Return Codes
TL;DR
- Return codes tell you why a payment came back after it looked like it had worked
- ACH is the one that matters for most merchants. Cards use decline codes at auth and reason codes at dispute
- Retry rules differ by code. Some are safe to re-run, some are a NACHA violation if you do
Return codes indicate why a payment was returned or rejected after initial processing.
ACH Return Codes
See ACH Return Codes for the complete list of NACHA return reason codes.
Most Common ACH Returns
| Code | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| R01 | Insufficient Funds | Account doesn't have enough money |
| R02 | Account Closed | Bank account has been closed |
| R03 | No Account/Unable to Locate | Account number is invalid |
| R04 | Invalid Account Number | Account number structure is wrong |
| R05 | Unauthorized Debit | Consumer claims they didn't authorize |
| R07 | Authorization Revoked | Consumer revoked prior authorization |
| R08 | Payment Stopped | Consumer placed a stop payment |
| R10 | Customer Advises Unauthorized | Consumer claims entry is unauthorized |
| R29 | Corporate Customer Advises Not Authorized | Business claims unauthorized |
Popular in This Section
- ACH Return Codes - Complete NACHA return reason codes
- R01 - Insufficient Funds - Account doesn't have enough money
- R10 - Customer Advises Unauthorized - Consumer claims unauthorized
Related Resources
- Decline Codes - Authorization declines
- Reason Codes - Chargeback reason codes
- Bank Transfers - ACH fundamentals
- Real-Time Payments - RTP/FedNow
- Payments Metrics - Success rate tracking
- Fraud Detection - Fraud monitoring
- Processor Management - Acquirer relationships
- Settlement & Reconciliation - Funding flows
- AML Basics - Compliance requirements