checks

Enter checks using the date that appears on the face of the check. The date the check clears the bank is irrelevant.

ok, the only problem is that i don't create the checks, so i don't see them until they are cashed.  So, what do i do in that case?

You wrote, "I sent out a check in Dec 2024."  That suggests you know the check date.

 In any case, to keep your books properly you can't depend on check recipients to cash your checks in a timely manner, if at all. Instead, you need to know the dates on the face of the checks and use those dates when recording checks. 

Does your bank's website make images of your checks available? Most do. If so, use the images to get the transaction dates and use those dates when recording checks.

i wrote i sent out a check in Dec 2024 bec i saw on the check image that was the date. 

So once i have the check downloaded through the bank feed as cleared, I should adjust the date to when the check was written?

It would be best to enter the checks that were written - not just the ones that cleared.

Second best is to enter the checks that clear and then change the dates to the original dates they were written.

I'm curious though...

Why is it that your company doesn't keep a record of checks that are written? It's generally considered necessary to keep records of the checks written, who they were written to, and what they're for.

Most banks don't record or download the payee's for checks. How do you figure out who they're written to and so what they're for when recording them?