Reference code 1381.
Refund withheld for part/full payment of another tax liability
Held for another balance
See how long people with this situation waited, from their transcripts.
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What it means.
The IRS manual's wording:
Refund withheld for part/full payment of another tax liability; V- Freeze
What to do.
The refund was applied to another tax balance. A notice shows the amount.
Questions people ask
What does reference code 1381 mean?
The IRS found a balance due or another tax owed. The IRS manual's own wording is quoted on this page.
What should I do about code 1381?
The refund was applied to another tax balance. A notice shows the amount.
Sources
Checked against these sources on October 30, 2026.