Wage & Income Transcripts: When the IRS Posts W-2s & 1099s

If you filed early but the IRS hasn’t released your refund, there’s a high chance they’re still waiting for wage and income forms to finish posting to your file. These documents include:

W-2 (employer wages)
1099-K (payment platforms — Venmo, CashApp, PayPal)
1099-NEC (contract income)
1099-INT / 1099-DIV (banks & investments)
SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)

Your Wage & Income Transcript is the IRS database that stores these forms once received.
If something is missing — your return may be flagged for review, triggering codes like 570 or 810.

Why This Transcript Matters

IRS systems use income data to validate your tax return.
If what you reported doesn’t match the documents they eventually receive, the IRS will:

Freeze the refund
Issue a math error or dependent notice
Recalculate the refund (sometimes lowering it)

When W-2s & 1099s Show Up on Wage & Income Transcripts

Form Type	Who Sends It	IRS Posting Starts	Fully Available By
W-2	Employer	Late Jan–Feb	April–May
1099-NEC	Self-employed clients	February	April–June
1099-K	Payment Apps	March–May	June–August
SSA-1099	Social Security	Mid-February	April
Financial 1099s	Banks + Brokers	February	May–July

The safest time to rely on Wage & Income data is after July 1

Why Early Filers Are Most Affected

If you file before your data posts:

IRS can’t confirm wages yet
Refunds for EITC/ACTC are frozen until February 15 (PATH Act)
Income mismatches trigger 570 and 971 review codes
Refund delays can extend 4–12+ weeks

Filing before the IRS receives your W-2 often delays your refund instead of speeding it up.

Posting Waves Explained

The IRS doesn’t upload everything at once — updates come in data waves:

January Preview — nearly empty transcript
February–March — W-2s begin appearing
April–June — majority of 1099 forms added
July–August — final corrections + late submissions

Wage & Income Transcript Empty → Partial → Fully Populated

If you had multiple jobs or contractors — expect multiple waves.

What Missing Data Triggers

If IRS detects income not reported on your return:

You’ll likely see:

Code 570 — refund hold
Code 971 — notice issued
Code 290 — tax adjustment
Possible refund reduction

The IRS calls this Error Resolution processing.

Who Should Check This Transcript?

Anyone filing amended returns
Early filers
Taxpayers with multiple jobs
Gig workers / tips / self-employment
People who received new 1099-K forms
Taxpayers who suspect identity or wage fraud

When Should You Request It?

Timeframe	Recommended?	Why
January–March	Not ideal	Most forms missing
April–June	Good	Key forms mostly posted
July–August	Best	IRS validation complete

To request online:
Get Transcript → “Wage & Income Transcript”
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

How It Helps Speed Up Refund Release

If the IRS is missing a W-2 or tax form, you can:

Upload or mail documentation responding to the notice
File a corrected/amended return if needed
Verify identity quickly if asked
Prevent delays from growing worse

Summary Chart

Status	Transcript Shows	What It Means
Fully Posted	All wages/income match	Refund likely to release
Partially Posted	Some data missing	IRS still cross-checking
Empty	IRS has no wage data	Refund delays are likely

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