If this is an option, you won’t need to keep physical cheques on you. A voided check is a check with the word “void” written across the front, which indicates that it shouldn’t be accepted for payment. The check can still be used to get the information needed for electronic payments. A voided check is a check which is no longer valid and has the word ‘void’ written on the front. 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.
- If you don’t have a physical cheque to void, you can print one online via your online banking portal.
- No, it isn’t necessary to sign or put any information on a voided check.
- All you need to do is draw out a check, grab a pen, and write the word VOID across it.
- Then, instead of filling out the cheque as you normally would, you write ‘VOID’ across it in pen or permanent marker.
This is the information that today’s electronic banking services need to set up an electronic transfer between two different entities. Generally, if “VOID” is written across a check, no matter how or where, it will be recognized as a voided check. If you have a photocopy of a deposit slip or a cleared check for your account, you may also be able to use this for processing your request. Before giving an employer a voided check, it can make sense to first make a copy of the check, so that you know how the check was used. © 2024 Greenlight Investment Advisors, LLC (GIA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor provides investment advisory services to its clients. Investments are not FDIC-insured, are not a deposit, and may lose value.
The word does not have to cover the entire face of the check, but it should be big enough so no one else can use it. You can try the alternatives below if your account does not offer checks. Also, it gives more control because the funds are deposited at the same time every month. Alternatively, the word can be written on other check parts, such as the payee line, dateline and amount box. We can examine the report for any discrepancies or issues, and customize the report to gather more information and focus on specific details.
When to use a voided check
Voiding a check is a simple way of providing such financial information. In the image, the check has the word ‘VOID’ written across its face in capital letters. Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. In this article, we’ll go over when and why you might need to use a void cheque, as well as some pointers on how to properly fill one out. When you voided the check, you must have selected “Yes” when asked if whats a voided cheque you wanted QB to create a journal entry (JE) to replace the original check and then a reversing entry (deposit) in the current period. The deposit should be dated the same day you voided the check, but there should be another JE to offset that dated the same date as the original check.
How to read a void cheque
You could also go into a physical branch of your bank and request a void cheque attached to a specific account. As mentioned above, voiding a cheque is as simple as writing “VOID” on the cheque. However, you need to make sure that all the numbers at the bottom of the cheque are clear and easy to read. 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.
Though they contain sensitive data, their selective use with trusted institutions fosters security. Remember to always maintain a record of your voided checks and destroy the check itself properly. 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. You can set up automatic payments for recurring expenses like bills and rent so that the money is automatically withdrawn from your account instead of you having to send a cheque or pay in person.
Pull out a blank check from your checkbook
To do this, you will just take one of the cheques attached to the account you want your deposit to go into. Then, instead of filling out the cheque as you normally would, you write ‘VOID’ across it in pen or permanent marker. Just make sure that all of the numbers at the bottom of the cheque remain clear as this is the information needed to set up your payments.
Look for a link that references direct deposit and/or pre-authorized payment information after you log into your account. A void cheque for direct deposit is simply a cheque from your chequebook with the word “VOID” written on it. This makes the cheque void, while allowing an employer or a service that’s setting up auto billing to access the banking information they need to set up direct deposit. Cheques are not nearly as common as they used to be, so many Canadians don’t have physical chequebooks. Don’t worry, if you can’t fill out a void cheque yourself, there are still ways to get the information required for direct deposits or preauthorized payments. Employers usually ask for a voided check as a simple way to collect your banking information for direct deposit.
It’s a good idea to maintain a record of voided checks so you can account for any discrepancies in your checking account. Also be sure not to write over the banking information at the bottom when you write “VOID” on the cheque. But there are reasons why you may need to void a cheque even though you can’t make a payment with it. Void cheques are a common way to relay one’s banking details to a person or company so they can create an electronic link to your bank account for certain transactions. A voided cheque is a paper cheque that has “VOID” written across the front, rendering it invalid as a form of payment.
Who Should You Give a Void Cheque To?
You can ask your bank to draw you up a “counter check”, a special type of check that can be officially voided by the bank but still includes your important account information. You might also ask the business or organization requesting a voided check if they would accept a deposit slip that has been voided as well. Some of the payments that qualify for a direct deposit include unemployment checks, retirement funds and other benefits from government agencies such as pensions, and also paychecks from your employer.
To receive a refund of your first monthly fee, you must request to close your account on or before the day immediately preceding your first Monthly Billing Date. See the ‘Account’ tab of Settings by tapping the gear icon on the Greenlight app home page to confirm when your risk-free trial ends. You can also ask for a paper copy of the Payroll, Direct Deposit, or Pre-Authorized Payment Form at your CIBC Banking Centre. Using the online form saves time and lets you type in your information.
While cheques are not used as much as they used to be, void cheques can still come in very handy to help automatize payments. If you don’t have a chequebook, you can still get a void cheque. Most banks make it easy to access void cheques via online banking. A void cheque is simply a cheque from your chequebook you’ve written “VOID” over, and a direct deposit form is a form from your financial institution for the sole purpose of setting up direct deposits. However, both of these often serve the same purpose and an employee or a company you are setting up automatic payments with often will accept either to get your banking information. Even though void cheques are unusable, your bank account information still shouldn’t be handed out to anyone and readily available for perusal.
Once you’ve voided a check, it’s essentially disabled and cannot be used any longer. They also use the information to verify that your account matches where the funds are being sent to ensure they’re going to you. However, you don’t want to take any kind of chances when it comes to your banking information. Make sure to note its official check number in your ledger as you do. Make a note of “VOID check” to make sure you know why that check is skipped when you’re balancing your checkbook.
A direct deposit is a way that government institutions, employers, and other agencies pay their workers electronically, using your bank account details. It’s a cost-effective and straightforward approach, which only requires your routing number and bank account number. Because of this, you’ll need to hand over a voided check to supply this information. One of the most common uses for a voided cheque is to provide up direct payroll deposits with an employer. The payroll department will use the banking information listed on the cheque to electronically transmit your wages to your bank account.
- Also, it gives more control because the funds are deposited at the same time every month.
- This indicates that the check has been voided intentionally, which means it can no longer be used for payment.
- Your bank will most likely charge you a fee to purchase cheques and you’ll have to wait for them to come in the mail, so this may not be a good choice if you need your void cheque quickly.
- One of the most common uses for a voided cheque is to provide up direct payroll deposits with an employer.
Finally, you can ask your employer or the business to send you a direct deposit form. This form will list all the information required, which is the same information you will find on a void cheque. These days, cheques are pretty much a relic of the financial past, but one of the ways they’re still useful is actually when they’re void. You may need to provide a void cheque to a new employer so they have your banking details to set up direct deposit for payment or for preauthorized payments on monthly bills. Many employers ask their employees to submit a voided check in order to set up payroll direct deposit.