
The IRS offers a credit called the 766 credit, also known as the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) credit, which can be a significant benefit for eligible individuals.
This credit is specifically designed for railroad employees who pay both the employee and employer portions of payroll taxes, resulting in double taxation.
The 766 credit can be claimed on your tax return to reduce your tax liability, and in some cases, even result in a refund.
To qualify for this credit, you must have worked for a railroad employer and paid the required taxes, which can be claimed on Form 1040, Schedule 1.
Related reading: Health Savings Account Tax Credit
What is an IRS Transaction?
An IRS transaction is a record of a specific event or action taken by the IRS on your tax account. It's like a digital note that explains what happened and why.
The IRS uses a system of codes to track these transactions, and one of the most common codes you'll see is 766. This code indicates that a tax credit has been transferred to your account.
Worth a look: Credit to Your Account Irs Transcript

The credit might be the result of a refund, payment, or other tax credit from the current or previous year(s). If you see Code 766 on your tax transcript, you can expect to have a lower tax bill, which might mean a bigger refund.
The IRS Master File Codes document states that Code 766 might indicate a generated refundable credit allowance or the IRS TOP Offset Reversal. The code's 'Explanation of Transaction' section usually reads 'tax relief credit' or 'credit to your account.'
Here are some forms where the credit from TC 766 may have been generated from:
- 1040
- 1041
- 1120
- 1120-S
- 990 PF
The date next to the code shows when the IRS assigns a certain credit to your account, but it doesn't reveal when the tax refund will be issued.
On a similar theme: When Should You Open a Credit Card Account
Tax Liability and Refund Impact
Receiving a 766 credit to your account can be a welcome surprise, especially if it means you're eligible for a tax refund. This credit can reduce your tax liability or increase your tax refund.
You might enjoy: Retirement Account Tax Credit

The amount of your tax refund will depend on the amount of the credit and your overall tax situation. If you have more tax credits than tax liability, you'll receive a refund for the difference.
Code 766 can indicate a generated refundable credit allowance or the IRS TOP Offset Reversal, which means the IRS has used some or all tax credit funds to settle an outstanding debt.
IRS 846
If you notice a code 846 on your tax transcript, it means the IRS has issued a refund. This code is often paired with code 766, which indicates that a refundable credit has been allowed.
The presence of code 846 can be a welcome sight, especially if you're expecting a refund. In fact, code 846 can be the result of a refundable credit being generated from various tax forms, including the 1040, 1041, 1120, 1120-S, and 990 PF.
If you're wondering what specific forms might be responsible for your refund, take a look at the following list of forms that can generate a refundable credit:
- 1040
- 1041
- 1120
- 1120-S
- 990 PF
Keep in mind that code 846 is just one part of the story, and understanding the context of code 766 is crucial to understanding the full picture of your tax liability and refund impact.
Tax Liability and Refund Impact
If you see code 766 on your tax transcript, it means you're eligible for a tax credit that can reduce your tax liability or increase your tax refund. The amount of your refund will depend on the amount of the credit and your overall tax situation.
Code 766 can appear more than once in a tax account transcript, depending on how many tax credits you claim. This code is most meaningful when reviewed with other tax codes on the transcript, such as code 846, which indicates that the IRS has issued a refund.
The credit from TC 766 may have been generated from a variety of sources, including the 1040, 1041, 1120, 1120-S, or 990 PF forms. This credit can result in a lower tax bill or a bigger refund.
If you have more tax credits than tax liability, you'll receive a refund for the difference. The IRS uses code 768 to refer to transactions related to the Earned Income Tax Credit, but code 766 can also imply eligibility for EITC.
The date next to code 766 tells you when the IRS assigned a certain credit to your account. The credit amount can range from $600 to $7,430 for the 2023 tax year.
IRS Regulations and Credit Types
The IRS Code 766 is a complex topic, but don't worry, I've got you covered. Code 766 is most meaningful when reviewed with the other tax codes on the transcript.
The IRS Code 766 might indicate a generated refundable credit allowance or the IRS TOP Offset Reversal. This code's 'Explanation of Transaction' section usually reads 'tax relief credit' or 'credit to your account.'
The Treasury Offset Program (TOP) is designed to collect delinquent debts from a taxpayer's refund. If you're late on child support payments or have unemployment compensation debts, the IRS will use the TOP Offset Reversal to settle these debts.
The Offset Trace Number (OTN) will accompany Code 766, and you'll see the IRS Code 898 in your tax account transcript. In this context, Code 766 indicates that the IRS has used some or all tax credit funds to settle an outstanding debt.
Here are the tax forms that may have generated the credit from TC 766:
- 1040
- 1041
- 1120
- 1120-S
- 990 PF
Code 766 can also imply that a taxpayer is eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The IRS may assign anywhere between $600 and $7,430 of EITC for the 2023 tax year (tax returns filed in 2024) to your account if you claimed this tax credit on the tax return.
Maintaining a Good Credit Score
Your 766 credit score is a great achievement, but it's essential to keep it that way. To avoid losing ground, be mindful of avoiding behaviors that can lower your credit score.
To keep your utilization rates in check, calculate your individual account utilization rates by dividing the outstanding balance by the card's borrowing limit, and then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage. For example, if you have a MasterCard with a balance of $1,200 and a spending limit of $4,000, your utilization rate would be 30%.
Late and missed payments can have a significant impact on your credit score, with more than one-third of your score (35%) influenced by their presence or absence. Paying your bills promptly will help your credit score significantly.
To give you a better idea, here's a breakdown of how different factors contribute to your credit score:
Remember, maintaining a good credit score takes time and effort. By being mindful of these factors and making responsible financial decisions, you can keep your credit score high and enjoy the benefits that come with it.
Advantages of Good Credit Score

Having a Good credit score can open doors to better lending terms. People with credit scores in the Very Good range are attractive customers to banks and credit card issuers.
They typically offer borrowers like you better-than-average lending terms, including opportunities to refinance older loans at better rates and chances to sign up for credit cards with enticing rewards and relatively low interest rates.
Late payments are rare or nonexistent, and if any appear, they are likely to be at least a few years in the past. People with credit scores of 766 typically pay their bills on time, with late payments appearing on just 18% of their credit reports.
Good credit scores are a result of proven track records of timely bill payment and good credit management.
Maintaining a Good Credit Score
A Very Good credit score, like yours, is a great achievement. You've been doing a lot right, and now you want to keep it that way.

To avoid losing ground, be mindful of behaviors that can lower your credit score. Utilization rate on revolving credit can have a negative effect.
You can calculate your utilization rate for each credit card account by dividing the outstanding balance by the card's borrowing limit, and then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage.
Your total utilization rate can be figured by dividing the sum of all your card balances by the sum of all their spending limits (including the limits on cards with no outstanding balances).
Most experts recommend keeping your utilization rates at or below 30%— on individual accounts and all accounts in total—to avoid lowering your credit scores.
Here's a breakdown of your current utilization rates:
Late and missed payments matter a lot. More than one-third of your score (35%) is influenced by the presence (or absence) of late or missed payments.
If you get into the routine of paying your bills promptly, you'll help your credit score significantly.
Time is on your side. If you manage your credit carefully and stay timely with your payments, your credit score will tend to increase with time.
A longer credit history will yield a higher credit score than a shorter one. If all other score influences are the same, an longer credit history will yield a higher credit score than a shorter one.
Suggestion: Business Bank Account Bad Credit History
Bottom Line

The IRS code 766 may show up on an IRS transcript if credit has been applied to the taxpayer’s account.
IRS code 766 is just one piece of the puzzle, and to get a complete picture, you should look at it in conjunction with the other information presented on the transcript.
A thorough understanding of IRS actions requires considering the entire transcript, not just a single code.
Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a significant credit that can reduce your tax liability or increase your tax refund. Code 766 on your tax transcript indicates that you may be eligible for EITC.
The IRS uses Code 768 to refer to transactions related to EITC, but Code 766 can also imply eligibility for the credit. If you claimed EITC on your tax return, the IRS may assign anywhere between $600 and $7,430 of EITC for the 2023 tax year (tax returns filed in 2024) to your account.
The date next to Code 766 on your tax transcript tells you when the IRS assigned a certain credit to your account. This code can appear more than once in a tax account transcript, depending on how many tax credits you claim.
IRS Reported with 767

If you see TC 766 reported on your account, it means the IRS posted a refundable fuel tax credit to your account. This can be a welcome surprise, especially if you're due a refund.
A TC 766 may be described on the transcript as a "posting of tax relief credit." This means the IRS has credited your account with a refundable fuel tax credit.
You may see TC 766 reversed on your transcript by TC 767, which may be described as a "reduction or removal in tax relief credit." This reversal can be due to a posting error or the outcome of an IRS audit.
TC 767 reverses the TC 766, essentially canceling out the credit.
Sources
- https://fitsmallbusiness.com/what-is-code-766-on-irs-transcript/
- https://amynorthardcpa.com/irs-code-766/
- https://www.thesmbcenter.com/blog/what-does-code-766-mean-on-tax-transcript
- https://moneydoneright.com/taxes/personal-taxes/irs-code-766/
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-education/score-basics/766-credit-score/
Featured Images: pexels.com