What Does a 810 Refund Freeze Mean (And How to Fix It)?

If you are anxiously awaiting your tax refund to pay for a vacation or major purchase, receiving notice of an 810 refund freeze can be discouraging. What does “810 refund freeze” mean for your taxes, and how can you remove this freeze to streamline your refund? 

IRS Code 810 Explanation

IRS Code 810, also known as “TC 810,” signifies that the IRS has temporarily stopped processing your tax refund. Usually, this is because the agency needs to verify details on your tax return and confirm that it has applied any amount you owe to your return. 

The 810 refund freeze is usually temporary, but you may feel discouraged or impatient at the notification of this freeze. Additionally, the IRS usually does not provide a reason why it has frozen your refund. This is an automatic precaution triggered by something unusual in your return. The IRS will look further into your taxes and resume processing your refund after it has cleared up any issues. 

Common Reasons for Receiving an IRS Refund Hold 

What does an 810 refund freeze mean for your tax return? The IRS may have triggered this freeze for a few common reasons:

• You failed to provide certain information on your tax return, such as your birth date, social security number, or signature. You may have also neglected to file certain tax forms, such as a W-2 or 1099. 
• You made a calculation error on your return. The IRS looks for math errors when reviewing tax returns and often corrects them for you. If you miscalculated your deductions or other figures on the return, the IRS may have issued the tax refund delay code 810 while it corrected the error. 
• Your income changed significantly compared to last year. The IRS may want to check this to make sure that you did not report your income incorrectly. 
• Your bank account information is incorrect. The IRS may be having trouble issuing the refund to the bank account you listed. 
• You owe back taxes. If you owe taxes from a previous year, the IRS may have frozen your refund while it looks into applying the refund amount to your tax debt. 

How To Lift the 810 Refund Hold Status 

Usually, 810 refund freezes are temporary. If the IRS needs more information to process your refund, it will ask you. Be patient and respond to any queries promptly. 

But if you want to try to speed up this process, you can take a few steps to streamline the release of your refund freeze:

• Contact the IRS directly to inquire about the freeze: An agent may be able to look into your account and determine why there is an 810 code on your tax transcript. If they need additional information, you may be able to provide it over the phone or send it via mail. 
• Look for inaccuracies in your return: Give your tax return a once-over and look for any glaring inaccuracies. Perhaps you forgot a signature or failed to include a certain form. You can amend your return to fix this issue, and doing so may prompt the IRS to remove the freeze without further action. 
• Pay any back taxes: You should always aim to pay IRS back taxes as soon as possible. If you owe tax debt, pay it now to avoid further issues. 

Let Our Tax Professionals Help You Understand the “810 Refund Freeze” Notice

If you’re wondering what an 810 refund freeze means for your tax return, our professionals at Levy & Associates can explain more and help you remove the freeze. Call us today at 877-620-6490 or fill out our contact form for a consultation.