IRS Transcript Code 971: Miscellaneous Transaction
A marker whose meaning depends entirely on its action code. On many accounts it appears when the IRS issues a notice, but that is one case among dozens.
The official definition, IRS Document 6209
Miscellaneous Transaction. Performs different actions based on the Action Code, which are listed separately.
What it means for your refund
Depends on the action code. The Document 6209 action-code list runs from amended-return routing to bankruptcy discharge to accepted offer in compromise; paired with a 570, a 971 often means a letter is on the way explaining the hold.
The folklore, corrected
Myth: 971 means audit.
The official title is Miscellaneous Transaction, and the action code decides what it did: return posted to the wrong TIN, an amended return forwarded, non-receipt of a refund check, a notice issued, and many others. The audit referral code is 420.
Reading the transcript around it
Codes rarely act alone: holds (570, 810) pair with releases (571, 811), a 971 often flags the letter that explains a hold, and the refund itself is always the 846 line. The full code index maps the neighbors, including the cycle code and As-of date explained without the folklore. If the account shows a balance rather than a refund, the letters that follow are decoded in our IRS notice decoder.
Sources: IRS Document 6209, Section 8A; IRM 21.5.6; IRS refund myth page. Verified July 2026.
General educational information, not tax advice. A transcript entry only means something in the context of your account; a credentialed tax professional can read yours in full. ClearChoiceRadar is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency.