With 12 years of experience, Gina specializes in working with smaller companies in every area of accounting, including economics and human resources. This article was co-authored by Gina D’Amore and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure.

Do NOT sign the check or fill in other fields

A creative solution is to have a check printer to generate an image of a voided check for you. Instead of using forms, which require you to void a traditional check, try logging into your account (or ask if there’s an online system). In your check register, write “VOID,” along with the check number, date, and a note about why you voided the check (such as who you gave it to).

In a sense, discarding a voided check is as useful in protecting your finances as voiding it. Even when a check is voided correctly, it still contains sensitive information, such as the account holder’s name, bank, address and account number. Physical checks commonly have an account holder’s name, address, checking and routing numbers. Employers may ask you to fill out a short authorization form and provide a voided check to get started. Once you’ve voided a check, it’s essentially disabled and cannot be used any longer.

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• Voiding a check is simpler than you may think.
• This is different from a stop payment, which is an urgent request made to your bank to cancel a check that you have already given to someone.
• Keeping your financial documents in a secure place and disposing of them properly is a smart habit.
• Voiding the check makes the recipient unable to do this anymore.
• If you’ve already sent a check, you can request a stop payment on a check if you’ve made an error or don’t want the payment to complete for another reason.
• Consumers often provide their own routing and account numbers online without any problem, so voided checks are required less frequently.

The check will be used only to set up your paycheck to be deposited directly into your account, not as a payment method. Another frequent reason you’d void a check is to set up direct deposit. There are several situations when you might need to void a check, but the two most common are fixing mistakes and setting up direct deposit with an employer. All things considered, however, knowing how to void a check correctly can help protect your bank account and personal information, whether you’re the payer or payee. To avoid confusion down the road, record the voided check in your checkbook or online banking software. As a business owner, you’ll need a voided check during the funding process so that your lender knows where to deposit your funds.

Download today and breeze through payroll and payment setups on the first try. (Share only with trusted parties; avoid posting publicly.) Export to PDF and submit via HR, the rental office, or the provider’s requested channel; for physical delivery, mail in a plain envelope no staples. Do not sign the check and leave the amount blank.

Send & Receive

Signing up is free and easy, and you can wave goodbye to those checks. This is because it is an easy and convenient way for the employer to have access to your bank information without requiring you to make a money transfer. The only way to give yourself peace of mind is to void the check and then throw it out or shred it. You also can’t discard it because if someone were to get hold of it they could withdraw money from your account. To do that, you’ll have to write the word ‘VOID’ in capital letters going across the front of the check.

This gives you access to checks where necessary. Be sure to confirm that the organization that is requesting the check accepts temporary checks. Usually, after you open a new account in the bank, they give you temporary cheques. Many mobile banking applications allow you to generate documentation.

In some cases, you can use a preprinted deposit slip the best email marketing platforms for nonprofits to verify your banking information. Expect to provide your routing number, account number, and your name. Be aware, however, that some banks may charge a small fee for counter checks.

If you need to provide your bank account information but don’t have any checks, you may have some other options. For example, setting up autopay for your rent, utility bills, or phone bills may require a voided check if you choose to use a direct debit from your bank account. If you don’t have any checks, and you want to set up a direct deposit or automatic electronic payment, there are other ways to do so. While you don’t strictly need a voided check to set up a direct deposit², many employers will ask for one. Consumers often provide their own routing and account numbers online without any problem, so voided checks are required less frequently.

Steps

• You can store it in a secure place for the next time you need to provide a voided.
• The form asks for the same information printed on a voided check, such as your name, routing number, and account number.
• Whether you receive a paycheck, government benefits, or other income, direct deposit offers a secure and hassle-free way to get paid.
• Did you write a large check to somebody and forget about it, or did that check gets stolen?
• Even when a check is voided correctly, it still contains sensitive information, such as the account holder’s name, bank, address and account number.
• Implementing best practices in storing and disposing of voided checks ensures that your financial information remains secure.
• You may be asking yourself why anyone would want to make a check useless.

A voided check is also called a cancelled check. In this guide, learn how to make a voided check, the top reasons to void a check, how to properly dispose of a cancelled check, and other best practices. Think of a voided check as a canceled paper check.

See What Your Business Qualifies For

However, most banks require a voided check for direct deposit—a step that may seem outdated but serves an important purpose. In this guide, we’ll explain why voided checks remain essential, how they simplify direct deposit setup, and how our innovative tool streamlines the process. No, although it’s common for both a direct deposit form and a voided check to be required and while both have similar information, they are not the same.

The check is essentially rendered useless as a form of payment, which is its primary purpose. When you see “VOID” on a check, it means the check is no longer valid for any financial transaction. Think of it as a real check from your checking account that has been intentionally canceled.

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Can I use a voided check more than once?

For example, they might accept a bank letter or a voided preprinted deposit slip as verification of your banking information. These checks can be printed on demand and have the same information as a standard check, including your routing number and account number. There’s no need to sign a voided check and it may be safer if you don’t. If you don’t have a checkbook, you may be able to use your bank’s online bill pay service to send a small payment to yourself. In some cases, the entity requesting a voided check might accept a letter printed on bank letterhead. You can then void this check by writing VOID across the front and send it to the entity that requested a voided check.

With these simple steps, you can confidently navigate the world of voided checks and maintain control over your banking activities. The main reason you’ll be asked for a voided check is to verify your bank account details for electronic transactions. When you void a check, you cancel the ability for anybody to use that specific check to access the money in your bank account. By writing “void” across a check, it will no longer be valid for depositing or cashing at any financial institution. Alternatively, some banks provide form letters for setting up direct deposit—print it while you’re logged in to the online banking system, and it should have everything you need.

Note the check in your checkbook or finance software, indicating that the check has been voided. Write VOID across the front of the check, but take care not to write over the numbers printed at the bottom of the check. Voiding a check is easy but you should exercise some care if you need to void a check. The good news is that it’s possible to save money on all these things. When you use gel pens, you not only maintain the quality of your checks but also make them tamper-proof from any washing attempts.