Banking: Writing a check
You can write checks in QuickBooks for a couple of reasons.
- Record a bank account withdrawal you made either by manually writing a check or through an ATM withdrawal.
- Write a check that you will print on blank checks with your printer that you'll send to vendors to pay them. You can customize a check you're printing (such as adding a logo) on the Print window when you print the check .
- Choose Banking > Write Checks. How do I use this window?
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To write a new check, click the "New Check..." on the left panel or click the + at the bottom of the list. To edit a check, select a check in the list on the left panel. (If you don't see this list, click the Left View.)
- Enter the information for the check, and click Save.
Note: You can also write a check using the Vendor Center and Transaction Center .
- Pay to the order of. Who are you paying? Choose the a name from the list or type the name in directly. If the name is not on any of your lists, QuickBooks asks you set up a record for the name. If you have a PO open for the vendor you select, QuickBooks asks you if you want to receive the items for the open POs.
- Bank Account. The account you want to write the check from. This is most likely your checking account.
- Date. QuickBooks automatically enters today's date, but you can change it.
- $. Enter the amount of the check.
- Address: If you have already entered the payee's address on one of your lists of names, QuickBooks fills in the address for you. If you're adding a new name, you'll need to enter the address yourself.
- Memo: Enter any note or message you would like to print on the check.
If the check is for expenses you want to track through expense accounts:
In the Expenses pane, assign the expenses to one or more expense accounts. This works the same as it does for bills. (If you don't see the Expenses/Items panes, turn on the "Inventory and purchase orders are used" preferences in Inventory preferences .)
If the check is for an inventory part, non-inventory part, service, or other charge item:
At the bottom of the windows, click the Items pane. (If you don't see the Expenses/Items panes, turn on the "Inventory and purchase orders are used" preferences in Inventory preferences .) This works the same as it does for bills.
You have a PO | You don't have a PO |
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Tip: If you make a mistake when you are editing the quantities, click Receive All to return all quantities to their original values. |
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Other things you should know about writing checks
- Track shipping and other charges. You can enter shipping charges or taxes not associated with any one item. Go to the Expenses pane. In the detail area, enter each charge and associate it with its correct expense account.
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Add this check to Calendar. Adds a reminder about this check to Calendar.
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Print the check with other checks. You can add this check to a queue of checks to print together at a later time. Click Print Later. Then when you're ready to print the check, choose File > Print Forms > Checks. You can add a logo, change the fonts, or other changes on the Print window.
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Clear how you've split the check by items and expenses. Click Clear Splits to clear the items on the Expenses and Items panes on the bill.
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Recalculate the amounts. If you make changes to the check, you can recalculate the amount to reflect the change.
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Apply a discount to a check. To apply a discount from your vendor, select the amount you want to apply the discount to in the Amt. Paid column. Click Discount Info.
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Set preferences for your checks. Click Format to open Checks preferences.