A voided cheque is a blank cheque with “VOID” written across it. The word “VOID” prevents the cheque from being deposited or cashed, while leaving the three numbers printed at the bottom — your institution number, transit number, and account number — fully readable. Those three numbers are the actual information requested when an employer, government agency, or biller asks for a void cheque. The cheque itself is just a standardized way to transmit those numbers.
Most Canadians today do not own a chequebook. That is not a problem — every major bank provides a digital void cheque or direct deposit form as a downloadable PDF through online banking, which serves the same purpose and is accepted by CRA, employers, and virtually all billers.
How to Void a Cheque: Step by Step
If you have a physical chequebook, voiding a cheque takes about 30 seconds.
Step 1: Take a blank cheque. Do not use a cheque that is already partially filled in — start fresh.
Step 2: Write “VOID” in large capital letters across the front. The letters should cover the payee line, amount box, and signature line so that none of them can be used. Use a pen, not a pencil — pencil can be erased. You do not need to press hard or use a specific pen colour; any permanent pen works.
Step 3: Do not sign it. A voided cheque should never be signed. The signature line is already covered by “VOID,” but explicitly not signing is still the right practice.
Step 4: Keep the MICR numbers at the bottom legible. The row of numbers printed in magnetic ink at the bottom of the cheque is what the recipient actually needs. Do not write over those numbers. If you accidentally covered them while writing “VOID,” void a second cheque and be more careful with the placement.
Step 5: Record the cheque number. Note the cheque number in your cheque register as “VOID” with the date and the recipient (e.g., “VOID — given to employer for direct deposit, April 22, 2026”). This prevents confusion later if you are reconciling your account and see a gap in the cheque sequence.
Understanding the Three Numbers
The three numbers at the bottom of a Canadian cheque are printed in MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) format — a standardized font used by all Canadian financial institutions.
| Number | Digits | Identifies | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transit (branch) number | 5 | Your specific branch | 00012 |
| Institution number | 3 | Your bank or credit union | 004 (TD) |
| Account number | 7–12 | Your account within that branch | 1234567 |
The transit number and institution number together form an 8-digit routing code that tells the payment system exactly where your account lives. The account number then identifies which specific account at that branch. All three are required to set up a direct deposit or pre-authorized debit — the transit or institution number alone is insufficient.
Institution Numbers for Major Canadian Banks
| Bank | Institution Number |
|---|---|
| BMO | 001 |
| Scotiabank | 002 |
| RBC | 003 |
| TD | 004 |
| National Bank | 006 |
| CIBC | 010 |
| Simplii Financial | 010 |
| HSBC Canada | 016 |
| Tangerine | 614 |
| Desjardins | 815 |
Note that Simplii Financial shares CIBC’s institution number (010) because Simplii operates on CIBC’s banking infrastructure — the transit number is what distinguishes Simplii accounts from CIBC accounts.
How to Get a Void Cheque Without a Chequebook
Not having a physical chequebook is the normal situation for most Canadians under 40. Every option below produces the same result: a document showing your three banking numbers in a format accepted by employers, CRA, and billers.
Digital void cheque from online banking. Log into your bank’s website or mobile app and look in account details or account settings. Most banks label this “Void cheque,” “Direct deposit form,” or “Direct deposit information.” The result is a PDF showing your three banking coordinates in a standard format. This is the fastest option and produces a file you can email or upload immediately.
Pre-authorized debit (PAD) form from a branch. If your bank’s app does not have a digital void cheque — which is rare among major banks but more common at smaller credit unions — visit a branch and ask a teller to print a PAD form or direct deposit form. The teller can produce this in minutes.
Bank statement. Some employers, particularly smaller ones, will accept a bank statement that shows your account number, transit number, and institution number. Not all employers accept this — confirm before relying on it.
Where to Find the Digital Void Cheque by Bank
| Bank | Location in App or Online Banking |
|---|---|
| TD | EasyWeb → Accounts → Account Details → “Direct Deposit Information” |
| RBC | Online Banking → Account Summary → Select account → “Direct Deposit Form” |
| BMO | BMO Online → Banking → Select account → “Void Cheque” |
| Scotiabank | Scotia Online → Account Details → “Direct Deposit Form” |
| CIBC | CIBC Online → Banking → Account Details → “Void Cheque” |
| Tangerine | My Tangerine → Account → “Direct Deposit Form” |
| Simplii | Simplii app → Account → “Direct Deposit Information” |
| EQ Bank | EQ Bank app → Settings → “Direct Deposit Information” |
| Wealthsimple Cash | Wealthsimple app → Cash → “Direct Deposit Form” |
| Neo Financial | Neo app → Account → “Direct Deposit Details” |
When You Will Be Asked for a Void Cheque
Understanding why each party requests a void cheque is useful because different requesters have different alternatives available. An employer asking for direct deposit setup will almost always accept a digital PDF. CRA accepts manual entry through My Account. A mortgage lender asking for PAD setup may require a signed paper form regardless.
New employer direct deposit. The most common reason. Your HR department needs your three banking numbers to add you to payroll. A digital void cheque PDF, a direct deposit form, or a completed void cheque are all accepted. Some employers have their own direct deposit form for you to fill in — if so, you just copy the numbers from your banking app directly onto that form.
CRA direct deposit. Tax refunds, GST/HST credits, the Canada Child Benefit, and the Climate Action Incentive can all be paid directly to your account. The easiest way to set this up is through CRA My Account (canada.ca/my-cra-account) under “Direct deposit” — no void cheque needed, just manual number entry. If you are setting it up by mail or through a tax return, a void cheque or direct deposit form accompanies the form.
Pre-authorized mortgage payment. Your mortgage lender pulls your monthly payment from your chequing account. Setting this up requires a signed PAD (pre-authorized debit) agreement. Most lenders want either a void cheque attached to the PAD form or a direct deposit form. A digital PDF typically satisfies this requirement.
Investment contributions. Automatic RRSP, TFSA, or RESP contributions pulled from your chequing account require the same PAD setup with your brokerage. The void cheque or direct deposit form is attached to the contribution agreement.
Insurance premiums, loans, utilities, and subscriptions. Any biller collecting a recurring pre-authorized payment from your account will ask for this information at setup. The digital void cheque PDF handles all of these.
Is It Safe to Give Someone a Void Cheque?
Your banking coordinates — institution number, transit number, account number — are used to initiate transactions, not to authenticate them. This distinction matters for understanding the risk.
What someone can do with your banking numbers alone: They can deposit money into your account. That is the complete list of unilateral actions available from account numbers alone.
What they cannot do without additional authorization: They cannot withdraw money without your signature on a PAD (pre-authorized debit) agreement. Canadian PAD rules, governed by Payments Canada, require that any debit be authorized by the account holder. If an unauthorized debit appears on your account, you have 90 days to dispute it with your bank and receive a full refund. This consumer protection is strong — the practical fraud risk from a void cheque in the wrong hands is genuinely low.
When to be careful: Share void cheque information only with trusted employers, recognized financial institutions, government agencies, and established billers. Do not send a photo of a cheque through unencrypted email or messaging apps if you can avoid it — use the PDF from your bank’s app, which can be sent more securely. Never post cheque information on social media.
Banks will not process a cheque marked “VOID” under any circumstances — the word is an absolute instruction to reject the instrument.