Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you checked your IRS transcript, saw Transaction Code 570, and immediately thought: what the hell is this and why is my refund not moving?
You’re not imagining things — and you’re not alone.
Every year, usually about two weeks into tax season, the same pattern shows up. Some taxpayers are already receiving refunds. Others see movement on Where’s My Refund. And a large group is left staring at transcripts, trying to figure out why nothing is happening.
That’s when TC 570 appears.
What Is IRS Transaction Code 570?
Yes — Transaction Code 570 is technically a freeze.
But it is an internal, conditional freeze, not a punitive one.
In IRS language, Transaction Code 570 = refund hold / credit hold. This is why the IRS Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) describes it as “Additional account action pending”, and why the hold must be released by Transaction Code 571 before a refund can issue.
So, on paper:
- TC 570 stops the refund from releasing
- It temporarily blocks the credit or refund
- It must be reversed before money moves
That is, by definition, a freeze.
Where People Get Tripped Up
The confusion comes from how taxpayers interpret the word freeze.
To most people:
- Freeze = audit / fraud / you’re screwed
To the IRS:
- Freeze = a pause while an internal condition resolves
Those are very different things.
This is why TC 570 sounds far scarier than it usually is.
What TC 570 Actually Means in Practice
Transaction Code 570 is an internal refund hold placed during processing or verification.
It does not automatically mean:
- Audit
- Fraud
- Criminal investigation
It simply means the IRS is not releasing the refund yet.
Most TC 570 holds are generated by automated IRS systems, not a human examiner.
According to IRS documentation, these holds are often created by Return Integrity Verification Operations (RIVO). While the name sounds intimidating, most of these checks are automated and resolve without taxpayer involvement.
Many TC 570 cases:
- Are not assigned to an examiner
- Do not result in a notice
- Resolve on their own
- Clear silently with Transaction Code 571
Yes, it’s frustrating.
No, it’s usually not a disaster.
IRS Source: What the Internal Revenue Manual Says
The IRS Internal Revenue Manual explicitly describes Transaction Code 570 as a refund and credit hold.
- Indicates additional liability pending and/or credit hold
- Freezes the module from refunding or offsetting credit out
- Requires a corresponding transaction (such as TC 571) to release the hold
Transaction Code 971 – Notice Sent
Sometimes TC 570 is followed by Transaction Code 971, which means a notice was generated.
What it does not tell you:
- What notice
- Why it was sent
- When you’ll receive it
Many taxpayers report seeing TC 971 but never receiving anything in the mail. Calling the IRS rarely provides clarity.
This is because transaction codes are internal IRS markers, and the same code can mean different things for different taxpayers.
What Releases a TC 570 Hold?
The only transaction code that releases a TC 570 refund hold is Transaction Code 571.
Once TC 571 posts, the freeze is lifted and the refund becomes eligible to move forward.
In many cases, TC 571 appears without warning and without a notice ever being sent.
The Bottom Line on Transaction Code 570
Calling TC 570 a freeze is technically correct.
Calling it a review is more accurate for how it usually plays out.
Both are true.
Most TC 570 holds:
- Are automated
- Are temporary
- Resolve without taxpayer action
- Clear with TC 571
- Do not mean audit or fraud
If you’re seeing TC 570, you’re not alone — and you’re not broken. You’re just stuck waiting for the IRS to finish something it refuses to explain clearly.
For real-time reports and what others are seeing with TC 570 and TC 971, join the live discussion below.
According to the IRS Internal Revenue Manual Transaction Code 570 is generated by automated Return Integrity Verification Operations (RIVO) processes at the IRS. They sound like the big bad guys. But they aren’t necessarily. Most of the processes from this area seem to be automated and easily resolved, unlike circumstances that may occur under examination. But again, chill. Sometimes 570 resolves itself with only the corresponding 571 transaction code to reverse it and remains a mystery.
Transaction Code 570 is a freeze code.
Additional Liability Pending/or Credit Hold
Once the tax return seems to have met a road bump, taxpayers repeatedly return to the transcript looking for any new related codes. They continue to check Where’s My Refund repeatedly. They are left staring at at generic message “….your tax return is still being processed…” or in some cases, “…there is a delay in processing your tax return…” It leaves people with more questions.
Phone calls to the IRS don’t yield more than a scripted response that they are under review and to wait another 45-60 days. The word “review” incites fear. It has been reported they have been hung up on by representatives answering the phones. This leaves people frustrated.
Despite being told that the Where’s My Refund tool by the IRS is the best way to check the status of your refund, taxpayers check elsewhere for clues about why they haven’t received their refund. Are there delays? What is the delay? Why? Is there a systemic problem with the IRS this year?
In the past, the IRS Where’s My Refund tool didn’t give you finer details as to why your tax refund might be delayed. There were very generic messages. The IRS has recently updated the system and are now providing additional details about the status of a tax refund. But these seem to be just as confusing. And sometimes, Where’s My Refund just doesn’t update with current information at all. The IRS doesn’t share and even denies the other way to get more info. That’s one reason people turn to transcripts.
What happens next?
Bring in the IRS account transcript. In our transcript article we provide full details about how these help you learn more about your tax refund. But if you already have your account transcript and you see Transaction Code 570, don’t panic.
Each year, there are a group of people who report that holds on their refunds because of TC570 and TC971 shown on their Account Transcripts. These transaction codes can mean different things for individual taxpayers. But taxpayers are still trying to draw conclusions based on these transaction codes since they are very vague and not more descriptive.
For instance, TC971 says a notice has been sent but not which notice. People are reporting they haven’t received anything in the mail and can’t seem to get an answer about what has been mailed when they call.
Transaction Code 971 – Notice Sent
We have reached out to the IRS to find out if there is some sort of systemic issue concerning people seeing the TC570 on their Account Transcripts and we get the same response: “the best way to check the status is with the WMR.” So for now, this is what we know about TC 570, TC971 on account transcripts.
Transaction Code 570 and and Transaction Code 971 The Transaction Code 570 description says “Additional account action pending.” Our research shows that the 570 transaction code and others shown on account transcripts are internal and can mean different things for individual taxpayers.
Nonetheless, taxpayers are still trying to find a reason for tax refund delays based on these transaction codes since they are very vague and nondescript. For instance, TC971 says a notice has been sent, but our users are reporting they haven’t received anything in the mail; and that they can’t seem to get an answer about what has been mailed when they call. Again, oftentimes being hung up on my IRS representatives. See what others have reported about their TC 570 in our tax refund live discussion.
If you do get a notice it could be a simple request for documents. These are some of the documents that you should have available.
- Copies of periodic pay statements or check stubs clearly identifying dates of your employment and the gross income received and withholding deducted.
- W2 and/or 1099
- If applicable, a copy of your Form 1095-A, Affordable Insurance Marketplace Statement, or documents showing proof that you or your family enrolled in health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
- For tuition paid during the taxable year, receipts for tuition, fees and books, or transcripts from the educational institution. You can also submit a list of the classes you took showing the payments you made or documents showing that you were enrolled in a postsecondary school program.
Notices from the IRS
The IRS will send a notice or a letter for any number of reasons. It may be about a specific issue on your tax return or account, or may tell you about changes to your account, ask you for more information, or request a payment. Many times you can handle most of this correspondence without calling or visiting an IRS office if you follow the instructions in the document.
Some of the notices you may receive are below. This list is not all inclusive and are just examples.
CP05 /CP05-A: This notice is mailed to taxpayers to notify them that the IRS is holding their refund until the accuracy of the tax credits, income tax withholding or business expenses has been verified. The IRS is holding your refund while it is verifying the accuracy of your return, including one or more of the following you may have reported: credits, income and withholdings that were reported on your return.
CP12: Math error. The refund amount is different than what you are expecting. This notice is sent when the IRS corrects one or more mistakes on your tax return which either result in a different refund amount, or in an overpayment when you thought you owed.
Letter 12C: The IRS needs more information before it can process your return.
Letter 4800C: This is a 30 day notice for a questionable credit. This letter is sent to taxpayers informing them that the IRS is proposing a deficiency or disallowing a claim for refund or a credit for a subsequent period’s estimated tax.
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