The Transcript Codes You Must Track for Your Refund (846, 570, 150)

A Simple Guide to Understanding the IRS Transcript Codes That Control Your Refund

Every year, millions of taxpayers rely on their IRS tax transcript to figure out what is happening with their refund long before “Where’s My Refund?” updates. But for most people, transcripts are confusing, full of strange numbers, and hard to interpret.

The truth is that you can understand the progress of almost any refund by watching three key transcript codes:

Code 150 – Your return has been filed and posted
Code 570 – Your refund is on hold
Code 846 – Your refund has been approved and issued

These codes create the basic roadmap for every tax return. If you know how to read them, you can track your refund with confidence.

This guide breaks down what each code means, how they work together, and what to expect next.

Why Transcript Codes Matter for Refund Tracking

The IRS transcript updates more frequently and offers more detail than Where’s My Refund. Instead of generic messages, your transcript shows:

The exact posting date of your return
Whether your refund is under review
Whether more information is needed
When your refund has been approved
The exact amount being sent

If you want the earliest and most accurate refund updates, transcript codes are essential.

The 3 Most Important IRS Transcript Codes for Refunds

Below is the quick-reference table taxpayers use during refund season. These are the codes that matter for nearly every return.

Quick-Reference Table: IRS Transcript Codes Explained

Transcript Code	What It Means	Why It Matters	What Happens Next
150	Return Filed and Posted	Confirms the IRS has officially accepted and processed your tax return into its system	The IRS will now begin verifying income, credits, dependents, and withholding
570	Additional Account Action Pending (Refund Hold)	Shows your refund is temporarily paused due to review, income matching, identity checks, or correctness issues	You must wait for the IRS to clear the issue; next code is typically 571 or 572
846	Refund Issued	The IRS has approved your refund and scheduled your deposit or check	This is the final step before you receive your refund

These three codes outline nearly every taxpayer journey from filing to refund.

Step-by-Step Refund Timeline Using Transcript Codes

Understanding how the codes fit together helps you predict your refund more accurately. Here’s the simplified process:

Step 1: Code 150 – Your Return Is Filed

Once you see 150, your return is officially in the IRS system. This means:

Your filing status is confirmed
Your income is being verified
Credits like EITC, ACTC, and CTC are being checked
Withholding and W-2 data are being matched

If you never see Code 150, your transcript has not fully posted.

Step 2: Code 570 – Your Refund Is on Hold

This is the most common delay code taxpayers see.

Code 570 means:

Your return needs additional review
Your income or dependents need verification
A document mismatch occurred
A credit needs recalculation
A flag was triggered in the fraud-prevention system

This does not automatically mean you are being audited.
It simply means your refund cannot be released yet.

Common Situations That Trigger TC 570:

Missing or late employer W-2s
Incorrect Child Tax Credit or EITC calculations
SSN or dependent mismatches
Identity verification issues
Previous tax year balance due adjustments
IRS system errors during processing

The next update you are waiting for is TC 571 or TC 572, which means the hold was resolved.

Step 3: Code 846 – Refund Issued

This is the code everyone watches for.

Code 846 means:

Your refund has been approved
The IRS has scheduled your direct deposit or paper check
Your refund amount is final
Any previous review holds have been cleared

The date listed next to TC 846 is your official refund date.

Once 846 posts, Where’s My Refund typically updates within 24–48 hours with the same information.

What If You Never See Code 846?

Reasons you might not receive the refund approval code include:

Review still ongoing (TC 570 active)
The IRS needs information and mailed you a letter
Your return requires a manual adjustment
You claimed refundable credits during the PATH Act period
You owe a federal or state debt that offsets the refund

In these cases, another code—such as TC 971, TC 290, or TC 776—may appear to explain what the IRS adjusted.

How to Read the IRS Transcript Correctly

To make sure you’re accurately reading your transcript each tax season:

Check the Account Transcript, not the Record of Account, unless instructed
Look for the latest posting dates
Identify the order of codes, not just individual entries
Watch for the movement from 150 → 570 → 846
Refresh transcripts every Friday (the IRS updates most cycles weekly or daily depending on account type)

Tracking your refund does not have to be complicated. By focusing on just three codes—150, 570, and 846—you can see exactly where your return stands and what to expect next.