Filing & IRS Procedures

IRS Account Transcript Codes: 150, 570, and 846 Explained

By The Ledgerism Editorial Team · The Ledgerism Brief Editorial Team produces original, methodology-disclosed accounting and tax research—data trackers, databases, and reference guides built to be the most-cited source in the field. Every figure is verified against primary sources including FASB, the IRS, the PCAOB, NASBA, the AICPA, and state boards of accountancy.

IRS transcript codes are three-digit transaction codes (TCs) the IRS posts to your account transcript to record every action on your tax account. The three that matter most for refunds are 150 (your return was filed and the tax assessed), 570 (an additional-account-action hold that freezes your refund), and 846 (refund issued, with a real deposit date next to it). Each code carries a date and a dollar amount, and reading them in sequence tells you exactly where your return stands.

This guide covers the common codes, the master table, and how to read the cycle code that controls when your transcript updates.

What is an IRS account transcript code?

An account transcript code is a three-digit transaction code the IRS Master File assigns to each action on your account. Every posting has three parts: the code, a date, and an amount. Positive amounts increase what you owe, and amounts in parentheses or with a minus sign are credits that reduce your balance or fund your refund. Codes appear under the “Transactions” section of your account transcript.

The account transcript is one of several transcript types, and it is the only one that shows this running ledger of actions. If a code confuses you, match it against the IRS transaction code list. Codes below 500 usually record assessments and returns, while codes in the 500s through 800s cover holds, notices, credits, and refunds.

The common IRS transcript codes, at a glance

The table below lists the transaction codes you are most likely to see on a refund-year transcript, what each one means, and whether it helps or hurts your refund timeline. Amounts and dates vary by return, so treat the descriptions as the action recorded, not a guarantee of outcome.

Code 150: Return filed and tax assessed

Code 150 confirms the IRS processed your return and recorded your total tax liability for the year. The amount beside it is the tax you reported, not your refund or balance due. Code 150 is the anchor of the transcript, and it must post before withholding credits, credit codes, or a refund can be released. Seeing 150 alone means processing has started, not that a refund is approved.

The date next to code 150 is often a future Monday, because the IRS dates postings to the end of a processing cycle rather than the day you filed. A 150 with a $0.00 liability is normal for filers whose credits and withholding cover the full tax.

Code 806: Withholding credited

Code 806 credits the federal income tax withheld from your W-2 and 1099 forms, as reported to the IRS. The amount is shown as a negative figure because it is a credit against your liability. The date is typically April 15 of the filing year, since withholding is treated as paid on the return due date. Code 806 is one of the building blocks that, combined with credits, produces your refund.

Code 768: Earned Income Credit posted

Code 768 posts the Earned Income Credit (EIC) to your account. Like code 806, it appears as a credit and usually carries an April 15 date. If you claimed the EIC or the Additional Child Tax Credit, the PATH Act generally bars the IRS from issuing your refund before mid-February, so a 768 code early in the season does not mean an early payout. Code 766 often accompanies it for other refundable credits.

Code 570: Additional account action pending

Code 570 places a hold that freezes your refund while the IRS reviews your account. Common triggers include a mismatch between the withholding you reported and what employers reported, a questioned credit, identity verification, or a math discrepancy. No refund can post while a 570 is open. Some 570 holds clear on their own within a few weeks; others require you to respond to a notice.

Code 570 frequently appears alongside code 971. When both post, 570 marks the hold and 971 signals that a letter explaining the issue is on its way. The order and dates matter: a 971 dated after the 570 usually means correspondence is coming.

Code 571: Hold released

Code 571 (or its sibling, code 572) resolves the code 570 hold and releases your account for further processing. Once 571 posts, the pathway to a refund reopens, and an 846 code often follows within one to two cycles. Code 571 does not by itself issue money; it removes the freeze so the refund transaction can post next.

Code 971: Notice issued

Code 971 records that the IRS generated a notice or letter, such as a CP05 review notice, an identity-verification request, or a math-error notice. The code tells you a letter exists but not its contents, so wait for the mail or check your IRS online account. Code 971 is not always bad: it also posts for routine items like an address change or an amended-return acknowledgment.

Code 846: Refund issued

Code 846 is the code filers wait for. It means the IRS approved your refund and the date beside it is the actual issue date. For direct deposit, funds generally arrive within one to five business days of the 846 date; paper checks take longer to mail and clear. Until 846 posts, a refund is not final, regardless of what the “Where’s My Refund” tool shows.

How to read the cycle code and its date

The cycle code is an 8-digit number on your account transcript that tells you when your return posted to the IRS Master File and how often your transcript updates. Read it as YYYYWWDD: the first four digits are the processing year, the next two are the week of the year, and the last two are the day of the week. It sits next to code 150 under the “Cycle” heading.

Take the example cycle code 20260605:

1. 2026 is the processing year (usually the year after the tax year filed).
2. 06 is the sixth processing week of that year.
3. 05 is the processing day, which controls when your account updates.

The last two digits map to a day of the week and reveal whether your account is “daily” or “weekly”:

Daily accounts (01 through 04) can update most weekdays, so new codes may appear any morning. Weekly accounts (05) typically refresh once a week, generally overnight into Friday. Knowing your cycle type tells you when to bother checking for a new 570, 571, or 846.

Reading codes in sequence: a worked example

The value of the transcript is the order of the codes, not any single line. A clean refund often reads: 150 (return filed), then 806 (withholding), 766 and 768 (credits), then 846 (refund issued). A delayed refund inserts a 570 hold, sometimes with a 971 notice, before any 846 can appear.

A common holding pattern looks like this:

1. 150 posts with your assessed tax and cycle code.
2. 806, 766, 768 credit your withholding and refundable credits.
3. 570 freezes the refund for review.
4. 971 posts, meaning a notice is in the mail.
5. 571 resolves the hold after the issue clears.
6. 846 issues the refund with a deposit date.

If your transcript stops at 570 with no 571 or 846, the account is still under review. Responding promptly to any notice tied to the matching 971 is usually the fastest way to move toward an 846.

Where transcript codes fit in the wider process

Transcript codes are the machine-readable record behind the friendlier “Where’s My Refund” statuses, and they update before that tool does. To pull the account transcript that shows these codes, see our guide on how to get your IRS tax transcript. If you see an 826 code moving your overpayment to a balance you did not expect, it may relate to unpaid estimated tax payments or another year’s liability.

When a refund finally lands, the deposit on your bank statement may read differently from what you expect, which we break down in what “IRS TREAS 310” means. If a 570 hold or a notice requires you to authorize a tax professional to speak with the IRS, Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) is the standard route. And if a code reflects a balance you cannot pay in full, Form 9465 (installment agreement) lets you request a payment plan.

Frequently asked questions

What does code 570 mean on my IRS transcript?

Code 570 means the IRS placed an “additional account action pending” hold that freezes your refund while it reviews your account. Common causes include income or withholding mismatches, a questioned credit, or identity verification. The refund cannot issue until the hold clears, which shows as code 571 or 572. Some holds resolve automatically within weeks; others require you to respond to a notice.

Does code 846 mean my refund is approved?

Yes. Code 846 means the IRS approved your refund and released it for payment, and the date next to the code is the actual issue date. For direct deposit, funds usually arrive within one to five business days of that date, while paper checks take longer to mail and clear. Until code 846 posts, a refund is not final, even if online tools suggest it is coming.

What is the difference between code 150 and code 806?

Code 150 records that your return was filed and shows your total assessed tax liability for the year. Code 806 credits the federal income tax withheld from your W-2 and 1099 forms and appears as a negative amount. In short, 150 is what you owe before payments, and 806 is one of the payments applied against it. Both must post before a refund can be calculated.

How do I read the cycle code on my transcript?

Read the 8-digit cycle code as YYYYWWDD. The first four digits are the processing year, the next two are the week of the year, and the last two are the processing day. Endings of 01 to 04 are daily accounts (Friday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday), and 05 is usually a weekly account that updates Thursday into Friday. The cycle code sits next to code 150.

Why do codes 570 and 971 appear together?

Codes 570 and 971 often post together when the IRS both holds your refund and mails a notice about it. Code 570 marks the hold, and code 971 signals that a letter, such as a CP05 review notice, is on its way. Compare the dates: a 971 dated after the 570 usually means correspondence explaining the issue is coming. Wait for the letter or check your IRS online account.

What does code 768 mean?

Code 768 posts your Earned Income Credit (EIC) to the account as a refundable credit, shown with an April 15 date. If you claimed the EIC or the Additional Child Tax Credit, the PATH Act generally prevents the IRS from issuing your refund before mid-February, so an early 768 does not mean an early payout. Code 766 often appears alongside it for other refundable credits.

Can code 570 clear without me doing anything?

In many cases, yes. Some code 570 holds are systemic and resolve on their own once the IRS finishes an internal check, often within a few weeks, at which point code 571 posts and an 846 refund code can follow. Other holds require you to verify your identity or respond to a notice tied to a matching 971. If weeks pass with no movement and no letter, contacting the IRS may be necessary.

Reviewed by The Ledgerism Editorial Team. Last reviewed: July 2026.

Related guides

• IRS TREAS 310 Tax Ref
• The 5 Types of IRS Tax Transcripts, Explained
• How to Know If You Owe the IRS