Which IRS Transcript Codes Matter for Amended Tax Refunds?

While the online “Where’s My Amended Return” tool gives only a basic status, an IRS account transcript provides specific activity and financial details. These are the most important codes to watch:

Key Amended Refund Transaction Codes

Code	What it Means	What to Expect
971	IRS issued a notice about changes	A letter is on the way explaining the amendment
570	Additional review or hold on refund	No payment will be sent until resolved
766	Credit to your account	Refund is being calculated
768	Earned Income Credit applied	Helps increase refund amount
571 / 572	Resolution of the 570 hold	Movement toward refund release
846	Refund issued	A deposit or check date is confirmed
290 / 291	Additional tax assessed or removed	Final refund amount may change

Timeline Clues on Transcripts

Beyond codes, these fields help indicate progress:

Processing Date: When work should complete
As Of Date: Account status checkpoint
Cycle Code: When updates posted to system

Movement in these areas usually means your amended return has been assigned or adjusted.

If Codes Do Not Change

If codes remain stuck for months:

A caseworker may not have reviewed it yet
Documentation mismatches may exist
A secondary review may be required

IRS contact is recommended only after the standard 20-week time-frame has passed.

Summary

Codes 971, 570, 571/572, and 846 are the most critical indicators of amended refund approval and release timing. Checking your tax transcript is the most reliable way to see real progress.

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