How to make a cancelled cheque, signature rules, scanned upload formats, and reuse guidelines
Visit Official Portal →💡 A cancelled cheque is a blank cheque leaf with two parallel diagonal lines drawn across it and the word 'CANCELLED' written in bold capital letters. NO signature is required — never sign a cancelled cheque. It is used strictly to verify your Bank Account Number, IFSC code, MICR code, and Name for EPFO claims, Demat KYC, and loan mandates.
Instant — created from your existing chequebook leaf
Free (uses one leaf from your bank chequebook)
Any individual possessing a bank account with an issued chequebook facility
Anyone verifying their bank account details for EPFO/PF withdrawal, mutual fund/Demat KYC, insurance claims, salary verification, loan NACH/ECS mandate, or NEET counseling
Take one unused cheque leaf from your chequebook. Ensure that your printed Name, Bank Account Number, IFSC Code, and MICR line are clear and unblemished.
Draw two parallel diagonal lines across the top-left corner or across the face of the cheque leaf using a pen.
Between the two parallel lines, write the word "CANCELLED" clearly. Make sure your handwriting does not cover or obscure your printed account number, name, or IFSC code.
Never put your signature on a cancelled cheque. A cancelled cheque is meant strictly for bank coordinate verification. Signing a cancelled cheque exposes you to severe fraud and forgery risks.
Place the cancelled cheque on a plain flat surface in good lighting. Capture a crisp, unblurred photo or scan. Save as a JPG or PDF file under 2MB (under 500KB for EPFO portal).
Upload the scanned copy to the designated field on the government or financial portal. Ensure all 4 corners of the cheque are visible.
If your bank details change (such as a bank merger, new IFSC code, or branch shift), you should generate a fresh cancelled cheque with updated IFSC and branch details.
Request a new personalized chequebook from your bank displaying the updated IFSC code and branch address.
Draw two diagonal parallel lines and write 'CANCELLED' in bold capital letters without signing.
Upload the fresh scanned copy on the EPFO Member Portal (under 'Manage > KYC > Bank') or your investment portal.
A cancelled cheque is created from your physical chequebook leaf. Here is how to create a high-quality digital scan for online upload:
Take a blank cheque leaf, draw two parallel lines, and write 'CANCELLED' across it without covering account details.
Use a mobile scanner app (like Adobe Scan / Document Scanner) or a flatbed scanner to capture a clean, straight image.
Crop tightly to the 4 edges of the cheque. Compress the PDF/JPG to under 500 KB for EPFO or under 2 MB for standard KYC portals.
Zoom in to ensure the Account Number, Name, IFSC Code, and 9-digit MICR code at the bottom are 100% sharp and readable.
When you submit a cancelled cheque for EPF withdrawal or bank KYC updation, track your verification status directly on the respective service portal:
Log into the EPFO Member Interface (unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in) with your UAN. Navigate to 'View > Track Claim Status' or 'Manage > KYC' to verify if your bank KYC was approved.
Check your KYC status at CVL KRA (cvlkra.com) or CAMS KRA by entering your PAN number.
NO! A signature is strictly NOT required on a cancelled cheque. In fact, financial and cybersecurity experts strongly advise NEVER signing a cancelled cheque. The recipient organization only needs to verify your printed Account Number, IFSC Code, Bank Branch, and Account Holder Name. Signing a cancelled cheque creates unnecessary financial fraud risk.
YES! A single scanned copy (PDF or JPG) of a cancelled cheque can be reused and uploaded multiple times across different portals (e.g., EPFO PF claim, mutual funds, Zerodha/Groww demat account, salary verification, and insurance claims), provided the printed banking coordinates remain crisp and legible.
A 'Scanned Copy of Cancelled Cheque' is a clear digital image (in PDF, JPG, or PNG format) of your cancelled cheque leaf. During NEET counseling or EPFO online claim submission, portals require this file to verify that the refund or PF settlement amount will be credited directly to your authenticated bank account.
If your chequebook is non-personalized (does not have your name printed on it), organizations like EPFO will reject your claim. In this case, upload a self-attested copy of your Bank Passbook front page (with photo, name, account number, and branch stamp) instead of the non-personalized cheque leaf.
A blank cheque has no amount or payee filled in but is signed — which is extremely risky as anyone can fill in any amount. A cancelled cheque has two diagonal lines with 'CANCELLED' written across it and NO signature, making it completely invalid for payment while preserving its utility as account proof.
If you don't have a chequebook, you can provide: 1) A clear scanned copy of your Bank Passbook's front page (bearing account number, IFSC, name, and bank stamp), or 2) A certified Bank Account Statement from the last 3 months, or 3) A Bank Account Verification Letter from your branch manager.
Visit the official government portal to start your application
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