The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 expanded the Child Tax Credit to help many families get advance payments of the credit starting in the summer of 2021. The IRS will pay half the total credit amount to eligible families in advance monthly payments. Filers will need to claim the other half of the credit when they file their 2021 income tax return. The change to the Child Tax Credit is for the tax year 2021 only.

For information on eligibility and payment amounts, please see here: https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-frequently-asked-questions

Advance Child Tax Credit (ACTC) payments began a settlement date of July 15, 2021 and payments will continue to settle on the 15th of the month through December 15, 2021. If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, the Treasury will adjust the settlement date to the preceding business day.

People that are eligible and expecting to receive ACTS payments can visit the Child Tax Credit Update Portal here:  https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal.

On the portal, people can check their enrollment, view their payments, and update their bank account information and mailing address.

ACTC payments made via ACH Direct Deposit will be identified with the following information:

Company Name: “IRS TREAS 310”

Company Entry Description:  “~~CHILDCTC”

            (Note: the ~ symbol indicates a blank space.)

Other identifying information (ODFI Routing Numbers and Company Identifications) have been provided by the U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service has indicated that it will accept NOCs for ACTC payments through December 16, 2021, after the issuance of the last round of ACTC payments. Please see Chapters 2 and 6 of the Green Book for information about Federal Government NOC processing.  You can see the Green Book here: https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reference-guidance/green-book/

In September, the IRS distributed approximately 36 million ACTC payments. Of that total, about 87% were made via ACH.

If an RDFI makes the decision to return an ACH credit entry related to the Paycheck Protection Program because the RDFI believes the entry was initiated due to fraud, the RDFI should select the Return Reason Code that most closely approximates the reason for the return. In this scenario, Return Reason Code R03 (No Account/Unable to Locate Account), R17 (File Record Edit Criteria/Entry with Invalid Account Number Initiated Under Questionable Circumstances), or R23 (Credit Entry Refused by Receiver) may be acceptable options.  Please note that this use of R17 requires “QUESTIONABLE” to be inserted in the first twelve positions of the Addenda Record.

RDFIs can make a business decision to return these credit entries outside of the standard return timeframe. Due to the circumstances and the lenders’ desire to recoup the funds, it is unlikely that the return of credits will be dishonored as untimely.

FEMA funeral expense ACH credits will bear ‘FEMA TREAS 310’ in the Company Name field and a Company Entry Description of ‘  MIS PAY’. 

As of April 28, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service have disbursed approximately 163 million payments with a total value of approximately $384 billion.

The American Rescue Plan Act of March 11, 2021 authorized a third round of  Economic Impact Payments to be made by the IRS. The first wave of EIP3s were transmitted March 12-14, with effective and settlement dates of March 17, 2021.  A second wave of EIP3s is slated to be transmitted on March 19 with effective and settlement dates of March 24, 2021.

For EIP3s made by ACH Direct Deposit with a settlement date of Wednesday, March 17, 2021, an RDFI is required to make funds available for cash withdrawal by 9 a.m. (in the RDFI's local time) on March 17. For second wave EIP3s made via ACH Direct Deposit with a settlement date of Wednesday, March 24, 2021, an RDFI is required to make funds available for cash withdrawal by 9 a.m. (in the RDFI’s local time) on March 24. Funds remain with the government until the settlement date of the transaction.

Taxpayers may qualify for the full amount of the EIP3 if they have an adjusted gross income of up to $75,000 for singles and married persons filing a separate return, up to $112,500 for heads of household and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns and surviving spouses. Payment amounts are reduced for filers with incomes above those levels. Those eligible will automatically receive an Economic Impact Payment of up to $1,400 for individuals or $2,800 for married couples, plus $1,400 for each dependent For more information on eligibility and payment amounts, please see here:  https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/more-details-about-the-third-round-of-economic-impact-payments

People that are eligible and expecting to receive EIP3s by Direct Deposit that have not received them should check directly with the IRS via the Get My Payment tool.  The IRS reminds people that they should not contact their financial institutions with payment timing questions.

The third round EIPs (EIP3s) made by ACH Direct Deposit will be identified with the following information:

Company Name: "IRS TREAS 310"

Company Entry Description: “  TAXEIP3 ” (Note: no leading “XX”)

Other identifying information (ODFI Routing Numbers and Company Identifications) is being provided by the U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service

No.  The IRS will use the banking information it already has to make payments. Those who don't receive a payment via direct deposit will generally receive a check or, in some instances, a prepaid debit card (referred to as an "EIP Card"). A payment will not be added to an existing EIP card mailed for the first or second round of stimulus payments.

Financial institutions may wish to consult with their legal counsel for guidance on garnishment.

No.  Under the new law, EIP3s cannot be offset to pay various past-due federal debts or back taxes.

Yes.  Nacha Rules Subsection 3.1.2 states in full that “An RDFI may rely solely on the account number contained in an Entry for the purpose of posting the Entry to a Receiver’s account, regardless of whether the name of the Receiver in the Entry matches the name associated with the account number in the Entry.”  Furthermore, the Green Book, Chapter Two, pages 2-5 and 2-6 states, “It is important to note that a financial institution is not required to manually verify that the name on the ACH entry matches the name on the account at the time the payment is posted. An RDFI is only liable for posting the payment to the account in the ACH credit entry.”

If an RDFI becomes aware that a payment was misdirected to a wrong account, either by an accountholder, a government agency, or through its own research, it is required to notify the sending agency. Notification could be through proper return of the ACH entry or by contacting the agency.  If it deems possible, the RDFI may make an internal correction and provide the agency with an NOC; however, the RDFI is liable for the corrected information. 

Please see: https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reference-guidance/green-book/chapter-2.html

According to information in the U.S. Treasury’s Green Book (page 4-2), the RDFI should return the payment.  The Green Book states in Chapter 4 that all ACH payments must be returned in accordance with the Nacha Operating Rules and Guidelines, including when an account is closed or does not exist.  Most ACH returns to the IRS will result in a paper check being issued; therefore, RDFIs must make appropriate use of Return Reason Codes. Please see: https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reference-guidance/green-book/chapter-4.html

As of January 4th, 2021, Nacha estimates that approximately 100 million EIP2s will be made by ACH Direct Deposit.

People that are eligible and expecting to receive EIPs by Direct Deposit that have not received them should check directly with the IRS via the Get My Payment tool.  The IRS reminds people that they should not contact their financial institutions with payment timing questions.

The COVID relief package of December 27, 2020, authorizes additional Economic Impact Payments to be made by the IRS by January 15, 2021.  According to the U.S. Treasury, most of this second round of EIPs will be made by ACH Direct Deposit, with an effective date of Monday, January 4, 2021.

The disbursement of this second round of EIPs will be similar to the first round, with a few notable differences:

• The amount of the payments will be lower
• A much higher percentage of payments will be made by ACH Direct Deposit
• The disbursement process will begin much more quickly, and will last no longer than a few weeks, as the deadline for the IRS is set as Jan. 15, 2021
• The identification of the ACH Direct Deposits will include a different description, this time using “XXTAXEIP2”
• The EIPs in round two (EIP2s) are exempt from garnishment
• The upper-income limit for individuals and families to be eligible is a little lower than with the first round of payments under the CARES Act.  Some people that qualified for EIP1 under the CARES Act will not qualify for EIP2 under the new COVID relief package
• Deceased individuals who died on or after Jan. 1, 2020, are eligible for EIPs (but are subject to other eligibility criteria)
• The IRS portal to provide Direct Deposit information is not available, as the deadline to provide new information has already passed
   

The second round EIPs (EIP2s) made by ACH Direct Deposit will be identified with the following information:

Company Name: “IRS TREAS 310”

Company Entry Description: “XXTAXEIP2”

Other identifying information (ODFI Routing Numbers and Company Identifications) is being provided by the U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service

“XX” – This is the U.S. Treasury’s encoding which designates the payment as exempt from garnishment.

“TAX” – This is additional designation that the payment is originated by the IRS, and under the COVID relief package is a tax rebate

“EIP” – This designates the payment as an Economic Impact Payment

“2” – This designates the EIP as part of the second round, as provided in the COVID Relief Package of December 27, 2020, as distinct from the first round of EIPs authorized by the CARES Act.

No. The deadline for individuals to supply their Direct Deposit information has already passed. The IRS will use the banking information it already has to make payments.
 

Yes. This is different than the first round of EIPs under the CARES Act. The U.S. Treasury will use the encoding of “XX” in the first two positions of the Company Entry Description field to designate the EIPs by ACH as exempt. Please refer to the U.S. Treasury’s Green Book for additional information on the processing of Treasury payments that are exempt. Please see:
https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reference-guidance/green-book/chapter-2.html

No. The deadline for covered parties to complete their annual ACH Rules Compliance audit remains Dec. 31, 2020.

Under the COVID Relief Package, deceased individuals that died on or after Jan. 1, 2020, are eligible for EIPs (but may be subject to other eligibility criteria).  RDFIs may post received EIP with the assumption that has been screened for eligibility. 
 

For EIP2s made by ACH Direct Deposit with a settlement date of Monday, January 4, 2021, an RDFI is required to make funds available for cash withdrawal by 9 a.m. (in the RDFI’s local time) on that date.

According to information in the U.S. Treasury’s Green Book (page 4-2), the RDFI should return the payment. The Green Book states in Chapter 4 that all ACH payments must be returned in accordance with the Nacha Operating Rules and Guidelines, including when an account is closed or does not exist.  Most ACH returns to the IRS will result in a paper check being issued; therefore, RDFIs must make appropriate use of Return Reason Codes. 

Please see: https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reference-guidance/green-book/chapter-4.html
 

Yes. Nacha Rules Subsection 3.1.2 states in full that “An RDFI may rely solely on the account number contained in an Entry for the purpose of posting the Entry to a Receiver’s account, regardless of whether the name of the Receiver in the Entry matches the name associated with the account number in the Entry.”  Furthermore, the Green Book, Chapter Two, pages 2-5 and 2-6 states, “It is important to note that a financial institution is not required to manually verify that the name on the ACH entry matches the name on the account at the time the payment is posted. An RDFI is only liable for posting the payment to the account in the ACH credit entry.”

If an RDFI becomes aware that a payment was misdirected to a wrong account, either by an accountholder, a government agency, or through its own research, it is required to notify the sending agency. Notification could be through proper return of the ACH entry or by contacting the agency.  If it deems possible, the RDFI may make an internal correction and provide the agency with an NOC; however, the RDFI is liable for the corrected information.  

Please see: https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reference-guidance/green-book/chapter-2.html

No. EIPs are treated as tax rebates, and are not Federal benefit payments.  Therefore, they should not be subject to reclamations.
 

No
 

ACH Operations Bulletin #7-2020 affirmed that the deadline to register remains October 30, 2020.  Nacha will not enforce this rule for an additional nine months, through July 31, 2021. Non-compliant financial institutions can register during this time without any enforcement action.

ACH Operations Bulletin #7-2020 affirmed the effective date as remaining March 19, 2021. Nacha will not enforce this rule for an additional period of one year from the effective date with respect to covered entities that are working in good faith toward compliance, but that require additional time to implement solutions. Nacha strongly encourages all such covered entities to work towards compliance as soon as possible.

ACH Operations Bulletin #7-2020 affirmed the effective date as remaining June 30, 2021. Nacha will not enforce this rule for an additional period of one year from the effective date with respect to covered entities that are working in good faith toward compliance, but that require additional time to implement solutions. Nacha strongly encourages all such covered entities to work towards compliance as soon as possible.

In ACH Operations Bulletin #5-2020, Nacha provides relief to RDFIs on the WSUD signature requirement by not enforcing the signature or similar authentication requirement. ACH Operations Bulletin #7-2020 extends this relief indefinitely. Nacha will publish a 30-day advance notice prior to the expiration of this relief. RDFIs that have the ability for consumers to similarly authenticate signatures by remote channels such as online and by telephone should continue to do so.

In ACH Operations Bulletin #3-2020, Nacha provides relief to RDFIs from the 10 Banking Day deadline for providing copies of WSUDs to ODFIs.  ACH Operations Bulletin #7-2020 extends this relief indefinitely. Nacha will not enforce cases in which a WSUD is provided after the existing 10 Banking Day time frame, but is provided within 20 Banking Days. Nacha will publish a 30-day advance notice prior to the expiration of this relief. Nacha encourages RDFIs to fulfill such obligations as quickly as time permits.

The Nacha Rules currently provide for the origination of POS Entries at electronic terminals.  Originators that issue ACH debit cards to initiate POS Entries commonly meet the “signed or similarly authenticated" standard of an ACH debit authorization through the use of a PIN in conjunction with the card.

Nacha understands that entering PINs in conjunction with initiating POS Entries might not be possible while physical distancing recommendations are in effect. Nacha will not enforce the signed or similarly authenticated requirement for the authorization of POS Entries when Originators elect not to ask customers to enter a PIN. ACH Operations Bulletin #7-2020 extends this relief indefinitely.  Nacha will publish a 30-day advance notice prior to the expiration of this relief.

Originators must still meet all the other requirements of POS Entries.  Originators should understand that without a PIN or some other form of authentication beyond customer possession of the physical card they might have more difficulty defending a claim that the POS Entry was unauthorized and might face an elevated risk of return.

Nacha will not enforce cases in which a Proof of Authorization or a copy of a Source Document/Item is provided beyond the existing 10 Banking Day timeframe, but within 20 Banking Days. ACH Operations Bulletin #7-2020 extends this relief indefinitely.   Nacha will publish a 30-day advance notice prior to the expiration of this relief. Nacha encourages ODFIs and their Originators to fulfill such obligations as quickly as time permits.

The Nacha Rules currently provide for the origination of POP Entries through a notice plus a written authorization, which must be signed or similarly authenticated.  Nacha understands that obtaining signatures might not be possible while physical distancing recommendations are in effect.  Nacha will not enforce the signature requirement for the authorization of POP Entries; ACH Operations Bulletin #7-2020 extends this relief indefinitely.   Nacha will publish a 30-day advance notice prior to the expiration of this relief.

Originators must still meet all the other requirements of POP Entries.  Originators still must display or provide the ACH authorization language to the customer (the Receiver); obtain affirmative authorization to debit the Receiver’s account, such as by oral confirmation; and provide a copy of the notice and the voided Source Document to the Receiver. Originators should understand that without a signature they might have more difficulty defending a claim that the POP Entry was unauthorized and might face an elevated risk of return.

Effective September 21, 2020, Economic Impact Payment ACH credit entries will have formatting that is distinct from IRS tax refund ACH credit entries. Although both types of ACH credit will carry ‘IRS TREAS 310’ in the Company Name field, the Company Entry Description will differ. Economic Impact Payments will bear ‘TAXEIP1’ in the Company Entry Description. Tax refunds will bear ‘TAX REF’. The U.S. Treasury also will begin using eight additional Company ID values to process Economic Impact Payments and tax refunds, for a total of 18.

Yes. Last week the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service began sending interest payments to about 13.9 million individual taxpayers who timely filed their 2019 federal income tax returns and are receiving refunds.

The interest payments, averaging about $18, will be made to individual taxpayers who filed a 2019 return by this year's July 15 deadline and either received a refund in the past three months or will receive a refund. Most interest payments will be issued separately from tax refunds.

In most cases, taxpayers who received their refund by direct deposit will have their interest payment direct deposited in the same account. About 12 million of these payments will be direct deposited.

Please see https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/13-point-9-million-americans-to-receive-irs-tax-refund-interest-taxable-payments-to-average-18-dollars
 

If there is no Return Reason code that exactly matches the reason for the return, the Nacha Operating Rules allow the RDFI to select the Return Reason Code that most closely approximates the reason for the return. In this scenario, Return Reason Code R03 (No Account/Unable to Locate Account), R17 (File Record Edit Criteria/Entry with Invalid Account Number Initiated Under Questionable Circumstances), or R23 (Credit Entry Refused by Receiver) may be acceptable options. Please note that this use of R17 requires "QUESTIONABLE" to be inserted in the first twelve positions of the Addenda Record.

An ACH Entry cannot be returned with only partial funds. The Nacha Operating Rules require return entries to contain the same dollar value as the original forward entry. The partial return of funds can be handled outside of the ACH Network (e.g., with a wire transfer or an official check), or with a new ACH credit entry agreed to by both institutions to return the available amount.

No. Under the Rules, the ODFI warrants to the RDFI that the entry is correct and properly authorized. If the RDFI posts a fraudulent credit to the account number in the entry, and the funds are withdrawn, the RDFI is not liable for the funds.

Of the 141 million EIPs distributed through May 15, 2020, 114 million were transmitted via the ACH Network, with the remainder sent via check. The total dollar value paid through May 15 was $238.8 billion.  The IRS expects to distribute 95% of the EIPs by the end of May.

Beginning the week of May 18, 2020, the Treasury and IRS began sending nearly 4 million EIPs by prepaid debit card instead of paper check.  These cards can be used to make purchases, get cash from in-network ATMs and transfer funds to personal bank accounts without the card holder incurring any fees.

Please see:  https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1012

The Social Security Administration has advised that beneficiaries with representative payees will begin receiving their payments from the IRS in late May. For beneficiaries living in U.S. territories – American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands - special rules apply.  In general, the tax authority in each territory will pay the EIP to eligible residents based on information provided by the IRS.  It is expected that beneficiaries in the territories could begin receiving EIPs in early June.

Please see:  https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2020/#5-2020-1

Revised May 8, 2020

On May 6, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service advised that individuals who are incarcerated, non-resident aliens, or who died before the payment was received are not entitled to an Economic Impact Payment. The individual or their representative should return the payment via check to the IRS. The IRS has not said that a bank or credit union has any obligation to return funds from an ACH Direct Deposit paid to a deceased, incarcerated or non-resident alien person.

Please see https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center#more

The Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service began transmitting its latest round of Economic Impact Payments to the ACH Network on Friday, May 1, 2020. Nacha has been told there will be roughly 3.9 million Direct Deposits with a settlement date of May 6, 2020.

Of the total 120 million Economic Impact Payments paid through April 29, 2020, 105 million were transmitted via ACH.

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service anticipates continuing to transmit Economic Impact Payments via the ACH Network every Friday, with funds available early the following week, as additional payment information becomes available.

The general rule is that RDFIs are to make funds related to ACH credits available for withdrawal in the customer's account no later than the settlement day stated in the processing file. More specifically, RDFIs must make available for cash withdrawal by 9am (RDFI local time) on the settlement date any credit entries that are made available to the RDFIs before 5pm (RDFI local time) on the day before the settlement date.

The CARES Act provides for $100 billion in relief funds to hospitals and other healthcare providers on the front lines of the coronavirus response. This funding will be used to support healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to COVID-19 and to ensure uninsured American can get testing and treatment for COVID-19. An initial $30 billion was paid beginning April 10, 2020 by ACH credit.

A second round of $20 billion will be distributed to Medicare facilities and providers by ACH beginning on Friday, April 24, 2020. Payments will go out weekly thereafter, as information is validated. Assuming the same payment flow as the initial round, these payments will be made using account information on file via Optum Bank as the ODFI with "HHSPAYMENT" as the payment description.

Providers that normally receive a paper check for reimbursement from CMS will receive a paper check in the mail for this payment within the next few weeks.

Please see: https://www.hhs.gov/provider-relief/index.html

The IRS has launched a new website to enable people who don’t normally file a tax return enroll for Economic Impact Payments. For further information, please see the IRS press release: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/treasury-irs-launch-new-tool-to-help-non-filers-register-for-economic-impact-payments

Because the Economic Impact Payments are considered tax refunds, we do not believe these payments are exempt from a financial institution's right to offset. However, a financial institution should consider the potential reputational risk that could accompany acting on offsets at this time.

Yes. Nacha Rules Subsection 3.1.2 states in full that “An RDFI may rely solely on the account number contained in an Entry for the purpose of posting the Entry to a Receiver’s account, regardless of whether the name of the Receiver in the Entry matches the name associated with the account number in the Entry.” Furthermore, the Green Book, Chapter Two, pages 2-5 and 2-6 states, “It is important to note that a financial institution is not required to manually verify that the name on the ACH entry matches the name on the account at the time the payment is posted. An RDFI is only liable for posting the payment to the account in the ACH credit entry.”

If an RDFI becomes aware that a payment was misdirected to a wrong account, either by an accountholder, a government agency, or through its own research, it is required to notify the sending agency. Notification could be through proper return of the ACH entry or by contacting the agency. If it deems possible, the RDFI may make an internal correction and provide the agency with an NOC; however, the RDFI is liable for the corrected information.

Please see: https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reference-guidance/green-book/chapter-2.html

According to information in the Green Book (page 4-2), the RDFI should return the payment. The Green Book states in Chapter 4 that all ACH payments must be returned in accordance with the Nacha Operating Rules and Guidelines, including when an account is closed or does not exist. Most ACH returns to the IRS will result in a paper check being issued; therefore, RDFIs must make appropriate use of Return Reason Codes.

Please see: https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reference-guidance/green-book/chapter-4.html

RDFIs should be aware that these payments will be issued and formatted as IRS tax refund credits, and therefore Nacha assumes that the same rules will apply to these payments as for other tax refund credits. They may be subject to certain U.S. Treasury offset requirements prior to being sent to the RDFI, such as for child support orders. The Green Book describes the formatting convention that the Treasury would use in the event that it determines the payments to be exempt.

As these payments will be indistinguishable from any other IRS tax refund credit, RDFIs that are participants in the IRS Refund Return Opt-In Program may utilize the opt-in program rules to return potentially erroneous or questionable payments for up to 60 calendar days using Return Reason Code R17. RDFIs that do not currently participate in the opt-in program can sign up at any time. (Note: program rules contained in participation agreement)

Please see: https://www.nacha.org/content/additional-ach-programs-and-resources

While the U.S. Treasury has not publicly addressed this question, Nacha assumes at this time that because the payments are considered tax refunds and not Federal benefit payments, that the Treasury’s reclamation rules do not apply. However, RDFIs should know that the payments may be subject to U.S. Treasury offset programs.

A verbal stop pay order does not automatically expire after 14 days. Article Three, Subsection 3.7.1.3 states that the RDFI may request written confirmation of a verbal stop pay order within 14 days. Such a confirmation is not required by the Rules. RDFIs may choose to modify their business procedures to not require a written confirmation of a verbal stop pay order.

R14 – Representative Payee Deceased or Unable to Continue in that Capacity.

No. Reversals are an important tool to allow Originators to correct errors and do not require Receiver authorization. If an RDFI receives a reversing debit, and the funds are available, the RDFI should post the entry. If the Receiver makes a claim that the reversal was not in accordance with Article Two, Subsection 2.9.1 of the 2020 Nacha Operating Rules, or otherwise provides information that would lead.

According to the IRS, “economic impact payments” should begin in “the next three weeks.” RDFIs could begin seeing payments as early as the week of April 6.

Article Three, Subsection 3.7.1.1 requires the RDFI to honor a stop payment order from its consumer Receiver. Stopping payment on all future debits from a particular Originator is essentially a revocation of the authorization for those debits, which the Receiver should do by directly contacting the Originator.

If the RDFI receives an order from a consumer to stop all future payments relating to a specific authorization involving a specific Originator, Article Three, Subsection 3.7.1.3 allows the RDFI to require the Receiver to confirm in writing that the Receiver has revoked the authorization given to the Originator.

Many lenders are offering relief from immediate payment obligations; RDFIs may want to direct customers with hardships to work directly with their lenders.

Stopping all future debits relating to a specific authorization involving a specific Originator is essentially a revocation of the authorization. Although Article Three, Subsection 3.7.2 requires an RDFI to honor a proper stop payment order on a business account, in the case of a revocation of the authorization, the correct course of action is to revoke the authorization directly with the Originator.

As with consumer loans, many lenders are offering relief from immediate payment obligations; RDFIs may want to direct customers with hardships to work directly with their lenders.

Although RDFIs may offer “debit blocks” or “debit filters” as a service to their business customers, these options are designed to protect the account against unauthorized debits. Debit blocks and filters are not intended to block the flow of legitimate payment activity. If a Receiver cannot meet its obligation to an Originator, the correct course of action is to deal directly with the Originator.

No. The Nacha Operating Rules permit reversals only for a limited set of circumstances to correct errors. The 2020 Nacha Operating Rules list the specific circumstances in Article Two, Subsection 2.9.1.

No. A client’s failure to fund an ACH file is not a valid reason for reversal under the Rules. This is true whether the client is an ODFI’s direct customer or is the customer of an ODFI’s Third-Party Sender customer. ODFI’s must work with their Originators to ensure proper funding has been addressed when originating credit files.

No. Failure of an Originator to fund its credit file is not a valid reason for the Third-Party Sender to reverse the file. As with ODFIs, Third-Party Senders must work with their customers to ensure proper funding has been addressed, when originating credit files.

Full question: Our financial institution has an Originator that debits its customers’ accounts each month for a membership fee. Since they temporarily closed due to stay-at-home orders, we have noticed an increasing number of the debits have been returned for insufficient funds, stop payments or as unauthorized entries. Are we at risk of a Nacha rule violation since our customer is experiencing more returns?

ACH Operations Bulletin #6-2020 discusses the relief Nacha will provide regarding potential rules violations for elevated return rates and levels during the National Emergency. Nacha will provide relief on a case-by-case basis after considering a number of factors, some of which are outlined in the Operations Bulletin.

Nacha encourages all businesses that originate pre-authorized ACH debits, to the extent possible, to communicate clearly with their customers about how they will handle pre-authorized ACH debits during periods of service interruption.

Full question: Following the IRS lead, many state tax agencies recently have provided taxpayer relief by extending the deadline for remitting tax payments beyond April 15, 2020. However, some state taxpayers have already filed tax returns and authorized payment via ACH debit scheduled for April 15. Some state tax agencies, and third-party providers that accept state filings, have indicated the inability to change the date of these previously scheduled ACH debit payments. How might financial institutions be impacted by the inability of state tax agencies to change these payment dates?

RDFIs

RDFIs might begin receiving stop payment requests from customers (the taxpayers) that were unable to change their payment dates with a state tax agency. RDFIs should follow the Nacha Rules, as well as Regulation E requirements in the case of consumer requests, in acting on legitimate stop payment orders from their customers.

After these payments post, RDFIs might be contacted by customers (the taxpayers) who wish to return these payments back to the respective state. Nacha advises that the best return reason code to handle these requests from consumers is R11 (Customer Advises Entry Not in Accordance with the Terms of the Authorization).

ODFIs

ODFIs of state tax agencies might be contacted by their clients asking for any ideas or assistance in handling this situation, potentially including holding ACH files/entries so that they do not post on April 15th, or in creating ACH credit files to send refunds. ODFIs that hold and later submit stale-dated files on behalf of their clients must be cognizant of the time of day the file is submitted to the ACH Operator, as stale-dated files submitted in a same-day processing window will be processed as Same Day Entries.

State tax agencies might experience an elevated incidence of returns for these ACH debits.

A listing of COVID-19 related state filing extensions is at https://taxadmin.memberclicks.net/covid-19-filing-extensions.

The U.S. Treasury has a validation service online that banks and credit unions can use to verify certain pieces of information on checks that appear to be Treasury-issued. For additional information, Nacha recommends referring to information issued by the U.S. Treasury.

ACH Operations Bulletin #2-2020 reviews the excused delay provision in Article One, Section 1.5 of the 2020 Nacha Operating Rules, and encourages financial institutions to review their business continuity plans. A delay caused by the failure of a financial institution to maintain or implement an appropriate business continuity plan is not excused under the Rules for that institution.

The 60 calendar day return time is still in effect and is confirmed in ACH Operations Bulletin #5-2020.

ACH Operations Bulletin #4-2020 affirms the effective dates of the Differentiating Unauthorized Return Reasons (April 1, 2020) and the ACH Contact Registry (October 30, 2020) rules.

ACH Operations Bulletin #3-2020 states that Nacha’s rules enforcement process can accommodate short extensions of required violation responses on a case-by-case basis.

According to the Department of Education, “payments will automatically stop from March 13, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2020.” The Department also says that any payment that was made as of or after March 13, 2020 can be refunded by the loan servicer. In all cases regarding questions or refunds, the Department’s directions to borrowers are to contact their loan servicers, and not their banks or credit unions.

For loan servicers and their ODFIs, the Department of Education’s instructions are to refund payments, and not to refer borrowers to their own banks or credit unions. Nacha recommends refunding a payment that was made by ACH debit with an ACH credit. Loan servicers should not be referring borrowers to their banks or credit unions instead of handling payment refunds themselves. To the extent that loan servicers direct borrowers to their banks or credit unions, these RDFIs can return payments using an unauthorized code – R11 if the RDFI has implemented the capability to do so; or R10 if it has not.

The Department of Education’s announcement and information are at https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus.