IRS code 570: why your refund is on hold and what releases it

What IRS code 570 means on your transcript

IRS code 570 is the transaction code for additional liability pending and/or credit hold. IRS Document 6209 says it freezes the tax module from refunding or offsetting any credit, so the refund your return calculated stays on the account instead of going out.

A code 570 on an IRS transcript is a pause, not a decision. It does not mean you owe money or that the refund is denied. It means something must be checked or completed first, and the IRS has blocked payment until that happens. For the other lines that can appear around it, see our full list of IRS transcript codes.

On the transcript, the 570 line usually carries a $0.00 amount and a date. The date is when the hold took effect, not a release date. The account balance above it stays negative, showing the refund is still owed to you.

Common causes of a 570 hold

Document 6209 lists several events that generate a TC 570 automatically, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service lists the everyday reasons refunds are held. Together they point to these causes.

• Income, withholding or credit check: the IRS wants to confirm W-2 wages, withholding, or refundable credits such as the EITC. This is the review behind a CP05 notice.
• Identity verification: a return filtered for possible identity theft is held until you verify through Letter 5071C, a CP5071 notice or a related letter.
• Return posted with a hold flag: Document 6209 says a TC 570 generates when a return posts with a specific computer condition code, meaning processing flagged it on the way in.
• Examination or credit balance issues: a credit balance on a module that also has an open examination indicator (TC 420) generates a 570.
• Unfiled prior-year returns: TAS lists missing earlier returns as a reason a current refund is held.

IRS code 570: how long does the hold last?

There is no fixed length for a 570 hold; it lasts as long as the underlying issue. The Taxpayer Advocate Service publishes guideline times that give a realistic range (TAS, held or stopped refunds).

If the hold goes past these times with no letter, contact the IRS. If the delay is causing a serious financial hardship, the Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to help; our page on the IRS hardship refund request explains who qualifies.

Does code 570 mean I will get a letter?

Not always. When the IRS needs something from you, it mails a notice, and the transcript records that with a TC 971 line, often posted on or near the date of the 570. If there is a 570 but no 971, the IRS may be resolving the issue internally, and the hold can release without any letter.

Check the transcript for a 971 line and your mailbox for the matching notice. Our page on code 971, notice issued shows which notices tend to pair with a 570. Respond to any letter by its deadline; the hold will not clear until the IRS gets what it asked for.

How a 570 is released: TC 571 and TC 290

A 570 hold is released in one of two ways. TC 571, reversal of TC 570, lifts the freeze with no change to the return. A TC 290 also releases the 570 hold under Document 6209; a TC 290 with a $0.00 amount often means the review ended with no change, while a positive amount means extra tax was assessed and the refund will be smaller.

After the release, the next line to watch for is TC 846, refund of overpayment, which carries the scheduled refund date. Our page on code 846 explains how that date relates to when the money reaches your bank. If the 571 or 290 has posted but no 846 follows within a couple of weeks, check for a second hold code such as 810, or an offset code such as 898.

Worked example: a 570 released with a change

Say your return showed a $3,400 refund, a 570 posted, and the IRS then disallowed $600 of a credit. The transcript would show an adjustment line releasing the hold (often a TC 290 dated the same day, sometimes with a separate line reducing the credit), then a TC 846 for $2,800. The IRS mails a notice such as a CP12 explaining the change; if you disagree, contact the IRS by the date on the notice, generally within 60 days.