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The IRS publishes five transcript types, and choosing the right one matters. The Tax Return Transcript shows most line items from the return as originally filed; the Tax Account Transcript shows the running account — assessments, payments, credits, and adjustments — using transaction codes; the Record of Account combines the two; the Wage and Income Transcript lists the W-2s, 1099s, and other information returns the IRS received; and the Verification of Non-filing Letter confirms no return was filed for a year.
On an account transcript, activity is recorded as three-digit transaction codes with dates and amounts. Learning the common codes lets you read the account’s history — what was filed, what credited, what is on hold, and when a refund posts — which is invaluable for tracking refunds and for verifying IRS records before responding to a notice.
TC 150 is the return filed and the original tax assessed. TC 806 is the credit for federal income tax withheld from your W-2s and 1099s. TC 766 and TC 768 are credits to the account (TC 768 is the Earned Income Credit; refundable credits generally appear here). TC 570 is a hold that freezes a refund pending additional review, and TC 971 indicates a notice was issued — the two often appear together when the IRS needs more information. TC 846 is the refund issued, and its date is when the refund is released; TC 826 means part of the refund was applied (offset) to another debt.
Each account transcript shows an eight-digit cycle code in the format YYYYWWDD — the year, the processing week, and the day of the week the account was last updated — alongside a processing date. Together they help estimate when activity such as a refund (TC 846) will post. A TC 570 freeze followed later by a TC 571 or TC 572 (release) signals the hold has cleared. Reading these in sequence tells the full story of how the IRS processed the return.
Request the Tax Return Transcript to see your filed figures (often for lenders), the Tax Account Transcript or Record of Account to see assessments, payments, and holds, and the Wage and Income Transcript to see the W-2s and 1099s the IRS received under your SSN.
TC 846 is “refund issued.” The date next to it is when the IRS releases your refund. A TC 826 instead means part of the refund was offset to pay another federal or state debt.
TC 570 is a temporary hold on your account pending additional review, and TC 971 usually means a related notice was issued. Seeing both often means the IRS paused your refund and sent a letter requesting information or explaining an adjustment.