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R04 - Invalid Account Number Structure

The account number itself is malformed: it fails the RDFI's structural or check-digit validation, or has the wrong number of digits. The bank rejected it before even looking for a matching account.

R04 - Invalid Account Number Structure

The account number itself is malformed: it fails the RDFI's structural or check-digit validation, or has the wrong number of digits. The bank rejected it before even looking for a matching account. This rejection is recoverable: correct the cause and the same payment can be resubmitted.

AccountACH · NACHA (US) Recoverable Return window: 2 banking days
Can you resubmit? This rejection is recoverable: correct the cause and the same payment can be resubmitted.

What this code means

The account number itself is malformed: it fails the RDFI's structural or check-digit validation, or has the wrong number of digits. The bank rejected it before even looking for a matching account.

Typical causes

  • Digits transposed or truncated during data entry
  • Spaces, dashes or check-number fragments left in the account field
  • Customer entered a debit-card number instead of an account number

What to do

Correcting the account number and re-sending is not a reinitiation. Counts toward the 3.0% administrative-return threshold.

What it looks like in an ACH return

The return arrives as an Addenda Record (type 99), 94 characters wide. The return reason code sits in positions 4-6.

799R04091000010000001      09100001                                            091000019000001

Tools for this code

Decode a real status report, or check a payment file before you send it — all in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Related codes

ACH return codes: the complete reference

Source: Nacha ISO 20022 mapping guide + Federal Reserve ACH Return Reason Report + US Treasury Green Book · Last verified: 2026-07-13

Checked against: nacha.org · frbservices.org · fiscal.treasury.gov

All rejection codes