R31 ACH return code: Permissible Return Entry
What R31 means
A business payment (coded CCD or CTX) was returned after the normal two-day deadline, because the sender's bank agreed to take it back.
R31 key facts
| Official title | Permissible Return Entry (CCD and CTX only) |
|---|---|
| Returned by | Receiving bank (RDFI) |
| Time frame | Agreed between the banks The rules set no deadline. The two banks agree on it. |
| Applies to | Business accounts |
| Can you send it again? | Only after you fix the reason for the return. Under the general Nacha rule, a returned payment may be sent again within 180 days if you have corrected the problem. |
| Type of return | Standard return |
Why R31 happens
- The business customer reported an unauthorized debit after its bank's return deadline had passed, and your bank agreed to accept a late return.
What to do next
If you sent the payment
- Ask your bank why it agreed to the return. It usually asks you first.
- Contact the customer about the reason, as you would for R29.
If you got the notice about your own account
- If your bank's deadline to return the debit has passed, ask your bank to request a permissible return from the sending bank.
Got a return file from your bank? Open it in the ACH file viewer to see the code next to each payment.
Sources
- 2024 ACH Quick Reference Guide, EPCOR
- ACH Return, NOC and Transaction Codes, Commerce Bank
- ACH Return Reason Codes and Time Frames, CBS Bank
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.