How to Handle Prior Period Checks in QuickBooks Without Voiding
Voiding a Check from Last Year in QBO? Here’s the Right Way to Fix It
What Happens When You Void a Prior-Year Check in QuickBooks?
You’re reviewing old transactions in QuickBooks Online (QBO) and spot a check from last year that shouldn’t be there. You hover over “Void”… but should you?
Not so fast.
Voiding a check from a prior period—especially a closed accounting year—can create bigger issues than the original mistake.
What Is a Prior Period?
A prior period refers to any past accounting period that has already been finalized. That could mean:
You’ve reconciled your accounts
Your tax filings for the year are complete
You’ve closed your books or submitted reports to a CPA, bank, or grant application
You’ve already generated official Profit & Loss or Balance Sheet reports
Changing anything from that period—like voiding a check—means you’re rewriting records that have already been used in important decisions. That’s risky.
Why You Shouldn’t Void a Check in a Closed Period
Voiding a transaction from a prior year seems easy, but here’s what it can break:
✅ Your reconciled bank statements
✅ Your reported net income
✅ Your tax filing totals
✅ Your CPA’s sanity 😅
It’s not just a void—it’s a time-traveling accounting bomb.
Here’s the Better Fix: Record a Deposit in the Current Period
Instead of voiding the check in a prior period, record an offsetting Bank Deposit in the current period (this year) to cancel it out.
Step-by-Step: Fix a Prior-Year Check the Right Way
Go to + New > Bank Deposit
Enter the same amount as the original check
Use the same category (vendor or expense account)
In the memo field, write: “Offset for Check #1234 from 20XX (prior period)”
Double-check your reconciliation to make sure this deposit balances out
This keeps your past books clean while correcting the issue today.
💡 Pro Tip:
Before voiding anything from a prior year, ask:
“Will this affect my taxes or previous reports?”
If the answer might be yes, fix it in the current period instead.
Bottom Line
In QuickBooks, “fixing” an old mistake the wrong way can cause more problems than the mistake itself. Recording an offsetting deposit in the current period keeps your books accurate and audit-ready.
Your next move:
Go review any checks you were planning to void from last year. Use the deposit method instead. I help clients with these cleanups all the time—and it’s totally fixable.
Need Help Fixing Past Transactions?
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