Code 286: bad check penalty systemically.
From IRS Document 6209, the IRS's processing codes manual.
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Document 6209 says
Debit. Used on individual (IMF) accounts.
Bad Check Penalty Systemically
The full Document 6209 entry, as printed
Debit (NPJ) I/B Bad Check Penalty Systemically Generated Transaction Systemically generated bad check penalty assessment initiated by the posting of any of the following TC reversals: 611, 621, 641, 651, 661, 671, 681, 691, or 721. The penalty is two percent (2%) of the amount of the dishonored payment, or if the amount of the dishonored payment is less than $1,250, then the penalty is the lesser of $25 or the amount of the payment. Effective July 2, 2010, the penalty now includes all “instruments” (forms) of payment. For dishonored checks or money orders received after May 25, 2007, and prior to July 2, 2010, the bad check penalty was only applicable to paper checks and money orders. The penalty was two percent (2%) of the amount of the dishonored payment, or if the amount of the dishonored payment was less than $1,250, then the penalty was the lesser of $25 or the amount of the payment. No penalty was assessed on checks less than $5.00. See IRM 20.1.10 Miscellaneous Penalties .
After code 286
Not enough shared timelines with this code yet. The block fills in once 30 people with code 286 share theirs from the result page.
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Questions people ask
What does code 286 mean on my IRS transcript?
Document 6209 calls it "Bad Check Penalty Systemically".
Sources
Checked against these sources on October 30, 2026.