IRS Transcript Decoder Transaction Code Lookup

An IRS account transcript shows your tax account activity including payments, penalties, adjustments, and notices. Get one free at IRS.gov/account (requires ID.me verification), by calling 800-908-9946, or by mailing Form 4506-T. The "Tax Account Transcript" shows detailed activity; the "Record of Account" combines this with your filed return data.

TC 150 means your tax return has been filed and processed. The amount shown is your tax liability as calculated by the IRS. This is the starting point for your account - all subsequent codes (payments, credits, penalties) are applied against this amount. If TC 150 shows a different amount than you expected, the IRS may have made adjustments.

TC 420 is CRITICAL - it means your return has been selected for examination (audit). An IRS examiner will review your return. You should receive correspondence explaining the scope. Gather all supporting documentation immediately. TC 421 means the examination closed. Having TC 420 without TC 421 means your audit is still open.

TC 582 means a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) has been filed against you. This is a public record that appears on your credit report and affects your ability to sell property or get financing. You can request lien withdrawal (Form 12277) if you pay in full or are on a Direct Debit Installment Agreement under $25K. TC 583 means the lien was released.

TC 846 is good news - your refund has been issued! The date shown is when it was sent. Direct deposit refunds usually arrive within a few business days; paper checks take 1-2 weeks. The amount shown should match your expected refund. If you don't receive it, call the IRS or check "Where's My Refund" at IRS.gov.

TC 570 means your refund or credit is on hold while the IRS reviews your account. Common reasons include identity verification, income mismatch, or potential additional tax. You may receive a notice (like 5071C for ID verification). TC 571 releases the hold. Many taxpayers see TC 570 during processing - it often resolves automatically.

TC 971 means the IRS has sent you a notice. The "Action Code" (AC) after 971 indicates the notice type. Common ones: AC 001 = general notice, AC 015 = collection notice (CP14, CP501, etc.), AC 062 = levy notice. Check your mail carefully and respond by any deadline shown. Ignoring IRS notices leads to escalation.

TC 166 = Failure-to-File penalty (5%/month of unpaid tax, max 25%). TC 276 = Failure-to-Pay penalty (0.5%/month, max 25%). TC 160 is manually assessed FTF, TC 270 is manually assessed FTP. Codes ending in 1 or 7 (TC 161, 167, 271, 277) mean the penalty was ABATED (removed). Check if you qualify for First-Time Abatement or reasonable cause.

IRS Document 6209 is the official IRS reference manual for transaction codes, reason codes, and master file information. Section 8A contains all Master File Transaction Codes. It's publicly available at IRS.gov. Our transcript decoder uses these codes to translate your transcript into plain English explanations.

Look for TC 420 (Examination Indicator) - this means your return was selected for audit. TC 424 means an audit was requested but not yet opened. If you see TC 420 without TC 421 (Examination Closed), the audit is still active. TC 300 (Additional Tax by Examination) and TC 350 (Accuracy Penalty) often follow if the IRS finds issues.