What does my IRS reference code mean?

One of the biggest questions I’ve been seeing this year are what the various reference codes mean on the IRS Where’s My Refund Tool.  A lot of tax filers are getting IRS Reference Codes back, but don’t know what they mean and don’t know if they are in trouble.  For more information on WMR, check out When To Expect My Tax Refund.

However, finding the IRS reference codes has also been one of the hardest things to track down this year, especially with all the changes to the way the IRS is processing refunds.

Anyway, here are the IRS Where’s My Refund Tool Reference codes.  You read this chart by first looking for your code, then seeing what the error is.  Each error has a specific set of steps that the IRS will follow, called Inquiry Response Procedure.  Here is the list of what the IRM Codes mean.

IRS Tax Refund Reference Codes

1001 – Refund paper check mailed more than 4 weeks ago See IRM 21.4.1.3.4, Refund Issued But, Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Not Received

1101 –  No data, taxpayer filed paper return more than 6 weeks ago See IRM 21.4.1.3.1.1, Return Not Found

1102 –  No data, taxpayer filed electronic return more than 3 weeks ago See IRM 21.4.1.3.1.1, Return Not Found

1021 –  FMS part offset, check mailed more than 4 weeks ago See IRM 21.4.1.3.2, Return/Refund Located

1061 –  FMS part offset, direct deposit more than 1 week ago See IRM 21.4.1.3.2., Return/Refund Located

1121 –  Problem identified; P-Freeze IRM 21.5.6.4.23, P- Freeze

1141 – Refund delayed liability on another account; V- Freeze more than 8 cycles IRM 21.5.6.4.34, V- Freeze

1161 –  Refund delayed, bankruptcy on account :-V Freeze, CLOSING-CD-IND is ‘Y’; less than 8 weeks IRM 21.5.6.4.35, -V Freeze

1181 – Refund delayed, pulled for review, not within 7 cycles conduct account analysis

1201 –  All other conditions not covered by a status code conduct account analysis

1221 – Refund delayed, pulled for review, within 7 cycles conduct account analysis

1241 – Paper return received more than 6 weeks ago; -E Freeze; in review, notice for additional information will be received IRM 21.5.6.4.8, -E Freeze

1242 – Electronic return received more than 3 weeks ago; –E Freeze; in review, notice for additional information will be received IRM 21.5.6.4.8, -E Freeze

1261 – Paper return received more than 6 weeks ago; –Q Freeze; in review, notice for additional information will be received IRM 21.5.6.4.25, -Q Freeze

1262 – Electronic return received more than 3 weeks ago; -Q Freeze; in review, notice for additional information will be received IRM 21.5.6.4.25, -Q Freeze

1301 – Fact of Filing Electronic return received more than 3 weeks ago; no other information See IRM 21.4.1.3.1.2, Return Found/Not Processed

1341 – Refund delayed, liability on another account; V- Freeze IRM 21.5.6.4.34, V- Freeze

1361 – Refund withheld for part/full payment of another tax liability; V- Freeze IRM 21.5.6.4.34, V- Freeze

1381 – Refund withheld for part/full payment of another tax liability; V- Freeze IRM 21.5.6.4.34, V- Freeze

1401 – Refund withheld for part/full payment of another tax liability; V- Freeze IRM 21.5.6.4.34, V- Freeze

1421 – Refund delayed bankruptcy on account; -V Freeze; more than 8 weeks IRM 21.5.6.4.35, -V Freeze

1441 – Refund delayed, SSN, ITIN or Name mismatch with SSA/IRS; return posted to Invalid Segment IRM 21.5.6.4.13, I- Freeze

1461 – Taxpayer is advised their refund check was mailed undelivered by the Postal Service. Taxpayer is provided the option to update their address online. Check account to determine if the taxpayer changed their address online. If address is changed, advise taxpayer their request is being processed. If taxpayer did not change their address, follow instructions in IRM 21.4.3.4.3, Undeliverable Refund Checks.

1481 – Refund delayed, return Unpostable See IRM 21.4.1.3.1.2, Return Found/Not Processed

1501 – Direct Deposit between 1 and 2 weeks ago, check with bank, file check claim See IRM 21.4.1.4.7.1, Direct Deposit of Refunds

1502 – Direct Deposit more than 2 weeks ago, check with bank, file check claim See IRM 21.4.1.4.7.1, Direct Deposit of Refunds

1521 – No data, paper return taxpayer filed more than 6 weeks ago; TIN not validated IRM 21.5.6.4.13, I- Freeze

1522 – No data, taxpayer filed electronic return more than 3 weeks ago; TIN not validated See IRM 21.4.1.3.1.1, Return Not Found

2007/2008 – Taxpayer’s check returned undelivered by the Postal Service and taxpayer does not meet Internet Refund Fact of Filing (IRFOF) eligibility. For example account may have an additional liability, or a freeze code other than S-. Analyze account and take appropriate action.

2009 – Taxpayer’s check returned undelivered by the Postal Service and taxpayer does not meet IRFOF eligibility. Taxpayer does not pass disclosure through IRFOF due to lack of data on IRFOF. IRM 21.4.3.4.3, Undeliverable Refund Checks

8001 – Paper return taxpayer filed more than 6 weeks ago, failed authentication Conduct account analysis.

8002 – Electronic return taxpayer filed more than 3 weeks ago, failed authentication Conduct account analysis.

9001 – Taxpayer accessed Refund Status using a secondary TIN. Refund Status could not be returned. Get a Primary TIN Analyze account and follow appropriate IRM.

9021 – Reference Code for all math error conditions Analyze account and follow appropriate IRM

9022 – Math error on return. Direct deposit more than 1 week ago Analyze account and follow appropriate IRM

9023 – Math error on return. Refund paper check mailed more than 4 weeks ago Analyze account and follow appropriate IRM

9024 – Math error on return. Balance due more than $50 Analyze account and follow appropriate IRM

 

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