---
title: "Simulate a transfer event in Sandbox"
method: POST
path: "/sandbox/transfer/simulate"
tags: ["plaid"]
---

# Simulate a transfer event in Sandbox

`POST /sandbox/transfer/simulate`

Use the `/sandbox/transfer/simulate` endpoint to simulate a transfer event in the Sandbox environment.  Note that while an event will be simulated and will appear when using endpoints such as `/transfer/event/sync` or `/transfer/event/list`, no transactions will actually take place and funds will not move between accounts, even within the Sandbox.

## Request body

- SandboxTransferSimulateRequest — Defines the request schema for `/sandbox/transfer/simulate`
  - `client_id` string — Your Plaid API `client_id`. The `client_id` is required and may be provided either in the `PLAID-CLIENT-ID` header or as part of a request body.
  - `secret` string — Your Plaid API `secret`. The `secret` is required and may be provided either in the `PLAID-SECRET` header or as part of a request body.
  - `transfer_id` string, required — Plaid's unique identifier for a transfer.
  - `test_clock_id` string, nullable — Plaid's unique identifier for a test clock. If provided, the event to be simulated is created at the `virtual_time` on the provided `test_clock`.
  - `event_type` string, required — The asynchronous event to be simulated. May be: `posted`, `settled`, `failed`, `funds_available`, or `returned`. An error will be returned if the event type is incompatible with the current transfer status. Compatible status --> event type transitions include: `pending` --> `failed` `pending` --> `posted` `posted` --> `returned` `posted` --> `settled` `settled` --> `funds_available` (only applicable to ACH debits.)
  - `failure_reason` TransferFailure, nullable — The failure reason if the event type for a transfer is `"failed"` or `"returned"`. Null value otherwise.
    - `failure_code` string, nullable — The failure code, e.g. `R01`. A failure code will be provided if and only if the transfer status is `returned`. See [ACH return codes](https://plaid.com/docs/errors/transfer/#ach-return-codes) for a full listing of ACH return codes and [RTP/RfP error codes](https://plaid.com/docs/errors/transfer/#rtprfp-error-codes) for RTP error codes.
    - `ach_return_code` string, nullable — The ACH return code, e.g. `R01`. A return code will be provided if and only if the transfer status is `returned`. For a full listing of ACH return codes, see [Transfer errors](https://plaid.com/docs/errors/transfer/#ach-return-codes).
    - `description` string — A human-readable description of the reason for the failure or reversal.
  - `webhook` string, url — The webhook URL to which a `TRANSFER_EVENTS_UPDATE` webhook should be sent.

## Response `200`

OK

- SandboxTransferSimulateResponse — Defines the response schema for `/sandbox/transfer/simulate`
  - `request_id` string, required — A unique identifier for the request, which can be used for troubleshooting. This identifier, like all Plaid identifiers, is case sensitive.

## Other responses

- `default` — Error response

## Changes

> 52 revisions in range; 1 could not be searched.

- **2026-07-22** `a1bbca018160` — 13 warning
  - added the new `ASSETS_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - added the new `CRA_MONITORING_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - added the new `CREDIT_PROFILE_REPORT_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - added the new `ENCOMPASS_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
  - …9 more
- **2026-06-25** `80d23bfdc2e5` — 1 warning
  - added the new `IDEMPOTENCY_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
- **2026-06-10** `fb8c3f188d8b` — 1 warning
  - added the new `BASE_REPORT_ERROR` enum value to the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`
- **2025-12-11** `465584b48c99` — 2 info
  - added the optional property `provided_account_subtypes` to the response with the `default` status
  - added the optional property `required_account_subtypes` to the response with the `default` status
- **2025-11-19** `4abee1c56929` — 1 info
  - removed the `IDENTITY_ERROR` enum value from the `error_type` response property for the response status `default`

[Full history](https://skmtc.dev/plaid/apis/the-plaid-api/changes/sandbox/transfer/simulate/post.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/plaid/apis/the-plaid-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/plaid/apis/the-plaid-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/plaid/the-plaid-api/revisions/e536704a333f/schema)