IRS Transaction Codes Explained — What TC Codes Mean on Your Transcript
Direct answer
IRS transaction codes are three-digit posting events on your account transcript — each one records something the IRS did (assessed tax, posted a payment, filed a lien, placed CNC, and more). Brevitax reads the full sequence and explains what each code means for your balance, collection status, and next steps.
If you opened an IRS account transcript and saw lines like TC 150 or TC 971, you are not alone. These codes are the IRS ledger — and they matter long after you get the PDF. Start with our guide to obtaining transcripts, then use this hub to decode what landed on your account.
Reviewed August 2026 · Joseph Lancaster, Founder · About the author
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How Brevitax turns transaction codes into plain language
Get your IRS account transcripts
Transaction codes only exist on transcripts — account transcripts for balances and posting history, return transcripts for what was filed. Brevitax can request them for you, walk you through a live IRS call, or accept uploads.
Brevitax reads the posting sequence
Codes appear in date order. A payment (TC 670), a penalty, a notice, and a lien (TC 582) tell a story — not a single balance number. Brevitax preserves that sequence instead of flattening it.
Each TC code is translated in context
TC 971 is not one thing — the action code after it matters. TC 530 means CNC, but the closing code still matters. Brevitax maps codes to plain-language events tied to your year and module.
See what needs attention — not just definitions
Open levies, active liens, statute clocks, pending offers, and payments that have not posted surface as attention items — with links to deeper code pages when you want the full implication.
Why transaction codes matter
Balances are built from codes
The amount you owe is the sum of assessments, adjustments, penalties, interest, and payments — each posted as a code. One missing payment post can make a notice look scarier than the ledger supports.
Collection status lives in codes
CNC (TC 530), liens (TC 582), levies (TC 668), and bankruptcy holds (TC 520) are all posting events. They tell you whether collection is active, paused, or escalating.
Programs and statutes show up too
TC 150 starts assessment clocks. TC 694 and TC 780 mark offer-in-compromise activity. Reading codes is how you verify what a firm claimed actually posted.
Common IRS transaction codes
Each page below explains what the code means on your transcript and what it implies for balances, collection, and next steps. Tax professionals: resolution implications are on each detail page.
TC-150
Your return was filed and tax assessed — the starting point for how long the IRS can collect.
Read TC-150 →
TC-290
Additional tax was assessed — often from an audit, amendment, or IRS adjustment.
Read TC-290 →
TC-420
Your return was selected for audit — collection programs may need to wait.
Read TC-420 →
TC-424
An examination was requested — treat as an incoming audit flag.
Read TC-424 →
TC-520
Bankruptcy or litigation hold — IRS collection is generally paused.
Read TC-520 →
TC-530 · CNC
Currently Not Collectible — collection paused, but the debt usually still exists.
Read TC-530 →
TC-582 · Federal Tax Lien
Federal tax lien filed — public record that can affect credit and property.
Read TC-582 →
TC-668 · Levy
Levy issued — highest-priority collection action on the transcript.
Read TC-668 →
TC-670
Payment received and applied — check that it posted to the right year.
Read TC-670 →
TC-694 · OIC
Offer in Compromise received — collection often suspended while under review.
Read TC-694 →
TC-780 · OIC
Offer in Compromise accepted — follow the accepted terms and remaining payments.
Read TC-780 →
TC-846 · Refund issued
Refund approved and scheduled — confirms timing when Where’s My Refund lags.
Read TC-846 →
TC-570 · Additional account action pending
Return on hold for IRS review — refunds are often delayed until the hold clears.
Read TC-570 →
TC-571 · Hold resolved
A prior TC 570 hold was resolved — watch for TC 846 or the next notice.
Read TC-571 →
TC-196 · Interest charge
Interest charged — accrues on unpaid tax and penalties until paid.
Read TC-196 →
TC-276 · Penalty assessment
Penalty assessed — explains why balance grew beyond original tax.
Read TC-276 →
TC-610 · Refund offset
Refund applied to another tax debt — offset instead of payment to you.
Read TC-610 →
TC-971 · Action Code
Miscellaneous IRS action — read the action code that follows; meaning varies widely.
Read TC-971 →
Related guides
IRS transcript codes guide
TC 150, 846, 570, refund tracking, and how to read your tax account — the citeable overview.
How to get IRS transcripts
Request records with Brevitax, join a guided IRS call, or upload your own — step by step.
IRS account transcript explained
What an account transcript shows vs a return transcript — and why posting sequence matters.
Wage & income transcript explained
What payors reported — W-2s, 1099s — for CP2000 and unfiled years.
IRS notices explained
CP notice codes linked to plain-language summaries.
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Stop decoding IRS codes line by line
Brevitax ingests account transcripts, translates transaction codes into a year-by-year timeline, and highlights what changed — from $29/mo self-serve with a 7-day trial, or with optional records-request and guided-call tiers when you want us to obtain transcripts for you.
Common questions
What is an IRS transaction code?
A transaction code (TC) is a three-digit IRS code on an account transcript that records a posting event — tax assessed, payment received, penalty charged, lien filed, levy issued, CNC status, and hundreds of others. The code plus its date and amount tell you what the IRS did to your account.
Where do I find transaction codes?
On IRS account transcripts — online through IRS.gov, by mail via Form 4506-T, through an authorized representative, or by having Brevitax request records for you. See our how-to-get-transcripts guide for the full path.
What is the most important transaction code?
It depends on your situation. TC 668 (levy) and TC 582 (lien) are urgent collection signals. TC 150 anchors assessment and collection-statute timing. TC 971 requires reading the action code that follows — never treat it as a generic note.
Does Brevitax explain every TC code?
Brevitax translates the codes that appear on your transcripts into plain-language timeline events and attention items. This hub documents the most common resolution-related codes in depth; your dashboard covers the codes on your actual account.
What is TC 971?
TC 971 is a multipurpose miscellaneous action code. The action code (AC) after it determines the meaning — for example, lien-related actions, passport certification, or CDP events. Always read TC 971 with its AC, not in isolation.
I already have transcripts — can I upload them?
Yes. Upload account transcript PDFs to Brevitax and the software builds your timeline and code translations without you looking up each TC manually.
See your transaction codes explained
Upload transcripts or have Brevitax request them — then read your IRS account in plain language, not raw TC lines.
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