Conceptmerchant
ACH return codes explained
R01 through R85 with what they mean and how to respond.
How ACH returns work
When an ACH debit cannot be completed, the receiving bank sends back a return code (Rxx) under NACHA rules. Returns can land 2–5 business days after the original settlement.
The codes you will see most often
- R01 — Insufficient Funds. May retry up to 2 additional times within 30 days.
- R02 — Account Closed. Do not retry. Request a new account.
- R03 — No Account / Unable to Locate Account. Verify routing and account numbers.
- R10 — Customer Advises Not Authorized. Stop debiting; this is effectively a dispute.
- R29 — Corporate Customer Advises Not Authorized.
NOC vs Return
A Notification of Change (NOC) is not a return — the payment goes through, but the receiving bank tells you to update routing or account numbers. APT applies NOC corrections automatically and notifies you in the dashboard.