IRS transaction code 846: Refund of overpayment

What the IRS calls TC 846

Document 6209, Section 8A lists TC 846 as Refund of overpayment (Debit in the Document 6209 DR/CR column). The remarks column says:

“Debits the tax module for the amount of overpaid tax (plus applicable interest) to be refunded to the taxpayer.”

Source: IRS Document 6209, Section 8A, Master File Codes (Rev. 3/2018), entry for transaction code 846.

In plain language

TC 846 is the refund line. Document 6209 describes it as a generated transaction (computer-created, not typed in). The Taxpayer Advocate Service describes it as representing the issuance of the refund when credits and withholding exceed the tax due and the system generates one.

It is an account-transcript entry, not a bank deposit. The IRS refund tracker is where the IRS says to confirm the date a refund was issued and its status; our date guide covers why the transcript date and the tracker date can differ.

What the date next to it means

Document 6209 does not define the date beside a TC 846. Treat it as the transaction date of that line and confirm the issue date with the IRS refund tracker or your online account. See the date guide linked below. The Taxpayer Advocate Service explains the general rule: a transaction date is the effective date of a transaction on a tax account, and the cycle date represents the date the IRS processed it. Sometimes the two coincide and sometimes they do not. See the transcript date guide and the cycle code decoder.

What the IRS publishes about what comes next

• Document 6209 says a TC 898 Treasury Offset Program offset reduces the amount of the refund it is associated with.
• It says TC 841 credits the period for a refund check (TC 840 or 846) that was cancelled, and that TC 848 reverses a TC 840 or 846 in whole or in part by crediting the module.

This page gives no timing. The IRS documents we read state no timeline for what follows TC 846.

Related codes

• TC 570 (additional liability pending and/or credit hold): hold that freezes refunding.
• TC 898 (treasury offset program offset): offset that reduces the refund.
• TC 806 (credit for withheld taxes and excess fica): withholding credit.
• TC 150 (return filed and tax liability assessed): the return line.
• TC 971 (miscellaneous transaction): miscellaneous code sometimes nearby.

Who this is for

Filers, family members and preparers reading an IRS account transcript who want the published definition of a single line before looking at the rest.

What this page does not cover

• Why TC 846 is on your account, what it means for your situation, or what to do about it.
• When a refund will arrive. Use the IRS refund tracker or your online account.
• Anything beyond the Rev. 3/2018 Section 8A entry and the Taxpayer Advocate Service explanations cited below.
• Tax or legal advice. Use your IRS online account or contact the IRS or a qualified tax professional for your case.