R39 - Improper Source Document (ARC, BOC, POP)
The paper item used to create the ACH entry was not eligible for conversion - for example it was a third-party cheque, a money order, a credit-card cheque, or was drawn on a non-consumer account where the SEC code required a consumer item.
R39 - Improper Source Document (ARC, BOC, POP)
The paper item used to create the ACH entry was not eligible for conversion - for example it was a third-party cheque, a money order, a credit-card cheque, or was drawn on a non-consumer account where the SEC code required a consumer item. This rejection is final: resubmitting the same payment will fail again — resolve the underlying situation first.
What this code means
The paper item used to create the ACH entry was not eligible for conversion - for example it was a third-party cheque, a money order, a credit-card cheque, or was drawn on a non-consumer account where the SEC code required a consumer item.
Typical causes
- Money order, traveller's cheque or third-party cheque converted to ACH
- Cheque above the eligibility threshold for BOC/POP conversion
- Item drawn on a corporate account converted using a consumer-only SEC code
What to do
Do not re-send. The source document was ineligible for conversion; collect the item through the cheque system instead.
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.
799R39091000010000001 09100001 091000019000001Tools 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
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