Yes, you can get a voided check online. Most banks let you download a voided check image or a pre-filled direct deposit form straight from their website or mobile app, and if yours doesn’t, a bank letter or statement carries the same routing and account numbers an employer or biller needs.
What the Document Is Actually For
A voided check has the word “VOID” written across its face so no one can fill in a dollar amount and cash it. What stays visible along the bottom is what matters: your bank’s nine-digit routing number, your account number, and the check number. Employers and billers use the routing and account numbers to set up Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers, which is the system behind direct deposits and automatic bill payments.
Worth knowing before you go hunting: no federal rule requires a voided check specifically. NACHA, which governs the ACH network, treats it as one option among several, alongside micro-deposit verification and commercial validation services.1Nacha. Account Validation Resource Center So if an employer asks for a voided check and you have no physical checkbook, a digital equivalent will almost always satisfy the request.
Downloading From Your Bank’s Website
Sign in to your online banking and open the checking account you want to use for deposits. Look for a menu called something like “Account Services,” “Documents,” or “Statements and Records.” Some banks include a check image viewer that shows scanned images of checks you’ve already written; others have a dedicated button to generate a voided check as a PDF. Save it in PDF form so the formatting holds up when you email it or upload it to an employer’s portal.
If there’s no voided check option, look for a pre-filled direct deposit form. Many banks generate these automatically for logged-in customers, with your account and routing numbers already populated.2Nacha. Direct Deposit Without a Voided Check? Absolutely! Payroll departments treat these forms and voided checks interchangeably.
Downloading From Your Bank’s Mobile App
The path in a mobile app is similar, though the labels shift from bank to bank. In the Chase Mobile app, for instance, you sign in, choose your checking account, scroll to “Account services,” and tap “Set up direct deposit form,” then download, print, or email it.3Chase. Chase Direct Deposit and Direct Deposit Form In other apps, watch for menu items like “Direct deposit,” “Account details,” or “Share account info.”
If Your Bank Doesn’t Offer a Downloadable Check
Not every bank generates a check image online. Before assuming you’re out of luck, try these:
- Search your bank’s help center or FAQ for “voided check” or “direct deposit form.” The feature may exist under an unfamiliar name.
- Call your bank. After verifying your identity, a representative can confirm your routing and account numbers and often email a pre-filled form.2Nacha. Direct Deposit Without a Voided Check? Absolutely!
- Download a recent bank statement. Your routing and account numbers appear on it, and many employers accept a statement paired with a signed direct deposit authorization form.
Other documents that carry the same information:
- A pre-filled direct deposit authorization form from your bank, formatted specifically for payroll setup.
- A bank verification letter confirming your name, account type, and routing information on official letterhead. Some banks provide these free through the online portal; others charge up to around $25.
- A bank statement PDF. You may want to redact transaction lines before sharing.
Ask your employer or biller which they’ll accept before you send anything. Most payroll departments take any document that clearly shows the routing number and account number.
Tax Refunds and Social Security Benefits
The IRS doesn’t require a voided check to direct-deposit your tax refund. You just enter the correct routing and account numbers on your return. The IRS suggests pulling the routing number from your bank’s website and the account number from online banking or by calling your branch.4Internal Revenue Service. Get Your Refund Faster: Tell IRS to Direct Deposit Your Refund to One, Two, or Three Accounts You can split a refund across up to three accounts, and reloadable prepaid debit cards with their own routing and account numbers work if the card provider allows it. The account has to be in your name, your spouse’s name, or both if it’s joint.
For Social Security direct deposit, the SSA asks you to have your checkbook or a copy of your bank statement handy when enrolling.5Social Security Administration. Direct Deposit Information – How Do I Sign Up to Receive an Electronic Payment A downloaded statement showing your routing and account numbers works the same as a physical check here.
Skip Third-Party Voided Check Generators
Search for “voided check online” and you’ll find sites offering to generate a check image after you enter your name, bank, routing number, and account number. That’s the exact combination a fraudster needs to attempt ACH debits, counterfeit checks, or unauthorized online purchases. Even if a site promises it doesn’t store your data, you have no way to verify that, and you have no banking relationship with them if something goes wrong. Use your own bank’s website or app.
Sharing a Voided Check Safely
Whether it’s paper or a PDF, a voided check hands over enough information for someone to try unauthorized transactions on your account. A few practical rules:
- Send it only through your employer’s encrypted upload portal or a secure email service. Avoid unencrypted email attachments and text messages.
- Verify who’s asking. If a request for banking details arrives unexpectedly, call the organization back using a number you look up yourself, not one supplied in the request.
- Watch your account. Review transactions frequently for a few weeks after sharing your details, because the reporting windows for fraud are short.
Your Rights If an Unauthorized Transfer Happens
Federal law caps your losses from unauthorized electronic transfers, but the cap depends on how fast you report. Under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act:6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 1693g – Consumer Liability
- Report within two business days of learning about the transfer, and your maximum liability is $50.
- Miss that window but report within 60 days of receiving the statement, and liability can rise to $500.
- Wait longer than 60 days after the statement, and you can be on the hook for the full amount of transfers that occur after that 60-day mark.
These windows cover unauthorized electronic fund transfers, including fraudulent ACH debits.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation E – 1005.6 Liability of Consumer for Unauthorized Transfers The clock starts when you learn about the problem, not when the transfer happened, so if you spot a debit you didn’t authorize, call your bank the same day.