No, once a check is voided, it cannot be reinstated or reused as a valid form of payment. It ensures that the check cannot be accepted by banks or financial institutions for payment. If a mistake was made in voiding the check, a new check must be issued. If someone requests a voided check from you, it’s easy to take care of.
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One common alternative is a bank deposit slip, which also contains your routing number and account number. Employers often use voided checks to set up direct deposits for their payroll, and service providers may need them to set up direct debits. This is because a blank check has all the information they need, such as routing or account numbers. Using a voided check reduces the likelihood of errors, like transcription errors. Consumers often provide their own routing and account numbers online without any problem, so voided checks are required less frequently.
Counter Checks
To prevent the check from being processed for the wrong amount, you void it by writing “VOID” on top of the written amount. Crediful is committed to helping you make smarter financial decisions by presenting you with the best information possible. We are able to present this information to you free of charge because some of the companies featured on our site compensate us.
Why Do Companies Need a Voided Check?
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- And in such cases, the mistake may not be noticed until the check is returned to your bank or rejected by the recipient’s bank, causing the check to bounce.
- You may need to provide voided checks numerous times in the coming years.
- You can take a check from your checkbook and write “void” across it in large letters and provide the check to your employer.
- It is important to understand some everyday situations where you may need to know how to void a check and how to do it properly.
- Dealing with paper checks may be unfamiliar territory for some in an era of digital banking.
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. A voided check is a check which is no longer valid and has the word ‘void’ written on the front.
Recurring Personal Payments
Your last option is to gather all your bank account information in one place so that you can fill out a form for your employer to set up a direct deposit. Even if the check has been made out to an individual, store, or other institution, it can no longer be used. And if the check is blank, the fields can no longer be filled out and used as payment.
Simply use a blank check and write ‘VOID’ in large letters across the front. Then, use a pen with black ink and make the word large enough to be read. You may also be able to set up deposit or withdrawal instructions using a deposit slip instead of a voided check. A pre-printed deposit slip might be required—not the blank ones you grab at the bank and fill out by hand. You may have several of these pre-printed slips in the back of your checkbook. If you don’t have a check to give, ask whether you can provide a counter check, a copy of a deposit slip, or a letter from your bank.
Rather than figuring out the process as it comes up, learn everything you need to know about voiding a check now so that you’re fully prepared in the future. These combine the benefits of a traditional checking account while adding innovative digital tools to help you plan, save, and protect your finances. Business firms and other organizations aren’t the only entities that may involve recurring personal payments. You may have a payment arrangement set up with another person, such as a family member, a friend, or even a landlord/tenant to make recurring payments electronically. The article was reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff prior to publication. You can easily void a paycheck or other payment through QuickBooks or other accounting software.
It may or may not have other information filled in throughout the check. The text should be clearly seen, but it doesn’t cover up any other writing beneath it. A creative solution is to have a check printer to generate an image of a voided check for you. This method won’t work if you need to mail the check, but it can help you get an electronic image of a check containing your account information. Start the process of ordering checks, and when it’s time to “preview” your order, you’ll have a customized check image that you can void.
Knowing how to void a check correctly ensures safety and protects your bank account information. Check washing is also a practice where thieves have been known to erase ink on the check with chemicals. In some scenarios, such as leasing an apartment, a landlord may ask to provide proof of a valid bank account before finalizing the agreement.
You also might be able to provide your routing and account numbers directly. They should be given only to individuals who are both trusted and necessary in your life. If any person or organization requests a voided check, be prepared to question them about the exact purpose.
To protect your account, we follow a set of rules set by regulatory agencies in… Understand the key differences between APR and APY, and how they affect your savings accounts, CDs, and even crypto investments. Signing up is free and easy, and you can wave goodbye to those checks. The only way to give yourself peace of mind is to void the check and then throw it out or shred it.
It’s a good practice to keep a record of voided checks for at least one year to ensure you have a clear financial trail for tax purposes or to resolve any disputes that may arise. Some financial advisors suggest keeping all bank records, including voided checks, for up to seven years, consistent with the period for which the IRS recommends retaining tax documents. Additionally, many banks can provide a pre-printed letter or document that verifies your account details. Some institutions may accept a printed online banking statement that includes your account and routing numbers.
Discover how APY impacts your financial choices and maximizes your savings. We will never ever recommend a product or service that we wouldn’t use ourselves. Be sure to keep images of your checks somewhere safe, like a locked filing cabinet or an encrypted storage container on your computer. With $0 minimum to open online and Low Cash Mode® to help avoid overdrafts. Write “VOID” across the front of the check with a blue or black permanent marker. Use large letters that fill up the entire check, or write “VOID” in smaller letters on the date, payee, amount, and signature lines.
While many people have switched to using debit cards instead of paper checks, there are times when you may still need a check. There are also instances when a company requests a voided check, or when you wish to have a check voided for your own purposes. Typically, you’ll need to void a check when you need to provide new account verification for setting up a direct deposit or direct withdrawal. You can provide written informaition about your account, but many companies require the voided check for verification.