generated: '2026-08-26'
method: searched
source: https://docs.payengine.co/developer-docs/processing-payments/address-verification-service-avs-check
name: PayEngine decline, response and AVS codes
summary: >-
  PayEngine publishes a complete AVS response-code table in its public docs, including
  which codes Visa has retired and what each is now returned as - unusually good detail.
  It does not publish a decline-code or reason-code registry: the responseCode /
  hostResponseCode values that actually explain a decline appear only as example values
  inside sample transaction payloads, and their meanings are not documented publicly.
envelope_field: responseCode
supporting_fields:
- hostResponseCode
- hostSystemMessage
- status
- avsResponse
decline_code_registry_published: false
decline_code_registry_note: >-
  No decline-code reference page exists on the public docs host. The values below were
  read from published sample transaction payloads and their approve/decline meaning
  inferred from the accompanying hostSystemMessage in the same sample; the ISO 8583
  interpretation is noted but PayEngine does not itself state it.
response_codes:
- code: '00'
  host_system_message: null
  outcome: approved
  meaning: Approved. Appears on every successful sale, auth, capture, void and refund sample.
  evidence: Published sample transaction payloads (responseCode "00" with hostResponseCode "00").
- code: '05'
  host_system_message: DECLINE
  outcome: declined
  meaning: >-
    Declined by the issuer. Sample pairs responseCode "05" with hostResponseCode "300"
    and hostSystemMessage "DECLINE".
  action: >-
    Do not retry the same card without cardholder action; ask for another payment method.
  evidence: Published sample transaction payload.
- code: '01'
  host_system_message: CALL
  outcome: referral
  meaning: >-
    Referral - issuer wants voice authorization. Sample carries status "FAIL" and
    hostSystemMessage "CALL".
  evidence: Published sample transaction payload.
- code: '06'
  host_system_message: ERROR
  outcome: error
  meaning: >-
    Processing error. Sample carries status "FAIL" and hostSystemMessage "ERROR".
  evidence: Published sample transaction payload.
masked_to_buyer:
  note: >-
    PayEngine prints only APPROVED / DECLINED / FAILED on the customer and merchant
    receipts it generates; the numeric responseCode is not shown to the cardholder. The
    PAN is masked to first-six/last-four (e.g. 411111xxxxxx1111).
avs_response_codes:
  published: true
  docs: https://docs.payengine.co/developer-docs/processing-payments/address-verification-service-avs-check
  enablement: >-
    AVS checking is not self-serve. Docs instruct partners to "contact the PayEngine
    Customer Success team to enable AVS checks", including how approvals or declines are
    handled per code.
  codes:
  - code: A
    definition: Address matches - ZIP Code does not match
  - code: B
    definition: Street address match, Postal code in wrong format (international issuer)
    superseded_by: 'A'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response A.
  - code: C
    definition: Street address and postal code in wrong formats
    superseded_by: 'R'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response R.
  - code: D
    definition: Street address and postal code match (international issuer)
    superseded_by: 'Z'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response Z.
  - code: E
    definition: AVS Error
  - code: F
    definition: Address does compare and five-digit ZIP code does compare (UK only)
    superseded_by: 'Z'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response Z.
  - code: G
    definition: Service not supported by non-US issuer
    superseded_by: 'R'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response R.
  - code: I
    definition: Address information not verified by international issuer
    superseded_by: 'R'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response R.
  - code: M
    definition: Street Address and Postal code match (international issuer)
    superseded_by: 'Z'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response Z.
  - code: N
    definition: No Match on Address (Street) or ZIP
  - code: O
    definition: No Response sent
  - code: P
    definition: Postal codes match, Street address not verified due to incompatible formats
    superseded_by: 'Z'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response Z.
  - code: R
    definition: Retry, System unavailable or Timed out
    note: >-
      Docs state that when the AVS system is unavailable the issuer may return R, and the
      merchant chooses whether to proceed based on risk appetite.
  - code: S
    definition: Service not supported by issuer
    superseded_by: 'U'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response U.
  - code: U
    definition: Address information is unavailable
  - code: W
    definition: 9-digit ZIP matches, Address (Street) does not match
    superseded_by: 'Z'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response Z.
  - code: X
    definition: Exact AVS Match
    superseded_by: 'Z'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response Z.
  - code: Y
    definition: Address (Street) and 5-digit ZIP match
    superseded_by: 'Z'
    note: No longer used by Visa - expect AVS Response Z.
  - code: Z
    definition: 5-digit ZIP matches, Address (Street) does not match
gaps:
- >-
  No decline-code reference. A partner cannot map a responseCode to a remediation without
  the gated API reference or a support conversation.
- >-
  No published CVV/CVC response-code table, though AVS is documented in full.