In this simulation study we investigate the effects of realistic levels of random and systematic experimental error in higher harmonics detected by Fourier transformed AC voltammetry for a reversible process. We show that by analyzing in the frequency domain results that are collected in the time domain, we can achieve a very large reduction in the magnitude of random (Gaussian) noise, and complete elimination of the systematic error introduced by mains frequency in both the small and large amplitude cases. As a consequence, we confirm experimental observations that even the eighth harmonic for a reversible process can be readily detected in the presence of very significant noise levels when 100 mV amplitude sine wave perturbations are employed. © 2006 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA.