Lastly, digital forms or authorization through your bank’s online system to provide the necessary information electronically are increasingly accepted. If you need a voided check to set up direct deposit with your employer, you have a couple of choices. You can take a check from your checkbook and write “void” across it in large letters and provide the check to your employer. A voided check is simply a paper check with the word “VOID” written across it, often in big letters, indicating without a doubt that it shouldn’t be used for making a payment. The days of receiving paper payroll checks and taking them to the bank to have them cashed are long gone. In most instances, your employer will prefer that you enroll in direct deposit so they can send your earnings directly to your bank account on payday.

• Make a note in your check register so that you’ll know where the check went.
• 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.
• This is the third instance where a voided check is beneficial.
• It may seem pointless to enter a check that no one will ever cash, but it will save you hassle later on.
• Another option in case you have no checks is to use online banking options.
• This article may contain references to products or services from one or more of our advertisers or partners.

What Does Voided Check Mean?

However, not all businesses are willing to accept a bank letter as proof of your banking details. Check with the company before getting one to make sure it’s acceptable, and check with your bank to see if they charge a fee to draft the letter. 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.

• You can visit the bank branch in person to ask questions or contact the bank’s customer service team online or via phone.
• While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
• You can also use a voided check to set up automatic payments to come out of your checking account automatically.
• Even if you write “VOID” on it, it can’t be used for transactions.
• A voided check might feel outdated, but it is still important for some financial transactions.
• This protects your information if the check falls into the wrong hands.

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If not, your bank may be willing to issue you what’s referred to as a counter check. By providing a voided check, individuals can authorize the service provider or creditor to deduct the specified amount from their bank account automatically. This helps in avoiding late payment fees and ensures that bills are paid promptly. Direct deposit authorization is one of the primary reasons why individuals may need to provide a voided check.

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Many employers ask their employees to submit a voided check in order to set up payroll direct deposit. To do so, an employee simply writes “Void” in large font across a check and gives it to the human resources department. If you want to be extra careful, you might write “Void” across the payee line, as well as on Insurance Accounting the signature line and in the payment box.

Direct Deposit Authorization Form

If you have access to a check printer, you can print the check and use it for whatever financial actions. This isn’t the best possible option, but it will provide you with the relevant bank information. Yes, you can void a check you’ve already written as long as it hasn’t been handed over or processed. Simply write “VOID” across the front of the check in large, clear letters. Make sure to record this in your check register to keep track of what does voided check mean the canceled check.

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. Do you prefer to set up autopay so you won’t have to worry about going in and scheduling payments to come out of your account each month on the due date or a date that you’d prefer? But for automatic payments to start, they may request that you send over a voided check so they can have your official routing and account number on file. Doing so also minimizes the chances of numbers being transposed or other issues arising when it’s time for the payment to be processed. Voided checks also serve as proof of bank account information.

What Is A Voided Check? Definition, Purpose, And Uses

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. Since both banks (the issuing bank QuickBooks and the one where you deposit the check) will have their own procedures for dealing with stale checks, it’s important to understand their policies. You can visit the bank branch in person to ask questions or contact the bank’s customer service team online or via phone. Checks can be a straight-forward way to make or receive payments, but what if you forget to deposit a check? Personal checks typically expire 6 months (180 days) from the issue date.