What Is a Voided Check?

You can safeguard your voided checks by using long-lasting indelible gel in pens, preferably with black ink. Make a copy of the voided check to send to your employer or whoever else needs it. You can also keep a copy for yourself as a reminder that the check with this number was not used for a specific payment.

Though many financial transactions are now paperless, knowing how to void a physical check is useful at times. According to a 2022 survey by the American Payroll Association, 93% of American workers use direct deposit. So you may need to give your employer a voided check to set things up. After you void the check, record the voided check number in your checkbook.

1. However, keep your own security in mind when sharing banking information.
2. Write down the check number and the date, and under “transaction description,” just write the word “void.” Enter a zero or a dash for the amount of the check.
3. But if you aren’t active online for your finances or feel uncomfortable with that, then a voided check will work too.
4. You can then void this check by writing VOID across the front and send it to the entity that requested a voided check.

Alternatively, your bank may provide you with a downloadable void check, which you can access from your online bank account. Lastly, if you do not have a checkbook or a downloadable void check option, what is a voided check you can visit your branch in person and request that they provide you with a void check. Most employers will ask for a voided check to set up your direct deposit in addition to filling out a form.

If you have to fill out a form, it’s possible you’ll make a mistake. If the employer has to read your handwriting, perhaps it’s not perfect and a mistake is made when entering the information. If you use one of these forms, double-check to make sure you got all the information right before submitting it. If you make a mistake, you won’t get your paycheck as scheduled. Worse, the money could go into someone else’s account and you might be unable to recover it.

Voiding a check is a common practice used to nullify incorrect checks and set up direct deposits or bill payments. The process is fairly straightforward, but it’s important that you do it carefully to avoid someone using your check fraudulently. While certain people may be concerned over the safety of voided checks, no financial institution will cash or deposit a check that has the term “void” on its face. This is because the paying bank will not release funds for the check after completing the bank transaction validation process. Voided checks can either be created manually by writing the word “void” across the face of the check in large block letters or by downloading a void check from online banking.

What to Do If I Don’t Have a Voided Check for Direct Deposit?

A cleared check may contain information that you or another party may prefer to keep private. 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. It’s through this education that I try to distill complex financial ideas into simple steps regular folks can use to take control of their money and build wealth.

Reasons for Using a Voided Check

If you don’t have either a check or a deposit slip, you can ask your bank to write an official letter containing your account number and routing number. Note that there’s no way to void a check if you discover a mistake after sending the check to the payee. At that point, your only option is to ask the bank or https://turbo-tax.org/ credit union to stop payment on the check. Of course, you could provide the same information by sending a blank check without voiding it first. However, blank checks are dangerous things to have floating around. Anyone who manages to get their hands on one could simply make it out to themselves and cash it.

Are There Alternatives To Voided Checks?

It’s typically written in large letters, so it cannot be mistaken for cash use. Voiding a check prevents the check from being used by anyone, especially thieves who could write a large sum of money out to themselves. Typically, a voided check is used to get information needed for electronic payments because it includes details such as your routing number, account number, and check number. 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.

steps to void a check

For example, online banks allow you to link external accounts by typing in those details yourself. Billers, such as utility companies, also accept payments by e-check when customers input their checking account information. Some businesses even take payments over the phone, allowing customers to provide the information orally. Employers often use voided checks to set up direct deposits for their payroll, and service providers may need them to set up direct debits.

Can you get a voided check online?

You may be able to get a void check online if this is a service that your bank offers. However, it’s important to note that online void check services are typically only offered by major financial institutions in developed financial markets. Get your paycheck directly deposited into your bank account to save yourself some time and hassle. If you’ve never set up direct deposit before, it can be intimidating. Often you can earn a better rate by using automatic payments, so it may be worth the extra effort of setting up autopay and sending a copy of a voided check.

Knowing how to void a check is useful whether you need to set up auto-pay for a loan or want to start receiving your paycheck via direct deposit. Voided checks allow you to protect your funds from unauthorized use while also providing your pertinent financial information. A voided check is a paper check with the word “VOID” printed or written across it, which means it can’t be filled out or used to make a payment. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. If you do not have a voided check available, you may be able to provide the specific account information that is being requested of you.

The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Voiding a check is easy but you should exercise some care if you need to void a check. Write VOID across the front of the check, but take care not to write over the numbers printed at the bottom of the check. Instead of trying to correct the error you may have made on a check, it’s better and safer to cancel the check completely by voiding it.