What does AC13 mean in ISO 20022?

AC13 is Invalid Debtor Account Type in the ExternalReturnReason1Code code set: Debtor account type is missing or invalid

What should I do when I get AC13?

Check which accounts the scheme allows for this payment type and ask the customer for a suitable account.

Where does AC13 appear in a message?

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

ExternalReturnReason1Code

AC13 Reason Code: Invalid Debtor Account Type

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

AC13 means invalid debtor account type in the ISO 20022 return reason code set. The debtor account type is missing or not allowed for this payment, for example a savings account that cannot be debited by a direct debit.

Code: AC13
ISO name: InvalidDebtorAccountType
Status: Registered
Last updated: 2013-05-07

Official definition

Debtor account type is missing or invalid

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 debtor account type is missing or not allowed for this payment, for example a savings account that cannot be debited by a direct debit.

What to do

Check which accounts the scheme allows for this payment type and ask the customer for a suitable account.

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

AC13 in other code sets

AC13 in ExternalStatusReason1Code

AC13 questions

What does AC13 mean in ISO 20022?: AC13 is Invalid Debtor Account Type in the ExternalReturnReason1Code code set: Debtor account type is missing or invalid
What should I do when I get AC13?: Check which accounts the scheme allows for this payment type and ask the customer for a suitable account.
Where does AC13 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.