Common transaction codes
| Code | Name | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | Return filed and tax assessed | The date your return posted and the tax shown on it (or as corrected by the IRS). |
| 806 | Withholding credit | Credit for tax withheld, from your W-2s and 1099s. |
| 766 | Refundable credit | A refundable credit allowed on your account. |
| 768 | Earned income credit | The earned income tax credit allowed on your return. |
| 570 | Additional liability pending | Puts a hold on the account, so no refund or offset goes out until it is resolved. |
| 571 | Hold released | Reverses a 570 and releases the hold. |
| 846 | Refund issued | Your refund was issued. The date next to it is when it was sent. |
| 898 | Refund offset (Treasury Offset Program) | All or part of your refund was taken to pay another debt, such as child support or a federal or state agency debt. |
| 971 | Miscellaneous action | A notice was issued or some other action was taken; what it means depends on the action code. |
| 290 | Additional tax assessed | Additional tax from an adjustment to your account. |
| 300 | Additional tax from examination | Additional tax or a deficiency assessed by Examination or Collection. |
| 420 | Examination indicator | The return is under examination consideration; it may or may not end up being audited. |
| 196 | Interest assessed | Interest charged on an unpaid balance. |
| 276 | Failure-to-pay penalty | A penalty for paying late. |
| 460 | Extension of time to file | An extension of time to file was processed. |
Negative amounts on a transcript are in your favor: credits, withholding and adjustments that lower what you owe.
Waiting for a refund? What to look for
- 150 and 806, no 846 yet: your return is in the system; the refund hasn't been issued.
- 570: a hold. The IRS may be reviewing something or waiting for information; watch your mail. A 571 releases it.
- 846: the refund was issued on that date. Direct deposit usually lands within days; a paper check can take a few weeks.
- 898: some or all of the refund went to another debt. You get a letter explaining it.
For the expected date, see the IRS refund schedule or the refund date calculator. Where's My Refund on IRS.gov is the official status.
Where the codes come from
Transaction codes are instructions to the IRS's processing system. Your transcript shows a short description next to each one. The IRS lists every code in Document 6209, its internal processing reference, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service has a plain-language guide to reading transcripts.
Common questions
What does code 846 mean on my IRS transcript? Refund issued. Code 846 shows your refund was sent, with the date it was issued. Direct deposits often arrive within a few days of that date.
What does code 570 mean? Additional liability pending. It puts a hold on your account so no refund goes out until the issue is resolved. A code 571 later releases the hold.
What does code 150 mean? Your return was filed and processed. It shows the tax on your return, or the tax as corrected by the IRS.
Why does my transcript show 0.00 or a date in the future? Transcripts update as the IRS processes your return, usually overnight. A transcript with no 846 yet means the refund hasn't been issued. Where's My Refund gives the official status.
How do I get my IRS transcript? Online through your IRS Individual Online Account, or by mail. Transcripts are free.
Updated November 5, 2026. Sources: Taxpayer Advocate Service, "Decoding IRS Transcripts and the New Transcript Format: Part II"; IRS Document 6209, section 8A (transaction codes).