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March 5, 2018
Solved

Voiding unused checks

  • March 5, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 20 views

I work for a law office and we have some check numbers that were skipped and the checks have never been used. In order to void checks, it looks like there has to be a transaction, so does that mean I have to create a fake transaction to void in order to show the checks as having been voided? Is there a way I can mark them as unused so that there isn't a gap in check numbers in my register? 

    Best answer by john-pero

    Unless the attorneys where you work have some legal objection why cannot you still use these checks? We handle checks out of order all the time. Boss will take a stack so he can file evictions and maybe does not use them all that day. You will know when the statement comes in the mail what checks actually cleared and as long as you enter the correct check numbers in QB to match what prints or is handwritten...

     

    To answer your question, if you wish to physically void the checks you do that and write VOID on them and then hang onto them for 3-7 years depending on other hold requirements for records. But in the non-attorney world if, for example, a check is damaged in the printer or gets wet we do not VOID we just SHRED. And we don't keep track of it.

     

    I do understand that law offices deal with trust and escrow and each check has to be accounted for. To account for the checks you decide not to use (myself I would just use them anytime I needed a single check) you will hav eto enter a bogus entry, save, and then VOID it. Use the memo field to show if it is physically in hand or in the shredder.

    2 replies

    john-pero
    john-peroAnswer
    Level 12
    March 5, 2018

    Unless the attorneys where you work have some legal objection why cannot you still use these checks? We handle checks out of order all the time. Boss will take a stack so he can file evictions and maybe does not use them all that day. You will know when the statement comes in the mail what checks actually cleared and as long as you enter the correct check numbers in QB to match what prints or is handwritten...

     

    To answer your question, if you wish to physically void the checks you do that and write VOID on them and then hang onto them for 3-7 years depending on other hold requirements for records. But in the non-attorney world if, for example, a check is damaged in the printer or gets wet we do not VOID we just SHRED. And we don't keep track of it.

     

    I do understand that law offices deal with trust and escrow and each check has to be accounted for. To account for the checks you decide not to use (myself I would just use them anytime I needed a single check) you will hav eto enter a bogus entry, save, and then VOID it. Use the memo field to show if it is physically in hand or in the shredder.

    February 5, 2020

    I'm going to propose a different solution to this question.  I think the original poster is on the right track, since all check numbers in a sequence should be accounted for.  This is something that auditors look for at year-end. 

     

    I have seen other suggestions for QuickBooks recommending entering a "dummy" check and immediately voiding it in order to account for a missing number, such as a check that was damaged or accidentally left in the printer.  (It happens to the best of us.)  My suggestion is that, instead of randomly choosing a vendor as the payee on the "dummy" check, set up a vendor named "VOID" so that the payee line will read "VOID" and not some other vendor's name.  It seems cleaner than randomly choosing a vendor.  I'm just running this idea up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes it.

    May 14, 2020

    This worked nicely.  Thanks for the insight/idea!  Stay safe and stay healthy!