View helpful tax information

How to read an IRS tax transcript.

A transcript can show what the IRS has on file and how activity posted to your account. Here’s a plain-language way to read the main sections and some common transaction codes.

Get a transcript from IRS.gov Back to helpful tax information

Start with the transcript type

Different transcripts answer different questions.

Tax return transcript

Shows most line items from the original Form 1040-series return as filed. It generally does not show changes made after filing.

Tax account transcript

Shows basic return information and account activity, such as payments, credits, adjustments, and transaction codes.

Wage and income transcript

Shows information-return data the IRS has received, such as Forms W-2 and 1099. It may not include every form issued to you or information that has not posted yet.

Record of account

Combines return-transcript and account-transcript information for the tax year.

A transcript is not a photocopy of your tax return. If you need a copy of the return you filed, the IRS has a separate request process.

A simple way to read it

Follow the details in order.

01Check the year and transcript type

Make sure you’re looking at the tax year you need and the transcript type that answers your question.

02Read the account summary

Look for filing status, balance or overpayment information, and the date through which any balance calculation applies.

03Read each transaction row

Compare the transaction code and its description with the date and amount shown on that same row. Review nearby entries too; multiple entries can explain one account action.

04Match notices to the actual letter

If you see a notice entry, use the notice number and read the IRS letter itself. It explains what the IRS is asking you to do and by when.

Amounts and dates need context. Credits and adjustments may appear as negative amounts on some transcripts. The date shown is a posting or transaction date; it is not always a promise about when a refund will arrive.

Common transaction codes

What these entries generally mean.

These are common examples for individual account transcripts. The IRS’s description, amount, nearby entries, tax year, and any letter all matter.

150 Tax return filed

Shows a return transaction posted to the account, with related return-tax information. Check the date and amount shown.

806 Withholding credit

Reflects tax withholding credited to the account, such as withholding reported on a W-2 or 1099.

766 Credit to the account

Indicates a credit entry. The description and amount help identify the credit; the code by itself does not explain eligibility or the full reason it posted.

846 Refund issued

Indicates a refund was issued and is commonly shown with an amount and date. For current refund status, use the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool. Understand what IRS Code 846 says about a refund.

570 Additional account action pending

Shows that additional account action is pending. This code alone does not tell you the cause or establish that your return is being audited. Review what IRS Code 570 can mean on your transcript.

971 Notice or other account action

Often appears with a notice entry. Check the description and any notice number, then read the actual IRS letter for the specific request or explanation. Learn how IRS Code 971 records an account action.

290 Additional tax assessed

Review the amount and nearby transactions. A zero-dollar entry can be used for account processing and does not necessarily mean additional tax was charged.

A code is one piece of the account history. Don’t assume an audit, refund date, or balance due from a single code. Look at the full transcript and any IRS notice that applies.

Identity verification and filing PINs

Know which PIN or IRS check applies.

Identity verification, an Identity Protection PIN, and an e-file signature PIN are related to filing, but they do different jobs.

When the IRS asks you to verify a return

A letter such as CP5071 series or 4883C means the IRS needs to confirm whether you filed the return before it can continue processing it. Follow the exact steps on your letter: some notices allow online verification, while others direct you to call the number shown or verify in person. If the return is yours, complete the check; if you did not file it, tell the IRS through the method in the notice. Have the listed tax return and supporting records ready.

IRS: CP5071 identity verification · IRS: Letter 4883C

A verification letter is not, by itself, a finding of fraud or an audit. For Letter 4883C, the IRS says not to file Form 14039; follow the letter’s instructions.

The six-digit IP PIN

An Identity Protection PIN helps stop another person from e-filing a federal return with your SSN or ITIN. Not every taxpayer is required to have one: the IRS may assign one, or an eligible taxpayer can choose to enroll. If you have an IP PIN, retrieve the current calendar-year number before filing and enter it where required. A missing or incorrect IP PIN can reject an e-filed return; a paper return can take longer to process. A new IP PIN is issued each year.

IRS: Get an IP PIN · IRS: IP PIN questions and answers

Five-digit e-file PINs are different

A five-digit Self-Select PIN is one way to sign an electronically filed return. A tax professional may use the Practitioner PIN method with your signed e-file authorization. Neither replaces a six-digit IP PIN the IRS assigned to you. If you have an IP PIN, give it to your preparer through the secure process they provide so it can be entered correctly.

IRS: Signing your return electronically

Before e-filing: Check whether you, your spouse, or a dependent has an IP PIN. Include the correct current-year PIN for each person whose PIN is required on that return. The IRS does not require a dependent’s IP PIN on a paper return. Keep your PIN private and share it only as needed for return preparation.

Common IRS notices

Read the letter, not just the code.

A transcript may show account activity related to a notice, but the notice itself explains the request, amount, tax year, and response date.

CP12 · Return correction

The IRS corrected one or more mistakes, which may change the refund. Read what changed; if you disagree, use the response instructions and deadline in the notice.

IRS: Understanding a CP12 notice

CP2000 · Proposed change

This notice points to a mismatch between return information and data reported by a third party. It is a proposal, not a bill. Review the forms and respond by the date shown, whether you agree or disagree.

IRS: Understanding a CP2000 notice

CP14 · Balance due

This notice generally says the IRS records show an amount due. Compare it with your payment records and transcript, then follow the notice’s payment or dispute instructions by the stated date.

IRS: Understanding a CP14 notice

Protect yourself from impostors. The IRS usually starts contact by mail and does not initiate contact by email or social media to request personal or financial information. Be cautious with unexpected texts or urgent payment threats. Check notices in your IRS Online Account or use IRS.gov to find official contact information.

IRS: Ways to tell if the IRS is reaching out or if it’s a scammer

Protect your information

Keep your transcript private.

Transcripts show sensitive financial details even when some identifying information is masked. Use your IRS online account or another official IRS method to get your transcript, and share it only through a secure process with someone who needs it.

A transcript explains account activity; preparation is a separate process. Explore virtual individual tax return support and learn how D-XIRE’s preparation process works.

Official IRS sources

Prepared for general educational purposes. Transcript descriptions and account activity can vary; consult the IRS notice or a qualified tax professional about your specific records.

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