what is a voided check

If you don’t have a voided check to supply to a third party, you do have other options to get one. You can ask your bank for a blank check, which your 2021 guide to creating a culture of accountability in the workplace is known as a counter check. Many times, this won’t have your personal information written on top, but it will include your banking information.

Recurring Personal Payments

If you write the wrong dollar amount, then you’d have to void the check to keep anyone from cashing it or depositing it. Lauren is a personal finance writer who strives to equip readers with the knowledge to achieve their financial objectives. She has over a decade of experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Japanese from Georgetown University. Yes, you can void a check after it has been partially filled out.

Are There Alternatives To Voided Checks?

We are able to present this information to you free of charge because some of the companies featured on our site compensate us. Be sure to keep images of your checks somewhere safe, like a locked filing cabinet or an encrypted storage container on your computer. Writing “VOID” across the cash flow statement operating financing investing activities front of the check prevents anybody from using the check to make a standard check payment (by filling in a payee and an amount). I graduated in 2003 from Carnegie Mellon University with a Masters in Software Engineering and I use my analytical skills to navigate the financial world.

Direct Deposit

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. In other cases, though, you’ll have to fill out some paperwork and provide a voided check, which contains your bank’s routing number and your account number on it. For that reason, voided checks should never be provided lightly. They should be given only to individuals who are both trusted and necessary in your life.

  1. Business firms and other organizations aren’t the only entities that may involve recurring personal payments.
  2. If any person or organization requests a voided check, be prepared to question them about the exact purpose.
  3. Usually, you should keep your banking information private to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft.
  4. Direct deposit will be the preferred way for those institutions to make payments and for you to receive them quickly.

Can I Deposit a Voided Check?

Although some mistakes can be corrected by marking the incorrect information and initialing it, this is not always a safe practice. It’s essential to note that some businesses may not accept such corrections. The check could still be run through the bank’s system for the incorrect amount. And in such cases, the mistake may not be noticed until the check is returned https://www.quick-bookkeeping.net/tax-preparer-mistakes/ to your bank or rejected by the recipient’s bank, causing the check to bounce. 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. Crediful is committed to helping you make smarter financial decisions by presenting you with the best information possible.

You may need to provide a voided check when you set up automatic bill payments, deposits from your employer, or investments from your bank account. Your bank account information appears on those checks, and whoever asked for the voided check will use those details to set up an electronic link to your bank account. There is only one hitch, you need to know how to void a check, and you may not have done that before. In many cases, a voided check will be the easiest way to authorize direct deposits or auto-pay. But if you don’t have a supply of paper checks or you don’t want to sacrifice one to be voided, you’ll have to figure out an alternative. You can ask your financial institution to send a letter providing all the same information to the party requesting your voided check.

what is a voided check

Take steps to hide your account information from thieves and hackers. For example, consider encrypting the image or uploading it to a secure file vault. This is a fancy name for checks printed on demand for specific purposes at your bank or credit union.

The company may ask for a voided check to enter your checking account information (routing number and account number) in its system to set up direct deposit for your paycheck. Voiding a check can be a key step https://www.quick-bookkeeping.net/ in setting up financial transitions like regular payroll direct deposits. Voiding a check properly by writing “VOID” in large letters on the documents will help reduce the risk that the check will be cashed.