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

Source: https://taxrefunddesk.com/transcript-codes/transcript-code-570
Publisher: Tax Refund Desk (taxrefunddesk.com), independent editorial site
Topic: Transcript Codes
Last updated: 2026-10-20

> IRS code 570 means additional liability pending or credit hold: it freezes your account so no refund or offset can go out until the IRS finishes a check. The hold ends when a TC 571 reverses it or a TC 290 posts, after which a TC 846 refund can follow. Many holds clear within weeks; reviews can take 45 to 180 days.

## Key facts

- TC 570 meaning: Additional liability pending or credit hold
- Released by: TC 571, or a TC 290 adjustment
- After you send requested information: About 60 days (TAS guideline)
- IRS review: 45 to 180 days (TAS guideline)
- CP05 review: Allow up to 60 days before contacting the IRS

## 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](https://taxrefunddesk.com/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](https://taxrefunddesk.com/refund-delays/cp05-notice-refund-review).
- **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](https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/get-help/refunds/held-or-stopped-refunds/)).

| Situation | Guideline | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CP05 income or credit verification | Up to 60 days before contacting the IRS | IRS CP05 page |
| You sent information the IRS asked for | About 60 days | TAS |
| IRS review of wages, withholding or credits | 45 to 180 days by complexity | TAS |
| Refund after successful identity verification | Up to 9 weeks | IRS Letter 4883C page |
| Missing prior-year returns filed | About 90 days | TAS |

Guideline times for common 570 situations

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](https://taxrefunddesk.com/refund-delays/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](https://taxrefunddesk.com/transcript-codes/transcript-code-971) 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.

> **Do not amend to clear a hold:** A Form 1040-X will not lift a 570. The IRS says not to amend for math errors it has already corrected or to send forms it will request anyway. Answer the letter instead, unless the letter itself tells you to amend.

## 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](https://taxrefunddesk.com/transcript-codes/transcript-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.

## Common questions

### Is code 570 bad on an IRS transcript?

It means a delay, not a denial. Most 570 holds are released once the IRS finishes its check or gets the information it asked for.

### What does 571 mean on an IRS transcript?

TC 571 reverses TC 570 and releases the hold. A refund (TC 846) can then be scheduled if no other freeze is open.

### Can a 570 hold go away without a 571?

Yes. Document 6209 says a TC 290 also releases the 570 hold, so an adjustment line can end the hold instead of a 571.

### Why does my transcript show 570 and 971 on the same day?

The 570 froze the refund and the 971 recorded that the IRS issued a notice about it. Check your mail for the matching letter.

### Will calling the IRS release a 570 hold?

Usually not before the guideline time has passed, because the hold is tied to a review or a missing response. Calling helps if the letter never arrived or the time frame has passed.

## Sources

- [Document 6209, Section 8A, Master File Codes](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-6209/6209sec8amasterfilecodes.pdf)
- [Held or stopped refunds, Taxpayer Advocate Service](https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/get-help/refunds/held-or-stopped-refunds/)
- [Understanding your CP05 notice](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp05-notice)
- [Understanding your Letter 4883C or 6330C](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-letter-4883c-or-6330c)
- [Understanding your CP12 notice](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp12-notice)
- [File an amended return](https://www.irs.gov/filing/file-an-amended-return)