What does AC06 mean in ISO 20022?

AC06 is Blocked Account in the ExternalReturnReason1Code code set: Account specified is blocked, prohibiting posting of transactions against it.

What should I do when I get AC06?

Do not resend to the same account straight away; it will be blocked again. Contact the beneficiary through your usual channel and ask them to resolve the block with their bank, or to give other account details.

Where does AC06 appear in a message?

For example in pacs.004, element TxInf/RtrRsnInf/Rsn/Cd.

ExternalReturnReason1Code

AC06 Reason Code: Blocked Account

Written and maintained by ZagTrader. Last reviewed 21 October 2026. How this page is sourced and checked

AC06 means blocked account in the ISO 20022 return reason code set. The account is open but blocked, so the bank cannot post to it.

Code: AC06
ISO name: BlockedAccount
Status: Registered
Last updated: 2009-04-01

Official definition

Account specified is blocked, prohibiting posting of transactions against it.

Definition from the ISO 20022 External Code Sets, 2Q2026 (published 28 Aug 2026).

What it means in practice

In a pacs.004 payment return, a return reason code explains why funds that were already settled are being sent back. It sits in TxInf/RtrRsnInf/Rsn/Cd, and bank statements (camt.053, camt.054) repeat it in RtrInf/Rsn/Cd.

The account is open but blocked, so the bank cannot post to it. Blocks come from court orders, sanctions, fraud checks, a deceased holder or the bank's own decision. The code does not say which.

What to do

Do not resend to the same account straight away; it will be blocked again.
Contact the beneficiary through your usual channel and ask them to resolve the block with their bank, or to give other account details.

Messages and fields that use ExternalReturnReason1Code

Message	Element path
pacs.004	TxInf/RtrRsnInf/Rsn/Cd, OrgnlGrpInf/RtrRsnInf/Rsn/Cd
camt.053	Stmt/Ntry/NtryDtls/TxDtls/RtrInf/Rsn/Cd
camt.054	Ntfctn/Ntry/NtryDtls/TxDtls/RtrInf/Rsn/Cd
camt.052	Rpt/Ntry/NtryDtls/TxDtls/RtrInf/Rsn/Cd
trck.001	TrckrStsAndTx/Tx/RjctRtrRsn/Rsn/Cd, TrckrStsAndTx/TxSts/RjctRtrRsn/Rsn/Cd
trck.002	TrckrStsAndTx/Tx/RjctRtrRsn/Rsn/Cd, TrckrStsAndTx/TxSts/RjctRtrRsn/Rsn/Cd
trck.004	TrckrStsAndTx/Tx/RjctRtrRsn/Rsn/Cd, TrckrStsAndTx/TxSts/RjctRtrRsn/Rsn/Cd

AC06 in other code sets

AC06 questions

What does AC06 mean in ISO 20022?: AC06 is Blocked Account in the ExternalReturnReason1Code code set: Account specified is blocked, prohibiting posting of transactions against it.
What should I do when I get AC06?: Do not resend to the same account straight away; it will be blocked again. Contact the beneficiary through your usual channel and ask them to resolve the block with their bank, or to give other account details.
Where does AC06 appear in a message?: For example in pacs.004, element TxInf/RtrRsnInf/Rsn/Cd.

All ExternalReturnReason1Code codes · ISO 20022 code sets

The ISO 20022 code names and definitions on this page are reproduced from material published at iso20022.org under the ISO 20022 Intellectual Property Rights policy. This is not the official source: the up-to-date ISO 20022 standards and repository material are published only at iso20022.org. Explanations in our own words are by ZagTrader. ZagTrader is not affiliated with or endorsed by ISO or Swift.