How Do You Void a Check in QuickBooks Desktop?

Voiding a check in QuickBooks is fairly simple once you know the process. Let’s walk through the steps and explain how to reissue a voided check. Because QuickBooks doesn’t work for everyone, we also cover a couple alternative platforms for voiding and reissuing checks.

1. If you’ve already sent a check and recorded it in QuickBooks, go to the Check page. This is where the record of the original transaction lives.
2. From the check page, go to Bookkeeping, then Transactions. Select Expenses, and pick Filter. In the Type field, click on Check.
3. Set the date range when the check was received and choose Apply.
4. Click the check you want to void from the expense transactions list. This opens the transaction in the check screen. Click More to access the pop-up menu, where you should select Void. Click Yes to confirm that you want to void that check.

1. Go to Bookkeeping, then Transactions, then Expenses. Find the check you want to void in the expense transactions list.
2. Click on the check to highlight it.
3. In the action column, open the View/Edit dropdown menu and select Void.
4. Select Yes on the pop-up that appears asking you to confirm.

Whether the check got lost or voided by mistake, there is a painless way to reissue a check in QuickBooks. You just need the date the check was initially issued, the check number, and the amount.

First, call your bank and request a stop payment on the original check. Then you can reprint the check. This substitute check can have the same check number, which helps to simplify your bookkeeping. It is the legal equivalent of the original check according to the Federal Reserve.

Your employee should be able to deposit the substitute check without being accused of fraudulent behavior.

If you want to create a new check with a new number, you have to print a new check and void the old one.

1. Go to Employees and select Employee Center. Find the employee who received the check.
2. Choose QuickReports. Select the correct date range of distribution for the check to find the correct one, and double-click it.
3. Click Print Later. Right when you click to print, QuickBooks creates a new check number for that check.
4. Click Print and enter your new check number.

Once you print a new check, make sure you contacted your bank to stop the payment of the original check number.

1. Go to Banking, then Write Checks.
2. In Bank Account, choose your payroll account.
3. In Pay to the Order of, choose the employee whose check was lost. You might see a warning, just press OK.
4. Enter the correct date used on the initial and lost check.
5. Insert the amount of money on the check.
6. In the checkbox, choose Print Later.
7. In the number section, enter the same check number as the lost check.
8. In the Expenses tab, choose the Account column and then choose Payroll Expenses.
9. Save and Close.

1. Go to Banking and choose Use Register.
2. Choose your Payroll Bank Account, then select OK.
3. Find and select the replacement check you created in your register.
4. Click Edit, and choose Void Check.
5. Select Record.

This process can be tedious but it ensures that your books are clean and clear for your accountant.

If you don’t work in QuickBooks, many competitors also offer simple ways to reissue voided checks.

Zoho Books and FreshBooks allow you to void and reissue checks with the original check numbers with just a few steps.

• For Zoho Books, select Payments Made, find the check you are looking to void. Click Void, then choose Once you have deleted that initial check, you’re free to write a new check and record it with the original check number.

Zoho’s process is simpler than QuickBooks’, but it’s also less comprehensive. With QuickBooks, all the information about both checks—the original and the substitute—is stored along with a record of the entire process.

• FreshBooks allows you to as they are made. If you need to void a check, go to Invoices, click on Bulk Actions, and then select Delete.

FreshBooks isn’t tailored to payroll as QuickBooks or Zoho Books, but voiding an invoice accomplishes the same thing.

Mistakes happen. Checks get lost or damaged. Sometimes you just have to go back and void a check. Figuring out how to record that change in your books can be a hiccup, but programs like QuickBooks can make voiding and reissuing checks a smoother process.

Want some ideas for your accounting software pick? Check out our favorite small business accounting software.

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