How do you void a cheque in Canada?

Write the word "VOID" in large letters across the front of a blank cheque. Make the letters large enough to cover the payee line, amount line, and signature line so the cheque cannot be used. Do not sign the cheque. Give the voided cheque to your employer or the company requesting it for direct deposit or pre-authorized payment setup.

What if I do not have cheques for direct deposit?

You can provide a direct deposit form or a pre-authorized debit (PAD) form from your bank instead. Most banks offer these through online banking under "Direct deposit information" or "Void cheque." You can also use a bank statement showing your account details (transit number, institution number, account number) if your employer accepts it.

Can I void a cheque digitally in Canada?

Yes. Most major Canadian banks let you download a void cheque or direct deposit form as a PDF through online or mobile banking. TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC, Tangerine, Simplii, EQ Bank, and Wealthsimple all offer digital void cheque or direct deposit forms. This is the easiest option if you do not have a physical chequebook.

How to Void a Cheque in Canada in 2026

How to Void a Cheque: Step by Step

Step	Action	Important
1	Take a blank cheque from your chequebook	Do not use a cheque that is already filled out
2	Write “VOID” in large letters across the front	Use a pen (not pencil); cover the payee, amount, and signature lines
3	Do NOT sign the cheque	A voided cheque should never be signed
4	Give the voided cheque to the requester	Employer (direct deposit), company (pre-authorized payment), or CRA
5	Record the cheque number	Note it in your register so you know it was voided, not lost

What a Voided Cheque Looks Like

A voided cheque contains the three key banking numbers needed to set up direct deposit or pre-authorized payments:

Number	What It Is	Where on the Cheque	Length
Transit (branch) number	Identifies your bank branch	First 5 digits at the bottom	5 digits
Institution number	Identifies your bank	Next 3 digits at the bottom	3 digits
Account number	Your personal account number	Remaining digits at the bottom	7–12 digits

Institution Numbers for Major Banks

Bank	Institution Number
BMO	001
Scotiabank	002
RBC	003
TD	004
CIBC	010
National Bank	006
Desjardins	815
HSBC Canada	016
Tangerine	614
Simplii Financial	010

How to Get a Void Cheque Without a Chequebook

Method	How	Available At
Download from online banking	Log in → Account details → “Direct deposit form” or “Void cheque”	Most major banks
Mobile banking app	Account settings → Direct deposit information	TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC
Visit a branch	Ask a teller to print a void cheque or PAD form	Any bank branch
Use a PAD form	Pre-Authorized Debit form from your bank (same info)	Online or in-branch
Bank statement	Some employers accept a statement showing transit, institution, and account numbers	Check with employer

How to Download a Void Cheque by Bank

Bank	Path in Online Banking
TD	EasyWeb → Accounts → Account Details → “Direct Deposit Information”
RBC	RBC Online → 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 → Settings → “Direct Deposit Information”
Wealthsimple Cash	Wealthsimple app → Cash → “Direct Deposit Form”
Neo Financial	Neo app → Account → “Direct Deposit Details”

When You Need a Voided Cheque

Situation	Who Requests It	Why
Starting a new job	Employer	Set up direct deposit for paycheques
CRA direct deposit	CRA	Receive tax refund, GST/HST credit, CCB by direct deposit
Pre-authorized mortgage payment	Lender	Automatic mortgage payments
Insurance payments	Insurance company	Set up automatic premium payments
Investment contributions	Brokerage / mutual fund co.	Automatic RRSP or TFSA contributions
Loan payments	Lender	Automatic loan repayments
Utility payments	Utility company	Pre-authorized bill payments
Gym or subscription	Service provider	Recurring monthly charges

Is It Safe to Give Someone a Voided Cheque?

Concern	Risk Level	Why
Someone deposits money into your account	Low risk	They can only deposit, not withdraw
Someone sets up unauthorized withdrawals	Low risk	PAD agreements require your consent; disputes are covered
Identity theft from cheque info	Very low	Transit, institution, and account numbers alone are not enough for fraud
Someone cashes the voided cheque	No risk	Banks will not process a cheque marked “VOID”

Only provide voided cheques to trusted employers, financial institutions, and billers. Never share your banking information on social media or with unknown parties.