Code 768 on IRS Transcript – What Does it Mean?

Tax Code 768 on IRS Transcript 2022-2023

Tax Code 768 on your IRS Transcript indicates that an Earned Income Credit has been claimed and posted to your account in the IRS Master File. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) provides a tax benefit to low- to moderate-income workers and families. If you qualify, you can use the credit to lower your tax liability and perhaps enhance your refund. If your income is low to moderate, you may be eligible for the EITC. The credit amount may change depending if you have children, dependents, are disabled or fulfill other conditions. Be aware, that your return may be delayed if you claim this credit. The IRS is required by law to hold refunds for taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit until mid-February.

Many taxpayers check their IRS account tax transcript for an update on the progress of their tax return and refund. This can be useful if no information is returned using the IRS WMR tool or the IRS2Go app. According to the IRS, tax transcripts are not intended to aid you in identifying particular refund dates. They are also not intended to display exactly how much you will receive as a refund for the current tax year. Recent tax seasons, however, demonstrate that tax transcripts can, in fact, provide useful information. Especially if you are suffering long delays and are unable to acquire refund information via the normal channels.

IRS Tax Transcript – Reviewing Your Refund Status

The IRS recommends using specific tools to find out the status of your official government payments.  For example, the official IRS information tools like Where is My Refund (WMR), IRS2Go Mobile App, or Your IRS Online Account.  While these tools are helpful, they only provide limited information about current processing and payments.

Another useful resource is your IRS tax transcript.  This sometimes takes time to display the most recent changes.  However, it provides a lot more information in the transaction details area via the numerous tax codes. There is nothing improper about requesting your IRS Transcript – and it’s free. Further, it can provide assurance if you haven’t received an update in a while or simply want additional information. Given that it’s free, it’s worth downloading for some clarification in the event of a long delay. Obtaining your most recent free tax transcript makes sense.  Especially, if you have hit a wall or dead end with the other IRS tools and apps. Your transcript might provide you with additional information and clues about when you might receive your return.

IRS Tax Transcript – Transaction & Cycle Code

IRS tax transcripts, once available on your account, can be a useful source of information.  Particularly, for updates on your return and potential processing delays beyond 21 days due to other factors. You can obtain quite a bit of information that WMR/IRS2Go or even an IRS agent does not disclose.  This information is available simply by deciphering and using the transcript transaction numbers, cycle code, and descriptions. Typically, your tax transcript will update on a frequent basis during tax season.  So, use it in conjunction with the WMR/IRS2Go refund trackers, as well as any official communication or updates.

Transaction & Cycle Code on IRS Transcript 2022-2023

A Transaction or Cycle Code (TC) is made up of three digits. They are used to identify a transaction that has been received and is being processed.  Also, they keep track of actions posted to a taxpayer’s account on the Master File. Every transaction processed by automatic data processing (ADP) must contain a Cycle Code. The information resource dictionary system (IDRS) is the United States Federal Information Processing Standard used to capture metadata during a system life cycle.  IRDS-specific transaction numbers are also supplied. These codes serve a number of functions:

• Maintain Accounting Controls of debits and credits.
• Cause the computer at ECC to post the transaction on the Master File.
• Allow report compilation.
• Identify the transaction when a transcript is extracted from the Master File.

Transaction Codes (TC) consist of three digits. They are used to identify a transaction being processed and to maintain a history of actions posted to a taxpayer’s account on the Master File. Every transaction processed by ADP must contain a Transaction Code to maintain Accounting Controls of debits and credits, to cause the computer at ECC to post the transaction on the Master File, to permit compilation of reports, and to identify the transaction when a transcript is extracted from the Master File. Transaction codes that are unique to IDRS are also included. (Source: irs.gov)

Transaction Code 768 – According to IRS Section 8 Master File Codes

Tax Code 768 on your IRS Transcript indicates that an Earned Income Credit has been claimed and posted to your account in the IRS Master File.

IRS code 768 Posts the Earned Income Credit which is generated from information received from Code and Edit.  (Source: irs.gov)

IRS Code 768 on IRS Transcript – What Does it Mean?

Tax Code 768 on an IRS Transcript means the return is received, entered into the IRS master file, and is under process within the system. IRS code 768 posts the Earned Income Credit which is generated from information received from Code and Edit. Be aware, that your return may be delayed if you claim this credit. The IRS is required by law to hold refunds for taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit until mid-February.

Tax Topic 152 (TC 152) is an IRS code usually indicating that a return is delayed and will take longer than the typical 21-day processing deadline. There are dozens of codes and topics, but one of the most common ones seen after filing a return is Tax Topic 152 (TC 152).

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps low- to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break. If you qualify, you can use the credit to reduce the taxes you owe – and maybe increase your refund. You may claim the EITC if your income is low- to moderate. The amount of your credit may change if you have children, dependents, are disabled or meet other criteria. If you claim this credit, your refund may be delayed. By law, we must wait until mid-February to issue refunds to taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. (Source: irs,gov)

Speeding up your refund – Steps to take if you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit

If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), you can expect to get your refund as early as March 1 if:

• You file your return online
• You choose to get your refund by direct deposit
• We found no issues with your return

Occasionally, some taxpayers may receive their refunds a few days earlier. For your individual refund date, go to Where’s My Refund. Furthermore, your financial institution may require additional time to process your direct deposit or issue a debit card. Many financial institutions do not accept payments on weekends or holidays. So, if you file early, keep in mind that federal and local holidays may affect how quickly you receive your return.

What Does N/A Mean on your IRS Transcript?

When attempting to retrieve the current year’s tax transcript, many taxpayers report seeing a N/A, meaning Not Available. This is despite the fact that they submitted a return several days or weeks earlier. Naturally, this causes concern over the status of a return or refund.  Moreover, it causes confusion about whether or not the IRS has received or is processing the tax form. However, seeing a N/A is primarily due to an internal IRS processing delay, particularly during tax season. Every year, especially around February and March, N/A appearing on an IRS tax transcript is a common occurrence.

N/A simply indicates that the IRS systems have not entered your return into the IRS master file for processing.  As a result, no tax transcript updates for the current tax season have been generated. Once your return has been allocated to a processing batch, your transcript will populate and be available overnight.  If your return encounters no glitches with normal processing, a refund direct deposit date should be posted as well. However, processing time may be extended if your return contains mistakes or changes. However, individuals who have no errors should remain calm, nothing is wrong.  Once your return is entered into the IRS system, the N/A will be updated to transaction code 150.  This means the return is received, a file has been opened and entered within the IRS Master File.  At this point, your return is being processed.