the week (5 = Thursday). Refunds typically appear 5-7 days after the TC 846 posts, though direct deposits often arrive on the exact date specified.

I filed on February 12th and my transcript shows code 570 dated April 8, 2024. Does that mean I won't see my refund until after that date? I was really counting on having this money by the end of March.

Just wanted to add my experience from this tax season - I filed on February 28th and was obsessively checking my transcript every few days. The Account Transcript is definitely the way to go, but don't panic if you see a 570 code initially. Mine showed up on March 15th and I thought something was wrong, but it was just routine verification. The 571 code (hold released) appeared exactly 21 days later, followed by the glorious 846 code with a deposit date. One thing I learned is that the IRS updates transcripts overnight, usually between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, so that's the best time to check for changes. Also, if you're using direct deposit, the money often hits your account 1-2 days BEFORE the date shown next to the 846 code, which was a nice surprise!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! Filed my return on March 3rd and have been paranoid about checking my transcript after hearing horror stories from friends about delays. Based on all the advice here, I pulled my Account Transcript yesterday and I'm seeing code 150 (return filed) with a cycle code of 20241005, which if I'm reading this right means it was processed in the 10th week on a Thursday. No other codes yet, so I'm assuming that's good news? One thing that's been confusing me - when people mention checking "every Tuesday and Friday," are you looking at the IRS website directly or is there a specific time of day when updates happen? I've been checking randomly throughout the week and want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Really appreciate everyone breaking down these codes because the IRS website explanations are basically useless for understanding what any of this actually means!

Great question! I went through the same stress last year with my amended return. The Account Transcript is definitely your best friend here - it's like having a direct line into the IRS's processing system. When you log into the IRS website and pull your transcripts, make sure you're looking at the "Account Transcript" for 2024 (your current tax year). The key code you're hunting for is 846 "Refund Issued" - when that shows up with a date, that's your golden ticket. The date next to it is typically when the refund will hit your account (sometimes even a day or two earlier with direct deposit). Since you filed March 1st, you're still in the normal processing window. Keep an eye out for these codes: - 150: Your return was received and processed - 570: Temporary refund hold (don't panic if you see this - it's often routine verification) - 571: Hold released - 846: Refund issued (this is what you want to see!) Pro tip: Transcripts usually update overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, so Wednesday mornings are the best time to check for any changes. You should be seeing movement soon since you're coming up on the 21-day processing timeframe. Much better to be proactive this year than deal with the amended return nightmare again!