ACH File - File control record

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The final record in an ACH file is a File Control Record that includes the following information (position numbers are listed in parentheses).

An ACH file is a simple ASCII-format file that adheres to Automated Clearing House specifications. A single ACH file holds multiple electronic transactions, much like a manila file folder that is used to store and transmit dozens of sheets of paper with information related to a single topic. Each transaction within an ACH file carries either a credit or a debit value. Typically, a payroll ACH file contains many credit transactions to employees' checking or savings accounts, as well as a balancing debit transaction to the employer's (that is, your client's) payroll account.

Field Name Contents (and position numbers)
Record Type Code

The numeral 9. (01-01) 1 numeric.

Record Type Code, example
ACH ctrlrec rec type code
Batch Count

The total number of Company / Batch Header Records in the ACH file. (02-07) 6 numeric

Batch Count, example
ACH ctrlrec batch count
Block Count

The total number of records included in the ACH file, rounded up to the nearest 10, then divided by 10. (08-13) 6 numeric.

Block Count, example
ACH ctrlrec block count
Entry / Addenda Count

The total number of entry detail and tax addenda records in the ACH file. (14-21) 8 numeric.

Entry / Addenda Count, example
ACH ctrlrec entry addenda count
Entry Hash

The sum of all Entry Hash fields in the ACH file. If the total contains more digits than the field size allows, the number is automatically truncated. (22-31) 10 numeric.

Entry Hash, example
ACH ctrlrec entry hash
Total Debit Entry Dollar Amount in File

The sum of all Total Debit Entry Dollar Amount fields in the ACH file. This will be zero if the Balanced file checkboxes in the Direct Deposit tab (or the Client Direct Deposit tab, if applicable) of the Setup > Bank Accounts screen are unmarked. (32-43) 12 numeric.

Total Debit Entry Dollar Amount in File, example
ACH ctrlrec tot deb entry
Total Credit Entry Dollar Amount in File

The sum of all Total Credit Entry Dollar Amount fields in the ACH file. (44-55) 12 numeric.

Total Credit Entry Dollar Amount in File, example
ACH ctrlrec tot cred entry
Reserved

This field is always left blank. (56-94) 39 numeric.

Reserved, example
ACH ctrlrec reserved

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