Can I cross out a mistake on a check and write the correct information?

It is not recommended. A visible alteration can lead the payee's bank to reject the check, and policies vary by bank. The safe approach is to void the check, mark it VOID and print or write a new one with a new check number.

Can I use white-out or correction tape on a check?

No. Correction fluid and tape can damage the check's security features and make the check look tampered with, which gives the bank grounds to refuse it. Void the check and start over instead.

What happens if the written amount and the numeric amount do not match?

Banks generally pay the written amount when the two differ, but some will return the check or ask questions instead. Either way, a mismatch is a problem. Void the check and issue a new one with matching amounts.

I made a mistake on a check I already mailed. What should I do?

Contact the payee right away and ask them not to deposit it. If they cannot return it or it may already be deposited, ask your bank about a stop payment and its fee. Issue a corrected check with a new number once the first is dealt with, and log both in your register.

Can I correct a mistake on a check with my initials?

Some banks accept a minor correction that the writer initials, but many will not, and acceptance also depends on the bank where the check is deposited. Call your bank before relying on this, and avoid it for the amount. Voiding and reissuing is far safer.

How to Correct a Mistake on a Printed Check

The safest way to correct a mistake on a printed check is not to correct it at all: void the check, destroy it or keep it marked VOID, and print a new one with the right information and a new check number. Crossing out, writing over or using correction fluid can get the check rejected and makes it look altered.

This applies even when the mistake is small. A printed check goes through banks that check for alteration, so a visible change creates doubt about who made it and why. Starting over costs a sheet of stock, while a rejected check can cost a late payment, a returned item fee, or an awkward call.

Why shouldn't you cross out or white-out a check?

It looks like tampering. A bank or payee cannot tell whether you made the change or someone else did after the check left your hands.
Banks may refuse it. Many banks will not accept a check with visible alterations, particularly to the amount, payee or date. Policies differ by bank.
Correction fluid and ink eraser damage security features. Check stock often has features that react to chemicals, which makes alterations obvious by design.
It can cause a dispute. If the payee or their bank accepts an altered check, you might have difficulty proving what you originally wrote.
It leaves your records unclear. Your register and the paper no longer match.

How do you correct a mistake on a printed check, step by step?

Stop. Do not sign or hand out the check. An unsigned check with an error is only a spoiled piece of paper.
Identify what is wrong. Compare the check with the invoice or request: payee, amount in numbers, amount in words, date, memo.
Void the incorrect check. Write VOID in large letters across the front. Details are in how to void a printed check.
Record the void. In the register, mark the check number as void with a reason such as "wrong amount".
Fix the data in your check printing tool. Correct the field. If your tool lets you edit and reprint a saved check, make sure that you reissue under a new number rather than reusing the old one for different details.
Print a new check on fresh stock. Run the new number past your register before you sign.
Destroy or file the bad check. Keep it marked VOID in your records, or shred it if your register already documents the void.
Deliver the new check. If the original already reached the payee, see the section below.

What if the mistake is in the amount?

A mismatch between the numbers and the words is one of the most common problems. If a check reads $1,250.00 in the box but "One thousand two hundred five and 00/100" on the written line, banks generally pay the written amount, so the check could be paid for the wrong figure. Void it and print a new one. The step-by-step method for writing the line correctly is in how to write the amount in words on a check.

Do not try to fix an amount error by adjusting one figure with a pen. Changes to the amount are exactly what banks look for when they check for alteration.

What if the mistake is in the payee name or the date?

Wrong payee spelling or the wrong person. Void and reprint. A check made out to the wrong party may be cashed by that party. See where to write the payee on a check.
Wrong date. A date error is lower risk but still affects when a check can be deposited. Void and reprint. For a reminder of how dates work, see where to write the date on a check.
Wrong memo. The memo does not affect whether the check is paid. If it is just a note and the check was not issued, you may prefer to reprint anyway so the paper matches the record.

Are there any corrections banks allow?

Sometimes. Some banks will honor a check that has a single, neat correction made by the person who wrote it, particularly when that person initials the change and the bank is able to verify the signer. Others will not accept any alteration at all. There is no universal rule, and it also depends on which bank the payee deposits the check into.

Treat an accepted correction as an exception, not a method. If you consider it, call your bank first, and do not give the checks to someone who will have to depend on a bank that might say no. For anything involving the amount, the safest answer is still to void and reissue.

What if the check with the mistake has already been delivered?

That changes the problem, because the mistaken check is now out of your control. Take these steps in order:

Contact the payee quickly and ask them not to deposit the check. If they have not, ask them to return it or destroy it, and confirm that in writing.
If it might already be deposited or you cannot reach the payee, ask your bank whether it has cleared, and ask about a stop payment. A stop payment normally has a fee and rules, so ask your bank how it works.
Issue the corrected check with a new number once you are confident the first one is out of circulation.
Record both events in the register, with notes that connect the two numbers.

If an incorrect check does clear, you may need to ask the payee for a refund or adjust the next payment. Keep the paperwork.

How do you stop mistakes before they print?

Check the preview against the invoice before you press Print.
Use saved payees, so names are consistent and spelled correctly.
Let the software generate the amount in words instead of typing it. Typed words are where mismatches come from.
Run a test print on plain paper when you change stock, printers or layouts.
Have a second person read the details, or pause for a minute before printing the check yourself.
Read the amount, the payee and the date aloud once. It sounds silly and it works.

Check Writer 123 generates the amount in words automatically from the number you enter, so the two cannot disagree by typing. It also shows a live preview and offers free Test Prints with TEST PRINT watermarks. Once you press Print the check is saved, so a wrong check should be voided and replaced rather than altered.

Putting it together

A mistake on a printed check is a signal to start over, not to patch. Void it clearly, log the void, print a fresh check with a new number, and make sure only one valid version exists. If the check never left your desk, the cost is a sheet of paper. If it did, move quickly and involve your bank. For the mechanics of reprinting after a print problem rather than a data error, see how to reprint a check, and keep your register current as described in how to keep a digital record of printed checks.