If you've ever started a new job in the United States, the HR onboarding paperwork probably included a request for a "voided check." This is the cleanest way for the payroll provider to capture the routing and account numbers needed to send your paycheck via ACH direct deposit, without you having to copy them by hand and risk a typo. This guide explains how to void a check correctly and what alternatives are available if you don't have paper checks.
How to void a check
- Take a blank check from the back of your checkbook (one you have not yet recorded as issued).
- In large block letters, write the word VOID across the front of the check, in non-erasable ink (black or blue).
- Make the VOID large enough to cover the payee line, the amount box, and the signature line, but do not cover the MICR line at the bottom — the routing and account numbers must remain legible.
- Record the check number in your check register with the note "Voided — direct deposit setup for <employer>".
- Photograph or scan the front of the check before handing it over, in case the original is misplaced.
What "voided" means legally
A check marked VOID is no longer a negotiable instrument — your bank will not pay it. The reason payroll providers ask for one is that the printed routing and account numbers are guaranteed to match your real account (since they were printed by the bank), so there is no risk of a typo causing the first paycheck to bounce.
What if you don't have paper checks?
Many newer business and personal accounts don't ship with paper checks at all. In that case, your payroll provider will accept any of these alternatives:
- A bank-issued direct deposit form. Log into your bank's app and look for "set up direct deposit" — most major banks generate a PDF you can hand to your employer that includes your routing and account numbers and the bank's confirmation that the account is yours.
- A starter check. Some banks issue paper "starter checks" with the account number printed but no name or address. These can be voided and used.
- A bank statement. Most payroll systems will accept a recent bank statement showing the account number, paired with a separate voided-check substitute.
What not to do
- Don't use a check that has already been issued or signed — it must be a fresh, unused check from the back of the book.
- Don't black out the MICR line. The whole point is that the payroll provider can read it.
- Don't email a photo of an un-voided check. If it's intercepted, anyone can use those numbers to set up unauthorized ACH withdrawals from your account.