IRS Transcripts & Refunds
846 Refund Issued Date: What It Means and When You Get Paid (2025)
The short answer: the 846 refund issued date on your IRS account transcript means your refund is approved and scheduled. Code 846 reads "Refund Issued," and the date beside it is the day the IRS released your money. Direct deposits usually land within about five business days; paper checks take longer.
⏱ What the date means: the date next to Code 846 is the refund issue date — the day the IRS sent your refund, not always the day it hits your bank. For direct deposit, expect the money within roughly 1–5 business days. For a paper check, the IRS mails it around that date, so allow extra time for delivery.
What code 846 actually is
If you've been refreshing your transcript and finally spotted 846 "Refund Issued," take a breath — this is the good code. It's the line everyone is waiting for. It tells you the IRS finished processing your return, approved your refund, and scheduled the payment.
The 846 line shows two things that matter: a dollar amount (your refund) and a date (when the IRS issued it). Unlike most transcript codes, the 846 date is a real, forward-looking date — the day your refund was released, not just the day a record was updated. If you're new to reading these documents, our guide on how to read an IRS account transcript walks through every column line by line.
When the money actually arrives
Here's where people get confused. The 846 date is the day the IRS sends your refund — but how fast you see it depends on how you chose to be paid and how quickly your bank posts deposits.
- Direct deposit: most refunds land on or within about five business days of the 846 date. Some banks post the money a day or two early; others hold it until the exact date.
- Paper check: the IRS mails the check around the 846 date, then it has to travel through the postal system. Plan on a week or more after the issue date.
- Where's My Refund: the IRS's Where's My Refund tool usually flips to "Refund Sent" around the same time the 846 appears, with the deposit or mail date.
The codes that lead up to 846
Code 846 doesn't show up alone. It's the last step in a short sequence of transaction codes. Knowing the order helps you see exactly where you are while you wait:
- 150 — your return was filed and the tax was assessed. The IRS has your return in the system.
- 806 — credit for the federal income tax withheld from your W-2s and 1099s.
- 766 / 768 — refundable credits posted to your account, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit.
- 570 — a temporary hold. The IRS is reviewing something before releasing the refund. Not a denial — just a pause.
- 571 / 572 — the hold from 570 is resolved. The refund can move forward.
- 846 — Refund Issued. You're here. The money is on its way.
If you see a 570 with no 846 yet, the refund is held but not lost. Sometimes a 971 (notice issued) appears alongside it, meaning a letter is on the way explaining what the IRS needs. To pull your own transcript and watch these codes update, see our walkthrough on getting your IRS transcript online.
What to do if the 846 date passes and nothing arrives
Most refunds show up right on schedule. But if the 846 date comes and goes with no money, work through these steps before you panic:
- Wait the full window first — at least five business days past the date for direct deposit, longer for a paper check. Weekends and holidays don't count.
- Check your bank's pending deposits — the money may be in transit but not yet posted to your available balance.
- Confirm your deposit details — if you entered a wrong account or routing number, the bank can reject the deposit. The IRS then mails a paper check, which adds weeks.
- Recheck Where's My Refund and your transcript — a new code may explain a change.
- Contact the IRS or your bank if real time has passed with no money. If a refund is seriously delayed and causing hardship, the Taxpayer Advocate Service can sometimes help.
Can your refund still be reduced after code 846?
This catches people off guard. Code 846 shows your full approved refund — but a separate code can shrink what actually reaches you. The most common is 898, which means part or all of your refund was applied through the Treasury Offset Program to a past-due debt: child support, defaulted federal student loans, state income tax, or unemployment overpayments.
If you owe the IRS for an earlier year, you may instead see code 826, which moves your refund to that older balance. Either way, you'd receive less than the 846 amount. If you're worried about this, read up on whether the IRS will take your refund for back taxes and how the offset process works.
Refund taken or held — and you owe the IRS?
If your refund vanished into an old tax balance, or a 570 hold won't clear because of debt from a prior year, an experienced tax professional can review your situation free and explain your options. No pressure, fully confidential.
846 refund issued date, answered
What does code 846 mean on my IRS transcript?
Code 846 means "Refund Issued." The IRS has finished processing your return, approved your refund, and scheduled it for payment. The dollar amount next to the code is your refund, and the date next to it is the day the IRS issued it.
Is the 846 date the day I'll actually get my refund?
Not exactly. The 846 date is the day the IRS released your refund, not always the day it lands in your account. Direct deposits usually arrive on or within about five business days of that date. Paper checks are mailed around the date and take longer to reach you.
How many days after code 846 will I get my refund?
For direct deposit, most people see the money within one to five business days of the 846 date, depending on how fast their bank posts it. For a paper check, allow extra time for mailing — often a week or more after the issue date.
I have code 846 but no refund yet — what should I do?
First, wait until at least five business days past the 846 date for direct deposit, or longer for a paper check. Then check Where's My Refund and your bank's pending deposits. If the date has passed with nothing received, contact the IRS or your bank, since the deposit may have been rejected or the check delayed.
Can my refund still be taken even though I have code 846?
Yes. Code 846 is the full approved refund, but a separate code — such as 898 — can reduce it for past-due child support, federal student loans, state debts, or back taxes through the Treasury Offset Program. If you see code 898, you'll receive less than the 846 amount.
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation. Eligibility for IRS programs depends on individual facts and circumstances; no outcome is guaranteed.