Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout https://www.bookstime.com/articles/bookkeeper-vs-accountant life’s financial journey. You don’t need to sign the check or enter any other information. Make a note in your check register so that you’ll know where the check went.
They don’t need a voided check; it’s just a matter of convenience if you send one. If you can provide your bank name, routing number, and your personal account number over the phone, it’s often good enough. Avoid sending this information in an email due to the security risks. All you need to do is draw out a check, grab a pen, and write the word VOID across it. When doing this, make sure that the writing covers all of the blank space in the check yet don’t cover the account details.
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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 credit union to stop payment on the check. Of course, you could provide the void check meaning 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.
In a computerized accounting system, there is usually a menu option for voiding a check, since this is a sufficiently common activity to warrant having its own routine. The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service.
Reasons for Voiding a Check
This way, if your check gets lost, you won’t have to worry about it getting in the wrong hands. You’ll want to write it in letters that are large enough for anyone to read, and you’ll want to write in a large, thick pen, if possible. Most checks are good for six months, but banks might still cash checks that are past this expiration date.
- When an original check is not required (for example, if you’re going to fax in the instructions or submit an electronic image of your check), you can use the same copy repeatedly.
- Instead of voiding a check and submitting it through a form, you can now set up your direct deposit or automatic payment through their online system.
- A voided check is simply a check that has the word VOID handwritten or printed on it.
- Sometimes, mistakes are made when checks are being filled and in these cases, the word “VOID” should be written in the check to identify it as no longer valid for cashing.
- Voiding a check ensures it won’t be used by anyone, such as thieves who may write in a large amount for themselves.
- However, it is possible that some of the information is incomplete, incorrect, or inapplicable to particular circumstances or conditions.
- It is important to store your personal checks in a secure spot, maybe a lock box or drawer where you keep important documents.
We think it’s important for you to understand how we make money. The offers for financial products you see on our platform come from companies who pay us. The money we make helps us give you access to free credit scores and reports and helps us create our other great tools and educational materials. All you need to do is get a black or blue pen and write VOID in large letters across the front of a check. In some instances, your employer may want a physical check that’s been voided.
