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Bureau of the Fiscal Service
Reference & Guidance

Green Book

The Green Book is a comprehensive guide for financial institutions that receive ACH payments from and send payments (i.e. collections) to the federal government.

Most federal payments are made through ACH with very few exceptions.

Federal government ACH transactions continue to be subject to the same rules as private industry ACH payments.

The Green Book is designed to deal primarily with exceptions or issues unique to federal government operations.

The Green Book contains federal agency contact information and website addresses where appropriate.

To make the Green Book easier to navigate, download, and print, chapters are available in PDF format only.

We periodically review and update the Green Book.

If you have questions about the Green book, contact us.

ACH Payment Schedules

Table of Contents

Introduction

Welcome to the Green Book, a comprehensive guide for financial institutions that receive ACH payments from and send payments (i.e. collections) to the federal government.

Chapter 1: Enrollment

This chapter is a guide to the enrollment process for various payment types —- both consumer and corporate.

Chapter 2: ACH Payment Processing

This chapter provides information about how federal government ACH payments are processed.

Chapter 3: Non-Receipt Claims

This chapter describes the role(s) of the Financial Institution in resolving a claim of non-receipt for a federal payment.

Chapter 4: Returns

This chapter describes the return process for federal payments.

Chapter 5: Reclamations

This chapter provides detail on the reclamation process.

Chapter 6: Notification of Change

Notification of Change (NOC) is used to change and/or correct account information for federal government transactions processed through the Automated Clearing House (ACH).

Chapter 7: Contacts

This chapter includes addresses and/or phone numbers of ACH contacts.

Chapter 8: Glossary

Glossary of terms used in the Green Book.

Chapter 9: Forms

This chapter includes all of the forms for the Green Book.

All PDF Downloads

Last modified 02/01/23