Stripe decline codes reference: meaning, soft or hard, and what to do

Every Stripe decline code in one table: meaning, soft or hard, whether to retry, and the recovery action to take, with links to full explainers for each code.

Quick answer: A Stripe decline code is the processor's translation of the issuing bank's response. Soft codes (insufficient_funds, try_again_later, issuer_not_available, processing_error, most generic_decline and do_not_honor) are temporary and recover with well-timed retries. Hard codes (expired_card, lost_card, stolen_card, pickup_card, invalid_account, do_not_try_again, revocation_of_authorization) will not clear by retrying and need updated credentials or a new payment method. Retrying hard codes wastes network attempts and risks fines.

Reference maintained by the FlyCode team. Last reviewed September 2026. For strategy and timing by code family, read the Subscription payment decline codes guide.

How to read this table

• Type: Soft = temporary, retry is appropriate. Hard = permanent for this credential, do not retry; obtain updated credentials or a new method. Auth = the customer must complete authentication. N/A = does not occur on stored-credential subscription charges.

• Retry?: whether an automated retry on the same payment method is worthwhile.

• FlyCode action: what the recovery engine does by default for the code.

• Reference: the full explainer for the code on flycode.com.

Stripe decline codes A to Z

Stripe code	Meaning	Type	Retry?	FlyCode action	Reference
approve_with_id	Issuer could not authorize this attempt but may on another.	Soft	Yes	Timed retry.	approve_with_id
authentication_required	3D Secure or SCA challenge needed.	Auth	No (silent)	Send authentication link by email or SMS.	authentication_required
call_issuer	Issuer declined without a reason; customer should contact bank.	Soft (unknown)	Cautious	One or two timed retries, then outreach.	call_issuer
card_not_supported	Card cannot be used for this type of purchase.	Hard	No	Request another payment method; try backup method.	card_not_supported
card_velocity_exceeded	Card hit a spending or transaction-count limit.	Soft	Yes, after 24 to 48 h	Delayed retry outside the limit window.	card_velocity_exceeded
currency_not_supported	Card does not support the charge currency.	Hard	No	Request another method; consider local currency billing.	currency_not_supported
do_not_honor	Generic issuer refusal, no reason given.	Soft (generic)	Yes	Classify underlying cause from patterns; retry at predicted best time.	do_not_honor
do_not_try_again	Issuer instructs merchant to stop.	Hard	Never	Backup method, then outreach for a new method.	do_not_try_again
duplicate_transaction	Same amount and card submitted very recently.	Soft	Check first	Verify whether the earlier attempt succeeded before any retry.	duplicate_transaction
expired_card	Card credentials are no longer valid; the issuer has replaced them.	Hard	No	Rely on Card Account Updater and network tokens; then backup method; then update request.	expired_card
fraudulent	Stripe Radar or the issuer suspects fraud.	Hard	Never	No retry; review in Radar if legitimate; outreach with generic wording.	fraudulent
generic_decline	Unknown reason, or a Radar rule blocked it.	Soft (generic)	Yes	Classify from patterns; retry at predicted best time.	generic_decline
incorrect_cvc	CVC check failed.	Hard	No	Outreach: re-enter card details.	incorrect_cvc
incorrect_number	Card number is wrong.	Hard	No	Outreach: re-enter card.	incorrect_number
incorrect_pin, invalid_pin, offline_pin_required, online_or_offline_pin_required, pin_try_exceeded	PIN problems on card-present transactions.	N/A	N/A	Not applicable to subscriptions.	incorrect_pin
incorrect_zip	Postal code did not match.	Hard	No	Outreach: update billing address.	incorrect_zip
insufficient_funds	Not enough balance at this moment. Often 50 to 70 percent of subscription failures.	Soft	Yes	Retry around likely pay cycles at local morning hours; escalate to outreach only after timed retries.	insufficient_funds
invalid_account	Card or linked account is invalid or closed.	Hard	No	Backup method, then outreach.	invalid_account
invalid_amount	Amount invalid or over the allowed limit.	Soft	After check	Verify amount; split or retry after limit resets.	invalid_amount
invalid_cvc	CVC value invalid.	Hard	No	Outreach: re-enter card.	invalid_cvc
invalid_expiry_month, invalid_expiry_year	Expiry values invalid.	Hard	No	Outreach: re-enter card.	invalid_expiry_year
invalid_number	Card number invalid.	Hard	No	Outreach: re-enter card.	invalid_number
issuer_not_available	Issuer systems unreachable.	Soft	Yes, within hours	Short-delay retry; usually succeeds on the next attempt.	issuer_not_available
lost_card	Card reported lost.	Hard	Never	Network tokens may update; else backup method, then outreach with generic wording.	lost_card
merchant_blacklist	Card matches a block list on your Radar settings.	Hard	Never	Review your Radar lists; generic outreach.	merchant_blacklist
new_account_information_available	Credentials have changed; new details exist at the issuer.	Hard	No	Card Account Updater or network token refresh, then retry with updated credentials.	new_account_information_available
no_action_taken	Issuer declined without detail.	Soft (unknown)	Cautious	Limited timed retries, then outreach.	no_action_taken
not_permitted	Payment not permitted for this card.	Hard	No	Backup method, then outreach.	not_permitted
pickup_card	Issuer wants the card retained (lost, stolen or fraud).	Hard	Never	No retry; backup method; generic outreach.	pickup_card
processing_error	Error while processing.	Soft	Yes, within 24 to 48 h	Timed retry; investigate if it repeats.	processing_error
reenter_transaction	Issuer rejected; resubmitting may work.	Soft	Yes	Timed retry.	reenter_transaction
restricted_card	Card restricted (often lost or stolen).	Hard	No	Backup method; generic outreach.	restricted_card
revocation_of_all_authorizations, revocation_of_authorization	Cardholder revoked authorization for recurring charges.	Hard	Never	Stop charging; outreach to confirm intent and collect a new method if wanted.	revocation_of_authorization
security_violation	Security rule at the issuer.	Hard	No	Backup method; outreach.	security_violation
service_not_allowed	Service not allowed for this card.	Hard	No	Backup method; outreach.	service_not_allowed
stolen_card	Card reported stolen.	Hard	Never	No retry; backup method; generic outreach.	stolen_card
stop_payment_order	Cardholder placed a stop order.	Hard	Never	Stop charging; outreach to confirm intent.	stop_payment_order
testmode_decline	Test card used in live mode.	N/A	No	Not applicable.	testmode_decline
transaction_not_allowed	Card cannot make this kind of transaction.	Hard	No	Backup method; outreach.	transaction_not_allowed
try_again_later	Temporary issuer condition.	Soft	Yes, within hours	Short-delay retry.	try_again_later
withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded	Card hit its transaction-count limit.	Soft	Yes, after 24 h	Delayed retry.	withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded

Network response codes you will see alongside Stripe codes

Stripe also exposes the card network's response code on the charge outcome. The ones that matter most for subscriptions:

Network code	Name	Usual Stripe code	Type
05	Do not honor	do_not_honor, generic_decline	Soft (generic)
14	Invalid card number	invalid_number, incorrect_number	Hard
41	Lost card	lost_card	Hard
43	Stolen card	stolen_card	Hard
51	Insufficient funds	insufficient_funds	Soft
54	Card credentials no longer valid	expired_card	Hard
57	Transaction not permitted to cardholder	transaction_not_allowed	Hard
59	Suspected fraud	fraudulent	Hard
61	Exceeds withdrawal amount limit	card_velocity_exceeded	Soft
65	Exceeds withdrawal frequency	withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded	Soft
91	Issuer or switch inoperative	issuer_not_available	Soft
96	System malfunction	processing_error	Soft
R0, R1, R3	Stop payment, revocation of authorization(s)	stop_payment_order, revocation_of_authorization	Hard

Mastercard additionally returns Merchant Advice Codes (01 updated information needed, 02 try again later, 03 do not try again, 21 recurring payment cancelled) that override the retry decision. See card network retry rules.

FAQ

Which Stripe decline codes should never be retried?

do_not_try_again, fraudulent, lost_card, stolen_card, pickup_card, stop_payment_order, revocation_of_authorization and revocation_of_all_authorizations, plus anything carrying Mastercard advice code 03 or 21. Retrying them can trigger network fines and harms your authorization rate.

Is generic_decline soft or hard?

Usually soft: it is a catch-all that most often hides insufficient funds, a temporary hold or a risk threshold. Pattern analysis (time of day, day of month, BIN, history) tells the two apart; FlyCode's classifiers do this per merchant.

Where do I see the network code in Stripe?

On the charge or payment intent, under outcome.network_decline_code (API) or the payment details view in the dashboard.

Related

• Subscription payment decline codes guide for Stripe (strategy and timing by code family)

• Decline Codes Explained in the Help Center

• Full Stripe and Adyen decline code library on flycode.com

• Failed payment recovery glossary