Where it appears
Returned by the card alongside the ACApplication CryptogramA cryptogram the card generates to approve or decline a transaction: TC (approve offline), ARQC (go online), or AAC (decline). in the GENERATE ACApplication CryptogramA cryptogram the card generates to approve or decline a transaction: TC (approve offline), ARQC (go online), or AAC (decline). response.
Specification reference
Defined in: EMV 4.x Book 3 (Application Specification), Annex A — Data Element Dictionary
Bit-level definitions below follow: EMV Book 3, Section 6.5.5 — Cryptogram Information Data (1 byte)
Bit & value breakdown
EMV Book 3, Section 6.5.5 — Cryptogram Information Data (1 byte)
Bits b8–b7 (cryptogram type)
b8–b7 = 00AAC — Application Authentication Cryptogram (transaction declined offline)b8–b7 = 01TC — Transaction Certificate (transaction approved offline)b8–b7 = 11RFUReserved for Future UseBits or bytes with no current meaning, reserved by the spec; they must be set to zero.Common full-byte values
0x00AAC (0000 0000) — offline decline0x40TC (0100 0000) — offline approvalExample values
80ARQC — request online authorisation
40TC — approved offline
00AAC — declined offline