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New Member
posted Jun 5, 2019 2:17:26 PM

My tax transcript say minus sign signifies a credit amount, what does that actually mean? Will I receive my refund or did the government take it?

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1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Jun 5, 2019 2:17:29 PM

A negative on the transcript means that a refund is due on the return, it does not indicate when a refund is on its way or when it will be received. This doesn't indicate or answer the question whether it will be used to pay off a past due debt.

If you are concerned about whether your refund will be used for any past due debt you can call the  Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS).  

Contact the BFS's Treasury Offset Program (TOP) call center at 800-304-3107 or TDD 866-297-0517, Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. Contact the IRS only if your original refund amount shown on the BFS offset notice differs from the refund amount shown on your tax return.


24 Replies
New Member
Jun 5, 2019 2:17:27 PM

I lost $$$$ on the Federal but came out ahead on the other I came out ahead on both state forms with an overall result to the good..

Expert Alumni
Jun 5, 2019 2:17:29 PM

A negative on the transcript means that a refund is due on the return, it does not indicate when a refund is on its way or when it will be received. This doesn't indicate or answer the question whether it will be used to pay off a past due debt.

If you are concerned about whether your refund will be used for any past due debt you can call the  Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS).  

Contact the BFS's Treasury Offset Program (TOP) call center at 800-304-3107 or TDD 866-297-0517, Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. Contact the IRS only if your original refund amount shown on the BFS offset notice differs from the refund amount shown on your tax return.


New Member
Mar 17, 2021 4:57:26 AM

Did you ever figure out what this meant? Having the same problem this year

Expert Alumni
Mar 17, 2021 6:18:17 AM

Check the codes.  Code 846 means refund.

 

On a Return Transcript there is a line that says REFUND AMOUNT and -$XXXX and yes that is your refund amount.

 

On an Account Transcript you will see lines such as:

764 Earned income credit followed by -$XXXX and that is the amount of your refund from the EIC

 

846 Refund Issued followed by -$XXXX and this is the amount of your final refund.

New Member
Jul 30, 2021 7:27:00 AM

What’s 766 means in transcript 

Level 15
Jul 30, 2021 8:01:10 AM
New Member
Oct 22, 2021 6:42:08 PM

I am having a similar situation, but mine two amounts 

one part says Bal Due/Over Pymnt using TP fig per computer -xxxx

Then right under that it says the samething but a different amount -xxx

does this mean I get both amounts or what

Level 15
Oct 23, 2021 5:11:41 AM

Look at the form 1040 and the transcript side by side so you can better understand what the amounts represent. 

New Member
Feb 15, 2022 9:11:10 AM

That is exactly what mine is like!!  Two lines with different amounts... Any help?

Level 15
Feb 15, 2022 10:04:48 AM

A negative on the transcript = a positive item on the return like a credit.  

Expert Alumni
Feb 15, 2022 10:41:09 AM

IRS transcripts are not always easy to follow.

 

IRS transcript codes can be found here.

 

 

 

Returning Member
Feb 18, 2022 9:46:39 AM

My transcript updated today shows refund issue for the amount from my 1099 but it’s not giving me my EIC or CTC but it still shows. In my account balance as a negative amount is anybody have a similar issue for my refund due it shows 2/24/2022 which I wasn’t even expecting really anything till March like last year I claim 2 dependents both my son's claimed my 6 year old for 5 years( his mother claimed him once ) and my 3 year old for all 3 years 

Expert Alumni
Feb 18, 2022 10:46:48 AM

The IRS is processing many returns but there have been many changes in the last year and some of them are slowing down some of the returns. It sounds as if you are tracking your refund with the IRS Where's My Refund tool. Here is an IRS page with additional information about what to expect. IRS Refund information

 

If your return with a refund claims an Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, it would not have begun processing until at least February 15th. This is part of the PATH Act. If your return contains either of those credits, you can find more information at this IRS website. It currently says returns that are otherwise clear to refund should be refunding by March 1st.  IRS refund processing dates EIC and ACTC

Returning Member
Feb 18, 2022 11:21:11 AM

Nope the WMR just says processing everything I provided in my post came from my IRS account viewing my transcripts if your response was to me if ment for another sorry disregard unless anyone had input 

Intuit Alumni
Feb 18, 2022 11:46:03 AM

@DHeath1986 If you want to check when you are going to get your refund and how much it is going to be, go to Where is My Refund not the transcript, the transcript is not always accurate for refunds due. 

New Member
Feb 23, 2022 1:50:43 AM

Mines the same except the negative numbers are the same soo confusing! Any update on yours?

Level 15
Feb 23, 2022 7:25:11 AM

just look at the account balance at the top of page 1.

a minus sign indicates your refund.

 

 

New Member
Feb 25, 2022 2:48:05 PM

Oh my goodness thank the Lord I dug into some information based on someone's comment on Facebook regarding the message I get when I go to where's my refund the bar disappeared and now it just says your return is being processed and there's finally my transcripts available so I think that means I should be getting my refunds soon but it said negative $3875.00 I  And I was worried that it meant that they were taking it but I have no idea why because I've never owed them anything so I am glad to hear that this means it is a credit and that they owe me and that is my refund I was stressin man!!!

New Member
Feb 28, 2022 1:44:57 PM

Okay so my account has two valences. the top one is what turbo tax said my refund was and the bottom one is about 2,800 less than what i am supposed to be getting. does this mean i did my taxes wrong?? turbo tax said it was accepted but still waiting for where my refund to update

Level 15
Feb 28, 2022 1:51:47 PM

Look again ... that 2800 was the stimulus credit which is part of your refund if you didn't get in in advance.  If you did then the refund will be reduced by that same 2800. 

New Member
Feb 28, 2022 2:15:04 PM

We didn’t receive it tho. that’s why it’s so confusing🤷🏼‍♀️

Returning Member
Feb 28, 2022 2:51:01 PM

Yeah no my transcripts where correct I revived only around $1,500 something if my $10,800 something refund because for some reason I’m being audited to prove my kids are mine whom I claimed for the last 4 years along with my last three tax returns all being within $600 + or - for the AGI and the refund amount for the last 4 years as well as HOH and 2 dependents but instead of it being a simple return of just one 1099 and CTC with EIC now I got to deal with proving my kids are mine whom I claim every year and now wait up to 6-8 weeks for the rest of my tax refund 

Expert Alumni
Feb 28, 2022 4:50:17 PM

Please clarify your question.   

 

Have you checked Where's my Refund?   That is where it is going to tell you if you are getting a refund and when you can expect to receive it.    If it does not show that they are processing or completed and provide you with a refund and refund date, then they are still processing.   

 

The transcript can give you valuable information, but the Return Transcript just shows what was received.   The Account Transcript shows if there are any adjustments to the amount of your refund.  

 

 

New Member
Mar 5, 2022 2:49:30 PM

Did you ever figure out what it meant?