R06 ACH return code: Returned per ODFI's Request
The sender's bank asked the receiving bank to send the payment back, and the receiving bank agreed.
R06 key facts
| Official title | Returned per ODFI's Request |
|---|---|
| Returned by | Receiving bank (RDFI) |
| Time frame | Agreed between the banks The rules set no deadline. The two banks agree on it. |
| Applies to | Consumer and business accounts |
| Can you send it again? | A corrected payment can be sent as a new entry. |
| Type of return | Standard return |
Rule change: since October 1, 2024 an originating bank may request a return for any reason. Since April 1, 2025 the receiving bank must tell it the decision or status within 10 banking days.
Why R06 happens
- The payment was sent by mistake: a duplicate, a wrong amount or a wrong account.
- The sender or its bank suspects fraud.
- Since October 1, 2024 the sending bank may ask for a return for any reason.
What to do next
If you sent the payment
- Ask your bank why it requested the return. Often it did so at your request.
- If the payment was valid, send a corrected payment as a new entry.
- Know the limits: the receiving bank does not have to agree. It must answer the request within 10 banking days.
If you got the notice about your own account
- If money was taken back that you believe is yours, contact the business that sent it.
Got a return file from your bank? Open it in the ACH file viewer to see the code next to each payment.
Questions and answers
Does the receiving bank have to return a payment when asked?
No. The receiving bank may agree or refuse. If it agrees, the bank that asked takes responsibility for the return. Since April 1, 2025 the receiving bank must answer within 10 banking days.
Sources
- Risk Management Topics, effective October 1, 2024, Nacha
- ACH Risk Management 2023: Proposed Modifications to the Rules (Table of Return Reason Codes excerpt), Nacha
- Green Book: A Guide to Federal Government ACH Payments, US Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service
- 2024 ACH Quick Reference Guide, EPCOR
- 2024 ACH Quick Reference Guide for Corporate Users, EPCOR
General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules change and banks set their own requirements. Check with your bank before you act. ACH Forms is not affiliated with Nacha.