How to Record Handwritten Checks in QuickBooks Desktop and Online?

Often, business owners who use QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop accounting software experience the urgency of recording a check in QuickBooks that has already been written. It can be handwritten checks provided to vendors or those whom you may not remember to record.

The steps to record properly record such transactions in QuickBooks depend on whether you are using QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop. After the check is recorded, you may need to clear it manually or you can reconcile the account to maintain precise and clear accounting records.

So let us begin by understanding what handwritten checks are in QuickBooks.

What are the QuickBooks Handwritten Checks?

In QuickBooks, handwritten checks are certain physical checks that are generated manually, not printed via the system. Such checks are recorded in QuickBooks to precisely monitor expenses and payments.

What are the Advantages of Recording Handwritten Checks?

If you wish to buy something with a hand-written check or want to print a new check, you must add a check in QuickBooks. This makes sure your accounts are updated and all the business transactions that have taken place are accounted for.

Now that you are aware of the benefits of handwritten checks in QuickBooks, let us learn about how to record them successfully.

How to Record a Handwritten Check in QuickBooks Desktop?

In order to record handwritten checks in QuickBooks Desktop, you need to perform the following steps in the given order:

Step 1: Go to the Check option

Here is how you can navigate to the Check option:

1. Go to the +New button.
2. Press the Vendor’s section and choose Check.
3. Add the date when the check was generated.
4. Add the check number.

Step 2: Go to the Pay to Order Section

1. Choose the name of the person or the company toward whom the check was issued under the Pay to Order section.
2. Add the check amount.
3. Choose the right account from the given account column.
4. Add any other required information on the page.
5. Press the Save option in order to record the checks in QuickBooks.

Note: You do not need to print the check since it has been issued already.

How to Record Handwritten Checks in QuickBooks Online?

Here are effective steps to record handwritten checks in QuickBooks Online:

Step 1: Use the Add Check option

To use the Add Check option successfully, follow the steps in the given order:

1. Go to the Accounting button present on the navigation menu left side.
2. Locate the bank account related to the check and press the option, View Register.
3. In the given date column, navigate to the option, Add Check.
4. Add accurate check details.
5. Add details in the needed fields with precise information, like Account, Date, Payee, Reference Number, Payment, and Memo.
6. Now press Save to finish recording the check in QuickBooks Online successfully.

Step 2: Click Check as Cleared

Here are the steps to click Checks as Cleared:

1. Navigate to the Accounting option and choose View Register in your bank account.
2. Press on the check. The check details will open automatically.
3. In the status column, press on the bank field, and it will be marked by a C automatically.
4. Press on Save to clear the transaction.

How to Record Prewritten Checks in QuickBooks Desktop?

Users of QuickBooks Desktop should record the check with the help of the steps given below:

1. Press + New.
2. Navigate to the Vendor section and select Check.
3. Enter the date when the check was generated.
4. Ensure that the Print Later box is not checked. Now record the check number.
5. Select the name of the company or person for whom the check was made under the section, Pay to Order
6. Enter the amount of the particular check.
7. Select the right amount from the given account column.
8. Add any other required information on the page and press Save to record the check in your QuickBooks accounting software. You are not required to print the check since it is issued already.

How to Record Prewritten Checks in QuickBooks Online?

Users of QuickBooks Online should record the check with the help of the steps given below:

1. Press on Accounting present on the left navigation menu.
2. Check the bank account concerning the check and press on the option, View Register.
3. In the date column, press Add Check.
4. Add all the details as needed in the date, account, reference number, payment fields, and memo.
5. Press on Save to finish recording in QuickBooks Online successfully.

When the check is cleared, you need to go to the register and mark the check as cleared with the help of the steps given below:

1. Press on Accounting and select View Register in your bank account.
2. Press on the check. It will open the check details automatically.
3. In the particular Status column, press on the blank section and it will be marked as C automatically.
4. Press on Save to clear the transaction.

How to Enter a Handwritten Check into Your Bank Register Directly?

Here are the steps to enter handwritten checks into your bank register directly and add the right data and information into QuickBooks:

1. Navigate to the Accounting menu present on the left side.
2. Choose the Chart of Accounts.
3. Press the View Register option present under the Action column.
4. Press the Filter dropdown.
5. In the Transaction Type, choose Add Check.
6. Enter the check details.
7. Press Save.

We hope that after reading this article, all your queries regarding the topic of how to record handwritten checks in QuickBooks have been resolved.

We have shared details as to why handwritten checks are important and how to record them separately in QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online. Still, if you have certain doubts, you can get in touch with our Dancing Numbers Online team of experts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What are QuickBooks Checks?

Ans: QuickBooks checks are certain checks that are designed particularly to be compatible with the accounting software QuickBooks. Such checks are available in several styles and security levels and can be directly printed from the accounting application. With the help of QuickBooks checks, the check printing procedure gets simplified and makes sure of precise financial records.

Q2: What kind of Checks do QuickBooks use?

Ans: QuickBooks uses checks that are designed particularly to be in sync with the accounting software. Such checks are generally available in three main styles- custom, standard, and high security.

Custom checks allow more customization for your colors and logos while standard checks are considered the most basic option. High-security checks, on the other hand, provide extra security features as a safeguard against fraud, watermarks, holograms, etc.

Q3: Do QuickBooks make Checks?

Ans: QuickBooks does not create checks directly. But, they offer an option to buy QuickBooks-compatible checks via the Intuit website. Not to mention, third-party companies provide QuickBooks-compatible checks at reasonable rates.

Q4: Is it Possible to Personalize Checks in QuickBooks?

Ans: While there are no built-in options in QuickBooks for creating personalized checks, you can still buy personalized checks from other retailers or the official Intuit shop. You can customize these personalized checks with your company’s colors, logos, and other visual components.