ACH Compliance 2026: Nacha Rules & What Sage 100 Users Must Do

ACH Compliance Changes in 2026: What ERP and Sage 100 Users Need to Do Now

If your business processes ACH payments, there are important ACH compliance changes in 2026 that you should already be aware of.

New Nacha ACH rules are now in effect, impacting payroll, vendor payments, and online transactions across ERP and accounting systems, including Sage 100.

These Nacha 2026 updates are designed to improve transaction consistency and strengthen fraud prevention, but they may also require updates to your system configuration and internal processes.

If you haven’t reviewed your setup yet, now is the time.

‍

Ryan Clark

Senior Business Consultant

What Are the ACH Compliance Changes in 2026?

The ACH compliance changes in 2026 focus on two main objectives:

Standardizing ACH transaction data
Strengthening fraud detection and prevention

These new Nacha rules apply to all businesses that originate ACH payments, including:

Payroll (direct deposit and contractor payments)
Vendor and supplier payments
Customer payments initiated online

For companies relying on ERP systems to manage these processes, even small changes to ACH rules can have a meaningful impact on how transactions are generated and submitted.

Phase 1 (March 2026): New ACH Rules for Payroll and Web Payments

Phase 1 of the ACH rules update took effect on March 20, 2026.

Payroll Must Be Labeled “PAYROLL”

All ACH files used for payroll must now include:
“PAYROLL” in the Company Entry Description field.

Web Payments Must Be Labeled “PURCHASE”

ACH transactions using the WEB SEC code must include:
“PURCHASE” in the transaction description field.

What These ACH Rules Mean for ERP Systems (Including Sage 100)

While these updates may seem simple, they depend heavily on how your system is configured.

In a Sage 100 ERP system, (and other ERPs), ACH processing is typically managed through payroll and payment configuration settings. If those settings have not been reviewed recently, there is a risk that your ACH files may not align with the new requirements.

For many businesses, this ties directly into broader ACH payment processing workflows, including how transactions are generated, reviewed, and submitted.

Common risks include:

Payroll transactions not being labeled correctly
Web payments missing required descriptions
Outdated configurations not reflecting current rules

This is especially important for long-standing systems where configurations may not have been revisited in years.

Phase 2 (June 2026): ACH Fraud Monitoring Requirements

The second phase of the ACH compliance updates introduces more significant operational expectations.

All organizations that originate ACH payments will be required to implement risk-based ACH fraud monitoring processes.

What Needs to Be Monitored?

New ACH fraud monitoring requirements include:

Unusual transaction amounts (large or very small)
Micro-transactions used to test account access
New or changed bank account information
Activity that deviates from normal transaction patterns

What This Means in Practice

This is not just a system update, it’s a process change.

Most organizations will need to:

Strengthen internal payment approval workflows
Add controls around vendor and bank account changes
Monitor ACH activity more proactively
Document fraud prevention procedures

For ERP users, this often reveals gaps between what the system can do and what is actually being done operationally.

Do You Need to Take Action on ACH Compliance?

In most cases, yes.

You should review your setup if you:

Use Sage 100 or another ERP system for ACH payments
Have not reviewed ACH configurations recently
Do not have formal fraud monitoring processes in place

Even if your system is functioning correctly, these new ACH compliance requirements for 2026 introduce expectations that may not be met by default.

How We Help Sage 100 and ERP Users Stay Compliant

We work with organizations across ERP systems—including Sage 100, Acumatica Cloud ERP, and Sage Intacct—to help them align with current ACH rules and prepare for upcoming requirements.

Our approach typically includes:

Reviewing ACH configuration settings
Validating payroll and payment file setup
Identifying compliance gaps
Evaluating fraud risk exposure
Recommending practical, manageable process improvements

For Sage 100 users specifically, we also provide Sage 100 guidance and support.

If you’re unsure whether your system is aligned with current requirements, a quick review can provide clarity.

‍Final Thought & Next Steps

‍‍The 2026 updates to ACH compliance and Nacha rules are designed to improve security and consistency across the payment network—but for most businesses, the real challenge isn’t understanding the rules, it’s making sure your systems and processes actually comply. With Phase 1 already in effect and Phase 2 approaching, now is the time to take action.

If you’d like help reviewing your ACH setup or confirming compliance with the latest Nacha 2026 rules, we’re here to help. Whether you’re using Sage 100 or another ERP system, we can review your configuration, identify potential gaps, and help you prepare for upcoming requirements.

You can learn more about our ERP consulting and support services, or simply reach out. We’re happy to take a look with you.

Let’s Explore Your ERP and Integration Needs

Whether you’re looking to make the most of your ERP, enhance eCommerce processes, or solutions like EDI integration, our team of experts is ready to help. We’ll work with you to understand your unique challenges and design tailored solutions that fit your business goals.  

Take the first step towards optimizing your operations by filling out the form—let’s build a more efficient future together!

"Everyone at Kissinger is easy to work with. They understood our needs and created an integrated solution that gives us exactly what we wanted."

— Jennifer Callanan at MMTC, Inc.