IRS code 570 on a transcript generally means the IRS is holding additional liability pending and/or freezing a credit so it cannot be refunded or offset out. It does not, by itself, tell you why, whether you owe more tax, or when money will be released. Start by reading the actual notice in your records, then compare the transcript entry with the return and payment records you have. If no notice exists, check whether one was issued and follow its due date if a response is requested.
What code 570 actually records
The IRS master file code list gives transaction code (TC) 570 a technical title of Additional Liability Pending and/or Credit Hold. In plain terms, a module on the account is frozen: a credit that would otherwise refund or offset out is being held while something on the account is unresolved.
The important limitation is that the same code can arise from different account situations. Because of that:
- Code 570 alone does not diagnose one specific cause.
- It does not establish that a final, additional tax bill exists.
- It does not tell you how many days until a refund is released.
- It is not a notice number, and it is not interchangeable with a CP or LTR notice.
Transaction codes come from the IRS master file, not from a form you file. The code list is a public reference document, but it is written for account administration, not as a consumer instruction. Reading it can help you understand what a transcript entry is doing, but it is not a next-step plan by itself.
Transcript entries are clues, not conclusions
A transcript is a record of account activity. It shows what was posted, not why a human or a system decided something. That distinction matters most when a freeze appears. Two accounts can both show 570 and need completely different follow-up.
A practical habit: read the entry in order — tax period, then transaction entries by date, then any description text attached to the entry. If a description says something specific, use it. If the description says a notice was issued, work from that notice, not from a guess about what the code "always" means.
For a broader walkthrough of account content and how to request it, see Tax Account Transcript: What It Shows and How to Read It, and for the documents side of the picture, Wage and Income Transcript: How to Get It and Check It.
Codes 571 and 572
Two related codes appear next to 570:
- TC 571 releases the 570/576 freeze status.
- TC 572 removes a 570/576 input that was made in error.
These are specific freeze changes. They do not prove that every other issue on the account is resolved, and they do not mean a deposit will arrive on a fixed day. Treat them as one event in a sequence, not a finish line.
Check-next table
The table below separates what you can see from what you still need. The fourth column points to the kind of official source that can actually answer the open question.
| Visible entry | What it establishes | What stays unresolved | Where to look next |
|---|---|---|---|
| TC 570 posted for a tax period | A freeze is present on that module | The reason, whether a final liability exists, timing | The notice for that period; IRS master file code list and guidance on understanding notices |
| TC 570 with a description that mentions a notice | A notice type was recorded | What the notice asks of you and by when | The actual CP/LTR notice in your records; online account for that notice if available |
| TC 571 posted later | The 570/576 freeze status was released | Whether other account conditions remain | Later transcript entries and any new notice |
| TC 572 posted | A 570/576 input was removed as an error | Nothing about other periods or other issues | Re-read the affected tax period after the change posts |
| No notice found | Only that no notice is in your files | Whether one was issued | Your online account notice list and the standard notice guidance |
Two cautions belong with this table. First, not all notices are available online; only certain ones are. Second, no fixed cycle day, no "as of" date, and no same-date or different-date folklore can tell you when a refund will be deposited.
Synthetic example
This example is illustrative only and uses generic roles — it is not a real account.
A taxpayer reviews their account transcript and sees an entry dated in the spring with a description indicating a notice was issued, followed by a 570 entry for the same tax period. The taxpayer had a credit on the return that they expected to be refunded. Nothing else changed.
Correct reading: a hold is present, and a notice appears to be involved. The notice itself is the operative document. The taxpayer should retrieve that notice, note its due date, and respond as directed if a response is requested. What the taxpayer should not do is conclude that the refund was denied, that a new balance is final, or that the money will arrive on a particular date because of the code alone.
What not to conclude
- Not a new bill. A pending liability entry is not a final assessment.
- Not a deadline. The code does not create or extend a response period.
- Not proof of a refund date. No code entry guarantees a deposit day.
- Not a diagnosis. One cause cannot be inferred from the number.
- Not an instruction to act on codes. Readers should never try to input or clear transaction codes; that is account administration, not a taxpayer action.
If the account also shows IRS Code 971: What It Records and What to Check, read that entry separately. Code 971 is a miscellaneous transaction whose meaning depends on its action code, so it may or may not be related to the freeze.
Notice-driven checks
When a notice exists, the notice controls. IRS sends notices for many reasons, including a changed refund or return, a balance due, identity questions, or delayed processing. Use these steps:
- Locate the CP or LTR number on the notice and identify the tax period it covers.
- Read the full notice and keep it with your records.
- If the notice requests a response, respond by its due date.
- If you disagree, follow the dispute instructions printed on that notice.
- If no response is requested and you agree, no reply is generally needed.
- Check whether that notice appears in your online account; only certain notices and letters are posted there.
A transcript transaction code is not a notice number, and a notice is not a transcript. Do not treat them as substitutes.
The plain-language IRS guidance on understanding your notice or letter is the right companion when you have the paper in hand.
FAQ
Does code 570 mean I am being audited?
Not necessarily. The code list defines TC 570 as Additional Liability Pending and/or Credit Hold. The code alone does not establish an audit. If your account description or a notice actually says something specific, follow that wording instead of the general label.
Does code 571 mean my refund will be deposited soon?
TC 571 releases 570/576 freeze status. It does not prove that all other account conditions are resolved, and it does not establish a deposit date. Look at later entries and any new notice for the current picture.
Can I find code 570 in my online account without a transcript?
You can view account information and certain notices in your online account, but the format and availability differ by channel and record. If you need the entry itself, request the transcript through the official route described in the IRS transcript guidance.
How long does a 570 hold last?
There is no fixed number of days attached to the code in the official source, and no cycle-day formula to apply. The answer depends on what the underlying condition is, which the code alone does not identify.
The transcript says one thing and my notice says another. Which should I follow?
Respond by the notice's deadline and follow its instructions. If the entries appear contradictory, contact the IRS for clarification rather than assuming one document automatically supersedes the other.
Checklist
- [ ] I have the tax period and the exact entry text, not just the code number.
- [ ] I searched my records for a CP or LTR notice covering that period.
- [ ] I checked my online account for notices, knowing only certain ones are posted.
- [ ] I noted the notice's due date and any response requested.
- [ ] I compared the transcript entry with my filed return and payment records.
- [ ] I have not assumed a cause, a final balance, or a refund date from the code alone.
- [ ] I know to use official IRS service channels for individual tax questions, not a third-party article or public forum.
- [ ] I have not sent sensitive documents to any public thread.
For tax firms
Firm-side, the same discipline applies at volume: a transcript entry is a clue that belongs next to the notice and the client record, not by itself. Authorization scope, eligible designations and access channels differ across forms and representatives. The related permissions work is covered in the Form 2848 guide and Form 8821 guide; note that a PTIN or CAF identifier does not create client authorization on its own.
Discuss your firm’s authorization, transcript and CRM workflow in a 26T1 demo.