# IRS code 846: refund issued, and when the money actually arrives

Source: https://taxrefunddesk.com/transcript-codes/transcript-code-846
Publisher: Tax Refund Desk (taxrefunddesk.com), independent editorial site
Topic: Transcript Codes
Last updated: 2026-09-19

> IRS code 846 means refund of overpayment: the IRS has scheduled your refund, and the amount on the line includes any interest owed to you. The date beside it is the scheduled payment date. Under IRS processing rules, that date is set four business days after posting for direct deposit and six for a paper check.

## Key facts

- TC 846 meaning: Refund of overpayment issued, plus any interest
- Direct deposit payment date: Posting cycle date plus 4 business days
- Paper check payment date: Posting cycle date plus 6 business days
- Trace a missing deposit: 5 days after the 21-day processing period
- Offset code that can reduce it: TC 898 (Treasury Offset Program)

## What IRS code 846 means

IRS code 846 is the transaction code for **refund of overpayment**. IRS Document 6209 defines it as the entry that debits your tax account for the overpaid tax, plus any applicable interest, that is being refunded to you. Once it posts, the IRS has finished processing the refund and handed payment to the Treasury.

On the transcript the line reads something like Refund issued, with a date and a positive dollar amount. After it posts, your account balance should return to $0.00 unless another credit or charge is pending. For what the earlier lines mean, see our list of [IRS transcript codes](https://taxrefunddesk.com/transcript-codes).

> **Why the 846 can be larger than your return:** If the IRS paid interest because the refund was late, a TC 776 (interest due on overpayment) posts too, and the 846 amount includes it. The IRS generally has 45 days to issue a refund before overpayment interest applies.

## Code 846 refund issued: the date shown vs the arrival date

The date on a TC 846 line is the refund payment date the IRS computed, not the day the refund was approved. The Internal Revenue Manual (IRM 3.30.123) says IMF computes that date as the posted cycle date **plus four business days for direct deposit** and **plus six business days for a paper check**.

### Worked example using an IRS cycle

The IRM gives cycle 20263102 as an example: transactions released on Monday, August 3, 2026. Counting four business days forward gives a direct deposit payment date of Friday, August 7, 2026. Counting six gives a paper check date of Tuesday, August 11, 2026, and the check still needs mail time after that.

Your bank then posts the deposit on its own schedule. The IRS notes that banks may not post deposits on weekends or federal holidays, so an 846 dated on a Friday can show up the following Monday or Tuesday. For more on reading the eight-digit number, see our page on [IRS cycle codes](https://taxrefunddesk.com/transcript-codes/irs-cycle-codes).

## Can a refund be offset after code 846?

Yes. An 846 shows the full refund the IRS released, but the Bureau of the Fiscal Service can still take part or all of it through the Treasury Offset Program for past-due child support, federal agency debts, state income tax debts or certain unemployment debts. That offset shows as a **TC 898** posted with the same date as the refund it reduced.

| Code | Meaning | Who to contact |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 826 | Overpayment moved to another federal tax balance (before the 846) | IRS, per the CP49 notice |
| 898 | Treasury Offset Program offset for a non-tax debt | The agency named in the BFS notice |
| 776 | Interest added to your refund | No action needed |

Codes that change what you receive from an 846

BFS mails a notice showing the original refund, the amount taken and the agency that received it; disputes go to that agency, not the IRS ([Tax Topic 203](https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc203)). Our page on the [Treasury Offset Program](https://taxrefunddesk.com/reduced-refunds/treasury-offset-program) covers how to contact BFS and when a spouse can recover their share.

## What to do when the money does not arrive after an 846

Give the bank or the mail a fair window first. The Taxpayer Advocate Service says to request a refund trace if a direct deposit has not arrived 5 days after the 21-day processing period, or a paper check has not arrived within 6 weeks of mailing the return.

1. Check the account number on your return against your bank records. The IRS does not take responsibility for account errors made by you or your preparer.
2. Look at the transcript for a line after the 846. A **TC 841** (cancelled refund deposit) means the bank sent the money back; a **TC 740** means a paper check came back as undeliverable.
3. If the deposit was rejected, watch for a CP53E asking you to add or update bank information within 30 days; see our [CP53E notice](https://taxrefunddesk.com/missing-refunds/irs-cp53e-notice) page.
4. If nothing came back and nothing arrived, start a trace; the steps are on our [IRS refund trace](https://taxrefunddesk.com/missing-refunds/irs-refund-trace) page.
5. If the money went to a closed account, see [refund sent to a closed account](https://taxrefunddesk.com/missing-refunds/refund-sent-closed-account) for what the bank and the IRS each do.

## What does code 846 on an IRS transcript mean if a hold was there before?

An 846 posting after a 570 hold means the hold was released and the refund went out, usually with a TC 571 or TC 290 posted just before it. Compare the 846 amount with the refund on your return. If it is lower, the difference usually matches an adjustment line and a notice such as a CP12.

Our page on [code 570 and the 571 release](https://taxrefunddesk.com/transcript-codes/transcript-code-570) explains the hold side. If a notice code sits next to the 846, [code 971](https://taxrefunddesk.com/transcript-codes/transcript-code-971) explains how to tell which letter was sent.

## Common questions

### How long after 846 will I get my refund?

The 846 date is the scheduled payment date. Direct deposits usually land that day or within a few business days depending on your bank; paper checks need mail time after that date.

### Does Where's My Refund change when code 846 posts?

Usually the tool moves to Refund Sent around the same time, but the two update on different schedules. The transcript can show the 846 first, or the other way round.

### What if the 846 amount is different from my return?

A higher amount usually means interest was added (TC 776). A lower amount means the IRS changed the return or applied part of the refund to a debt; a notice will explain.

### Can the IRS take back a refund after code 846?

If the IRS later finds an error it can adjust the return and bill you, which posts as a new line such as TC 290. That is separate from an offset, which happens as the refund is paid.

### Why do I have two 846 codes on one transcript?

A second 846 usually means a second refund, for example after an amended return, a reversed offset or a reissued check. Each has its own date and amount.

## Sources

- [Document 6209, Section 8A, Master File Codes](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-6209/6209sec8amasterfilecodes.pdf)
- [IRM 3.30.123, Processing Timeliness: Cycles, Criteria and Critical Dates](https://www.irs.gov/irm/part3/irm_03-030-123r)
- [Lost or stolen refund, Taxpayer Advocate Service](https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/get-help/refunds/lost-or-stolen-refund/)
- [Tax Topic 203, Reduced refund](https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc203)
- [Understanding your CP53E notice](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-cp53e-notice)
- [Interest, IRS](https://www.irs.gov/payments/interest)