What Is a Voided Check and How to Write One: Guide

What Is a Voided Check

Voided check definition: a voided check is a personal or business check on which the word VOID has been written in large capital letters across the front, permanently marking it as invalid for payment. A voided check cannot be cashed, deposited, or used to authorize a payment. Despite this, the check still displays the MICR line at the bottom, which contains the bank's ABA routing number and the account holder's account number , the two pieces of banking information that make a voided check useful.

The voided check is primarily a documentation and verification tool, not a payment instrument. When an employer, lender, or biller asks for a voided check, they are not asking for a way to take money from you. They want the routing and account numbers printed in the MICR line so they can configure their systems to send money into your account electronically. The VOID marking confirms you are not accidentally handing over a signed blank check that could be filled in and cashed.

For a full explanation of what each field on a personal or business check represents, including the MICR line fields, see our check diagram and layouts guide.

What a Voided Check Looks Like

What does a voided check look like: a voided check looks like any regular personal or business check except that the word VOID is written in large, unmistakable letters across the check face. The VOID writing typically covers the pay-to line, the amount box, and the signature line in the center of the check. It does not cover the MICR line at the bottom edge, which remains fully visible and readable.

The check face will still show the account holder's name and address in the upper left, the bank's name, the check number in the upper right, and the routing number, account number, and check number in the MICR line at the bottom. None of the payment fields (date, payee, amount in numbers, amount in words, signature) are filled in , these remain blank alongside the VOID marking.

A well-written voided check looks unambiguous: anyone who picks it up immediately understands it cannot be used for payment but can extract the banking information from the bottom.

How to Write a Voided Check: 4 Steps

How to make a voided check (how to void a check step by step):

1. Start with a blank, unused check. Take one check from your checkbook. Do not fill in any fields before voiding. Leave the date, payee, amount, and signature lines completely empty. You are not writing a check , you are creating a documentation tool from a blank check form.
2. Use a blue or black permanent ink pen. Void check pen ink color must be blue or black , not pencil or red. This is the only acceptable ink type. Blue or black ink is clearly visible and permanent. Do not use pencil (erasable), red ink (may interfere with scanning), green or other colors (nonstandard), or felt-tip markers that bleed through the paper and obscure the MICR line on the back.
3. Write VOID in large capital letters across the front. Make the letters large enough to cover the pay-to line, the amount box, and the signature line. These are the fields someone would need to fill in to use the check as a payment instrument. Do NOT write over the MICR line at the bottom. The routing number and account number there must remain fully visible and legible. Do not cross out or obscure the check number in the upper right, either; you will need it for your records.
4. Record the check number in your register and handle securely. Write the check number in your check register with the notation VOID. Hand the voided check to the requesting party in person, or scan it and send it through a secure channel. Never photograph a voided check and send it via unsecured text message.

For guidance on all the fields involved in filling out a check for payment, see our complete check writing guide.

Why the MICR Line Must Stay Visible

The voided check MICR line visible rule is the single most important technical detail about voiding a check, and the one most guides fail to explain properly. Here is why it matters.

The MICR line voided check routing account section at the bottom of every check contains three numbers printed in magnetic ink: the bank's ABA routing number (nine digits, in the first group of numbers from the left), the account number (the middle group), and the check number (the final group). These are the only pieces of information a payroll department, utility company, lender, or investment platform needs from a voided check. The entire reason they ask for a voided check is to extract these numbers accurately.

MICR stands for Magnetic Ink Character Recognition. The numbers in the MICR line are printed in a special font (E-13B) using ink containing iron oxide particles that can be read both visually and by the magnetic reader-sorter machines used in bank check processing. When a voided check is scanned or photographed for digital submission, the MICR characters read cleanly under standard scanning conditions because they were designed for machine readability from the start.

If you write VOID over the MICR line, the recipient cannot read the routing and account numbers without holding the check under specific lighting or asking you to provide a different check. You have defeated the purpose of voiding the check in the first place. Paychex confirms: "Write VOID in large, clear letters using permanent ink , visible enough to prevent processing but without obscuring the routing and account numbers at the bottom."

LegalClarity's voided check guide explains what the recipient does with these numbers: "Your employer needs two pieces of information from a voided check: your bank's routing number and your personal account number. Both appear in the MICR line along the bottom edge. Together, the routing and account numbers work like an address for your bank account. They tell payroll systems exactly where to send your money through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network."

What Fields to Leave Blank on a Voided Check

What fields to leave blank voided check: all payment fields must remain blank. Specifically, leave the following empty:

• Date line (upper right)
• Pay to the order of / payee line
• Numeric amount box
• Written amount line
• Memo line
• Signature line

The check number in the upper right, and all pre-printed information (your name, address, bank name, and MICR line), are already on the check and should not be altered or covered. The only thing you add is the word VOID, written across the face without touching these pre-printed elements.

Why You Should Not Sign a Voided Check

PNC's voiding guide specifically warns: "Don't sign a blank check. Adding your signature may create confusion, so leave that line blank." This is worth addressing directly.

A signed check with VOID written across it is not automatically harmless. While the VOID marking legally invalidates it, a signed check could still be presented at a bank counter or ATM where a human teller or automated system might misread the situation. The combination of a signature and VOID creates an ambiguous document. Leaving the signature line blank alongside the VOID marking is unambiguous: the check is clearly a documentation tool only.

If you have already signed a check and then need to void it (for example, you signed it before realizing you made an error in the payee or amount), you can still void it by writing VOID in large letters across the face. The existing signature does not prevent voiding, but it does add a layer of risk if the check is mishandled. Huntington Bank confirms: "If you've already signed the check, it can still be voided via steps one and two , writing VOID in large letters with blue or black ink." In this case, write VOID even more prominently to ensure the check's invalid status is unmistakable.

When Do You Need a Voided Check

When you need a voided check: any time an employer, financial institution, lender, or biller requires your routing number and account number in a verified format for electronic payment setup. Common situations:

Voided Check for Direct Deposit Payroll

Void check direct deposit: the most common use. When starting a new job or changing your direct deposit bank, your employer's payroll department will ask for a voided check from the account where you want your paycheck deposited. Chase's guide confirms: "Another frequent reason you'd void a check is to set up direct deposit. Employers may ask you to fill out a short authorization form and provide a voided check to get started." Paychex adds: "The voided check provides accurate banking information while preventing the check itself from being cashed."

Voided Check for ACH Automatic Payments

Voided check for ACH payment: Voided check for automatic bill payment: utility companies, insurance providers, mortgage servicers, and subscription services all use ACH (Automated Clearing House) to pull monthly payments from your bank account. Setting up this autopay requires your routing and account numbers. PayPal's guide notes that voided checks ensure "accurate details, like the routing and account numbers, are transmitted without error" for automated payment enrollment.

Other Common Uses

Voided check for mortgage: mortgage servicers typically request a voided check when setting up automatic mortgage payment from your checking account. The voided check establishes the debit relationship on the ACH network.

Voided check for investment account: brokerage firms, robo-advisors, and retirement contribution platforms often require a voided check to link your checking account for fund transfers, contribution deposits, or rebalancing transactions.

Voided check for government payment: receiving Social Security benefits, tax refunds, or other government payments via direct deposit requires submitting your routing and account numbers to the relevant agency. While government agencies typically accept a direct deposit enrollment form rather than a voided check, both contain the same underlying information.

Loan repayment autopay: lenders for auto loans, student loans, and personal loans frequently require a voided check when setting up automatic monthly payment drafts.

What Your Employer Does With Your Voided Check

Why employer needs voided check: your employer's payroll department extracts the nine-digit ABA routing number and your account number from the MICR line and enters them into their payroll software or ACH payment platform. These numbers are the address for your bank account within the ACH network. The payroll system uses them to send your net pay to your specific account at your specific bank each pay period.

The routing number identifies your bank (every US bank has a unique routing number). The account number identifies your specific account within that bank. Together, they form a unique identifier for exactly one bank account in the entire US banking system. An error in either number sends your pay to the wrong bank or a nonexistent account, requiring an ACH return and reissue that typically delays your pay by one to two payroll cycles.

Providing a voided check rather than writing the numbers on a form eliminates transcription errors. The numbers are pre-printed in machine-readable format; a payroll clerk or HR staff member copying them from the MICR line is less likely to transpose digits than a new employee writing nine-digit routing numbers from memory.

Voided check routing number account number: the voided check MICR line format is standardized across all US checks under ANSI and ABA specifications. The routing number always appears first, between the two pairs of symbols that bookend it. The account number follows. The check number appears last. This layout is universal regardless of your bank, so any payroll system recognizes the field positions.

The Prenote ACH Test Transaction

Prenote ACH test transaction: after receiving your voided check, some employers and billers run a verification step before sending your first real deposit. This is called a prenote, short for pre-notification. Under Nacha ACH rules, a prenote is a zero-dollar test transaction sent through the ACH network using your routing and account numbers before the first actual payment.

LegalClarity explains: "Many payroll departments send what's called a prenote , a zero-dollar test transaction through the ACH network , to confirm your account details are valid. Under ACH rules, the employer can send the first actual deposit as soon as the third banking day after the prenote settles, assuming the bank doesn't flag any errors."

If the prenote returns with an error (wrong routing number, closed account, account type mismatch), the employer can correct the information before your first pay cycle and avoid a failed deposit. If no error returns, the first live payroll deposit is sent on or after the third banking day after the prenote.

Prenotes are optional under Nacha rules. Some employers skip them and send the first live deposit immediately after receiving your banking information. In this case, a routing or account number error may result in a failed deposit that takes one to two pay cycles to resolve. If your employer uses the prenote process, you may not receive direct deposit on your first paycheck if you provided your banking information close to the pay date.

How long for direct deposit to start after voided check: with prenote verification, typically 1-2 pay cycles after you submit your voided check. Without prenote, as soon as the next payroll run after submission, assuming no errors. Your HR or payroll department can tell you which process they use.

Starter Check Warning

Starter check voided check employer warning: a starter check is a temporary paper check issued by a bank when you open a new account, before your personalized printed checks arrive in the mail. Starter checks have your routing and account numbers in the MICR line, but they do not have your name, address, or any personalized information pre-printed on them. They are filled in by hand and look significantly different from a standard check.

Paychex confirms: "Some employers or organizations may not accept starter checks (temporary checks without your name pre-printed). If you're setting up direct deposit, confirm whether a starter check is acceptable or if you need to wait for your personalized checks to arrive."

The reason for this restriction is verification: a voided starter check cannot confirm who the account belongs to because the name is not pre-printed. The bank can provide a bank letter on letterhead that confirms your name and account details if you need to set up direct deposit before your personalized checks arrive.

Voided Check vs Blank Check

Voided check vs blank check is a critical distinction. A blank check has no VOID marking and all payment fields left empty. A voided check has VOID written across it. These are not the same thing, and giving someone a blank check is a major security risk.

Huntington Bank explains it plainly: "You should never give someone a blank check because anyone can fill it out and withdraw money from your bank account. A simple rule to remember: treat checks like cash. This is why employers ask for a voided check to set up direct deposit, not a blank one."

A blank check in the wrong hands allows the finder to fill in any payee name, any amount, and any date, then sign it (or forged a signature) and present it for payment. A voided check cannot be used for payment because any bank or teller that processes it will see the VOID marking and reject it. The VOID marking is the entire security mechanism that makes sharing check information safe.

For more on check fraud methods that exploit blank or insufficiently protected checks, see our check fraud scams guide.

Voided Check vs Deposit Slip

Voided check vs deposit slip for direct deposit setup: this comparison is covered in detail in our deposit slips guide. The short version: deposit slips are for making deposits; voided checks are for providing banking credentials.

The key technical issue: some banks use a different routing number on deposit slips than the ABA routing number on checks. The deposit slip routing number may be a check-clearing internal code; the check's MICR routing number is the ABA code used for ACH transfers. If the routing numbers happen to match at your bank, a pre-printed deposit slip might be accepted by some employers. But since they do not always match, the voided check is the safer document for any ACH or direct deposit setup. Many banks print the warning "Do not use this routing number for automated payments" directly on deposit slips for this reason.

Voided Check Alternatives When You Have No Checkbook

Voided check alternatives no checkbook: if you do not have personal checks, five alternatives provide the same routing and account number information to employers and billers.

Bank Letter on Letterhead

Voided check alternatives bank letter: request an official letter from your bank or credit union confirming your name, account number, routing number, and account type (checking or savings) on the institution's official letterhead. Most banks provide this free of charge. The letter carries the bank's name and contact information, which gives it the verification credibility that a handwritten form entry lacks. This is typically the most widely accepted alternative when a voided check is not available.

Direct Deposit Authorization Form

Voided check alternatives direct deposit authorization form: voided check vs direct deposit form: your employer's HR department or the requesting organization may have its own form where you enter your routing number, account number, and account type manually. In some cases, the employer can ask your bank to stamp or sign the form for added verification. This option eliminates the need for a physical check entirely. Nacha, the governing body for the ACH network, formally endorsed this approach in 2022, noting that requiring a voided check is outdated when other verified methods are available.

Online Banking Account Details

Voided check alternatives online banking: most banks display your routing number and account number within your online banking dashboard or mobile app under account details. Some banks even generate pre-filled direct deposit forms that you can download and provide to your employer. The Nacha organization confirmed that many of its own employees set up direct deposit through a secure HR portal without ever submitting a voided check.

Bank-Generated Direct Deposit Form

Some banks offer a customized direct deposit setup service where they generate a signed, bank-verified form containing your routing and account numbers in a standardized employer-ready format. Ask your bank's branch or online portal whether this option is available.

Pre-Printed Deposit Slip (With Caveats)

A pre-printed deposit slip (not a blank counter slip) includes your name and account number. Some employers accept it as a voided check alternative. However, the deposit slip routing number caveat applies: verify that the routing number on the deposit slip matches the ABA routing number on your checks before submitting. Some banks print a different routing number on deposit slips for internal clearing purposes, and submitting the wrong routing number causes direct deposit failures.

Voided Check Security and Fraud Risk

Voided check fraud risk: a voided check carries your name, address, routing number, and account number. These are enough to attempt check fraud or ACH fraud if the check lands in the wrong hands. Even though the VOID marking prevents the check from being cashed, the banking information on it is still sensitive.

PNC's voiding guide warns: "Voided checks should be handled securely, as they still contain sensitive information." Two specific risks apply.

Check Washing on Improperly Voided Checks

Check washing voided check: if a voided check has the VOID marking written lightly or in erasable ink, a fraudster with check-washing chemicals could potentially remove the VOID marking, then fill in the payment fields and present the check. This is why permanent ink is required. A VOID marking in blue or black permanent pen cannot be removed by washing solvents. ABA-compliant (ABA compliant) check stock with chemically reactive paper provides additional protection: washing solvents cause visible staining on the paper itself, making the tampering obvious even if the ink could be removed.

Account Information Exposure

The routing number and account number on a voided check can be used to initiate an ACH debit from your account without your permission. This is why you should only provide a voided check to entities you trust for legitimate purposes, through secure channels. Never post a photograph of a voided check on social media, send it via unsecured email, or leave it in a communal workspace where others can photograph it.

For the full range of check fraud methods and how to protect against them, see our check fraud prevention guide.

How to Dispose of a Voided Check

Voided check security dispose shred: if you void a check for your own records (to correct a writing error) and do not need to provide it to anyone, shred it. Cross-cut shredding cuts the check into small pieces that cannot be reassembled. Tearing the check by hand into small pieces is also acceptable. Do not throw an unshredded voided check in the trash or recycling: even with VOID written across it, the account information at the bottom remains readable and exploitable.

Chase's guide recommends: "Consider keeping a photocopy in your records if you believe you'll need it for future reference. Otherwise, you can shred or tear the check into very small pieces before disposing of it."

If you provided the voided check to an employer or biller for electronic payment setup, you have no control over how they handle it. Most employers and financial institutions have data retention and destruction policies that govern check handling. If you have concerns about a specific organization's data practices, ask their HR or accounts payable team to confirm the check is destroyed after your account information is entered into their system.

Recording a Voided Check in Your Check Register

Voided check record check register: every voided check should be recorded in your check register with the check number and the notation VOID. This serves two purposes.

First, it accounts for the check number in your sequential register. If check number 1052 is voided, your register shows the gap is intentional rather than a missing check. During bank reconciliation, if check 1052 never appears in your bank statement, you know it was voided and not lost.

Second, if the voided check somehow appears as a cleared transaction in your bank statement, your register notation alerts you immediately to contact the bank. Huntington Bank advises: "Record the voided check number in your checkbook. This will help you remember that the check was voided and you're not waiting for it to clear your account. If that check number is posted to your account, contact your bank right away."

Voided check duplicate check book: if you use a duplicate checkbook (where a carbon copy is made automatically of every check written), the VOID marking should transfer to the duplicate copy as well. Huntington Bank confirms: "If you use duplicate checks, make sure your VOID marks are seen on the duplicate, too." A clear VOID on the carbon copy ensures your retained records accurately reflect the check's status.

For a complete guide to maintaining a check register and reconciling your account, see our check register guide.

Getting Checks to Void From Checkomatic

The need for a voided check presupposes you have a checkbook. If you are a new account holder without checks yet, or if you need to reorder because you are running low, ordering from Checkomatic ensures you have checks available not just for payments but for voiding when employers, lenders, or billers need your banking credentials.

Checkomatic is an in-house check manufacturer (in-house check manufacturer) that has produced ABA compliant check stock (ABA compliant) in Monroe, NY (Monroe NY) since 1997. Every check ships on CPSA certified (CPSA certified) security paper with six fraud deterrent features. The chemically reactive coating on the paper provides the specific protection that makes a voided check more secure than a voided counter slip: check washing solvents cause visible staining, making any attempt to remove the VOID marking detectable.

Personal Checks for Voiding

Checkomatic's personal check range covers all wallet-size formats: personal checkbooks in blue, burgundy, and green (single or duplicate with carbon copies), personal top stub checks, and personal deskset checks. Duplicate check formats automatically produce a carbon copy of every check including voided checks, which satisfies the Huntington Bank recommendation to ensure VOID marks appear on the duplicate.

Business Checks for Voiding

For businesses that need to provide voided checks to ACH service providers, payroll processors, or lending institutions for business accounts, Checkomatic's full business check range is available: check on top (voucher), check in middle, 3-on-a-page, and manual business checks. For businesses using QuickBooks, the QuickBooks checks format is the correct match.

Free Logo Printing

Free logo printing (free logo printing) is included on every Checkomatic business check order at no extra charge. A voided check from a Checkomatic business check order displays the business name, logo, and address in the pre-printed area, which adds credibility when providing voided checks to financial institutions and lenders who may require verification of business identity alongside banking credentials.

Standard turnaround is 3 to 5 business days from digital proof approval. No pre-selected add-on programs at checkout. Start at checkomatic.com.

The Short Version on Voided Checks

A voided check is a blank check with VOID written across the face in large permanent letters, making it invalid for payment while preserving the MICR line routing and account numbers at the bottom. You write one by taking a blank check, using blue or black permanent ink, writing VOID across the face without covering the MICR line, and recording the check number in your register as VOID.

You need one for direct deposit payroll, ACH automatic bill payments, mortgage autopay, investment account linking, and loan repayment setup. The MICR line must stay visible because the routing and account numbers there are the entire point. Do not sign a voided check. Do not give a blank check instead. Starter checks may not be accepted by all employers. The prenote ACH test means your first direct deposit may take one to two pay cycles. If you have no checkbook, a bank letter, direct deposit authorization form, or online banking account details print are the five viable alternatives. Shred voided checks you do not need to provide to anyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a voided check?

Voided check definition: a voided check is a personal or business check on which the word VOID has been written in large capital letters across the front in permanent ink, making it permanently invalid for payment while preserving the routing number and account number in the MICR line at the bottom. What does a voided check look like: it looks like a standard blank check with VOID written in large letters across the face, with all payment fields (date, payee, amount, signature) left empty. The MICR line at the bottom remains fully visible. A voided check is used exclusively as a documentation tool to provide banking credentials for electronic payment setup , never as a payment instrument.

How do you write a voided check?

How to void a check step by step: (1) Take a blank, unused check. Leave all fields empty. (2) Use a blue or black permanent ink pen. Void check pen ink color must be blue or black , not pencil or red. (3) Write VOID in large capital letters across the front, covering the pay-to line, amount box, and signature line. Do NOT cover the MICR line at the bottom. The voided check MICR line visible rule is critical: the routing and account numbers there are what the recipient needs. Make the VOID lettering unmistakably large. (4) Record the check number in your check register with the notation VOID. Never sign a voided check; leave the signature line blank alongside the VOID marking.

When do you need a voided check?

You need a voided check when you need a verified source of your routing number and account number for electronic payment setup. Common situations: voided check for direct deposit payroll with a new employer; voided check for ACH payment setup for utility bills, mortgage, insurance, or subscriptions; voided check for investment account linking; voided check for government payment direct deposit enrollment; and loan repayment autopay setup. You do not need a voided check for making deposits, withdrawing cash, or mobile check deposits. The voided check provides banking credentials only, not payment authorization.

What are the alternatives to a voided check?

Voided check alternatives no checkbook: (1) Voided check alternatives bank letter: request an official letter from your bank on letterhead confirming your routing number and account number. (2) Voided check alternatives direct deposit authorization form: your employer's own form where you manually enter routing and account number. (3) Voided check alternatives online banking: print or screenshot your account details from your bank's app or web portal. (4) Bank-generated direct deposit setup form: some banks create pre-filled forms for customers. (5) Pre-printed deposit slip (with the caveat that some banks use different routing numbers on deposit slips vs checks; verify before submitting). Always confirm what the requesting organization accepts before submitting an alternative.

Can a voided check be cashed or deposited?

Can voided check be cashed: no. A voided check cannot legitimately be cashed or deposited. The VOID marking permanently invalidates the check as a payment instrument. Any bank, teller, or ATM that processes a voided check should reject it. An ATM might briefly accept it, but any credits from a voided check will be reversed when it reaches the clearing system. The voided check is for documentation only. Never fill in any payment fields (date, payee, amount, signature) when voiding a check; a voided check with completed payment fields creates an ambiguous document. The voiding is permanent and cannot be reversed once written in permanent ink.