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  4. Reversing Payroll - Request an ACH Reversal

Reversing Payroll - Request an ACH Reversal

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Procedure Updated: 
09/28/2023

Use this procedure to request an ACH reversal. Requesting an ACH reversal initiates a process in which the State of Washington attempts to recover a direct deposit payment from an employee’s financial institution.

You may not request an ACH reversal unless you are designated as your agency ACH Reversal Authorizer. For ACH Reversal Authorizer assistance or agency updates, please email HeretoHelp@ofm.wa.gov.

Tips: 

ACH may only be reversed for the following reasons:

  • The deposit is a duplicate of a previous deposit.
  • The deposit was made to an employee not intended to be credited.
  • The deposit was for the wrong dollar amount.

Requests for ACH reversals can be made:

  • After Day 4 has completed.
  • On the actual pay date.
  • Up to 4 banking days after the pay date.

The initiation of an ACH reversal request does not guarantee funds will be returned from a financial institution. After an ACH reversal has been initiated, the requesting agency will receive a provisional credit in the Agency Payroll Revolving Account (035), General Ledger 5124 effective the reversal effective date. These provisional funds do not indicate the Reversal was successful. A financial institution has up to 6 banking days to send an ACH Return indicating the reversal failed or report that the funds will be unpaid via the HRMS Corrections and Returns Report. OFM does not recommend processing an off-cycle workbench until a minimum of 7 banking days after the effective date of the EFT Reversal has passed and the funds are still present in GL 5124. If you have not received a notice of ACH return after waiting 7 banking days, you may complete the Off-cycle using the Reversing Payroll – Reverse Payroll Using Off-Cycle Workbench procedure.

  1. Step 1

    Gather the following mandatory information:

    • First and last name of employee
    • Employee bank account number
    • The full amount of the reversal
  2. Step 2

    Call OFM Help Desk at (360) 407-9100.

    TIPS:

    • The initiation of an ACH reversal request does not guarantee funds will be returned from a financial institution. If the ACH reversal is successful, you will see a credit in the Agency Payroll Revolving Account (035), General Ledger 5124. Once the amount has been credited to Account 035, you can move forward with the Reversing Payroll - Reverse Payroll Using Off-Cycle Workbench procedure.