Back to results for “Bank Reconciliation”
Bookkeeping › Bank Reconciliation

How do you deal with stale or cancelled cheques in a reconciliation?

Advanced

Answer

A stale cheque (typically unpresented for over six months) will not be honoured by the bank. It should be written back: debit the bank (cash book) to reinstate the funds and credit the original account (e.g., the supplier/payable) since the liability revives. It's then removed from the list of unpresented cheques.
Stale cheque 250 written back:
  Dr Bank (cash book) 250
      Cr Payables (supplier) 250
Real-world example A cheque outstanding for eight months is written back, restoring the cash book balance and the creditor.

Common follow-ups: When is a cheque considered stale? | What entry reinstates it?