How to make a cancelled cheque, scanning and upload requirements, signature safeguards, troubleshooting, and accepted alternatives
Ensure your image meets destination portal file limits (e.g. EPFO requires 100 KB–500 KB JPG with visible printed name). Review the pre-upload checklist to prevent claim rejection.
💡 A cancelled cheque is an unused cheque leaf crossed with two parallel diagonal lines containing the word 'CANCELLED' written between them. It serves solely as verified proof of your bank coordinates (Account Number, IFSC Code, Account Holder Name, and MICR line) for direct benefit transfers, KYC, Demat accounts, and online claims. It does NOT authorize any financial debit, and it must NEVER be signed. Destination portals specify their own upload format and file size limits (for example, EPFO mandates JPG format between 100 KB and 500 KB).
Instant — created in minutes from your existing bank chequebook leaf
Free (uses one leaf from your existing bank chequebook)
Any individual possessing an active 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
Choose an unused leaf from your chequebook where your name is pre-printed by the bank above 'Authorized Signatory'. Portals like EPFO and SEBI-registered brokers routinely reject non-personalized cheques unless accompanied by an attested passbook.
Using a pen with blue or black ink, draw two parallel diagonal lines across the top-left corner or across the face of the cheque leaf. Ensure the lines do not strike through the printed account number, account holder name, IFSC code, or the bottom MICR band.
Between the two diagonal lines, write the word 'CANCELLED' in legible capital letters. This legally invalidates the cheque for payment clearance under RBI CTS-2010 cheque clearing standards while preserving its utility for coordinate verification.
Do NOT sign anywhere on the cheque leaf—neither on the front nor on the back. A cancelled cheque is not a payment instrument; signing it creates a serious financial and fraud vulnerability if misplaced or improperly shared.
Place the cheque on a dark, flat, non-reflective background under uniform lighting. Use a mobile scanning app (such as Adobe Scan, Document Scanner) or a flatbed scanner. Align the camera parallel to the document to avoid perspective distortion and ensure all four borders are visible.
Save the file strictly in the format mandated by the receiving portal: for EPFO online claims, save as JPG/JPEG between 100 KB and 500 KB; for Demat or KYC portals, PDF or JPG up to 1 MB–2 MB is generally accepted. Zoom in to confirm that every digit of the account number and IFSC is razor-sharp.
When your bank merges, your branch relocates, your IFSC code changes, or you switch primary bank accounts, you must update your records across receiving institutions with a fresh cancelled cheque:
YES. You can safely reuse the same scanned digital copy across multiple legitimate portals (such as EPFO PF claim, Demat account, mutual funds, salary verification, and insurance) as long as your bank account remains active and the bank details are unchanged.
If your bank merged or your branch assigned a new IFSC, request an updated chequebook from your bank displaying the new IFSC code and branch address. Do not attempt to overwrite an old cheque leaf.
Cross and cancel the new leaf with two parallel diagonal lines and 'CANCELLED' written across it without signing. Scan following the portal's recommended format and size limits.
Submit the new scanned copy on the relevant service platform: for EPFO, navigate to 'Manage > KYC > Bank' on the Member Portal; for Demat/trading accounts, submit a bank modification request via your broker's console; for mutual funds, update your folio bank mandate.
A digital copy of a cancelled cheque is created from your physical chequebook leaf. Because recipient portals enforce strict automated checks, follow these scanning specifications:
Lay the cancelled cheque on a contrasting flat surface (such as a dark desk). Avoid overhead direct flash or angled desk lamps that cause glare on the glossy CTS-2010 watermark areas.
If using a flatbed scanner, select 200 to 300 DPI resolution. If using a smartphone, hold the camera parallel to the cheque directly from above to eliminate trapezoidal distortion. Include all four margins.
Crop the image right at the outer borders of the cheque leaf. Use 'Document' or 'Color Text' mode in your scanning app rather than high-contrast black-and-white mode so the bank's security background pattern remains authentic.
Review the destination portal's specifications before saving: EPFO Member Portal strictly requires JPG/JPEG format between 100 KB and 500 KB (PDF will fail upload). Demat KYC (Zerodha, Groww, Upstox) and counseling portals (MCC NEET UG) typically accept PDF or JPG up to 1 MB or 2 MB.
Open the exported file on your screen and zoom in to 100%. Verify that the IFSC code (especially characters like '0' zero vs 'O' letter), account number, and your name are instantly readable by automated OCR systems.
After uploading your cancelled cheque copy, tracking your bank verification depends entirely on the portal where you submitted it:
Log in to the EPFO Unified Member Portal (unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in) with your UAN and password. Go to 'Manage > KYC' to view your bank status under 'KYC Pending for Approval' or 'Digitally Approved KYC'. For claim settlements, track status under 'Online Services > Track Claim Status'.
Check your bank verification status in your broker's account profile (e.g. Zerodha Console, Groww Account Settings). You can also verify mutual fund bank KYC status via CVL KRA (cvlkra.com) or NDML KRA by entering your PAN.
Log in to the counseling candidate portal (such as MCC or state counseling authority) and verify candidate profile details under the 'Bank Account for Refund' section.
Log in to the Income Tax e-Filing portal (incometax.gov.in) and navigate to 'My Profile > My Bank Account' to check if your bank account is marked 'Validated' and 'Nominated for Refund'.
If you do not have a chequebook, or your cheque is non-personalized (lacks your printed name), government and financial portals accept these verified alternatives:
A clear scanned copy of the first page of your bank passbook showing your photograph, full name, account number, IFSC code, and the bank branch manager's stamp and signature. This is the primary officially recognized alternative on the EPFO portal.
A recent account statement (last 1 to 3 months) bearing your name, address, account number, IFSC code, and computer-generated transaction history, stamped and signed by the bank branch.
An official letter on the bank's letterhead signed by the branch manager confirming your active account number, name, and IFSC code, accompanied by your attested photograph.
If your upload is rejected or fails portal verification, check these common reasons and solutions before re-submitting:
| Issue / Rejection Reason | What to Check | Appropriate Action |
|---|---|---|
| Image Blurry or Illegible | Account number, IFSC, name, or bottom MICR line cannot be read clearly. | Re-scan or take a well-lit flat photo from directly above without reflections or camera shake at 200–300 DPI. |
| Unsupported File Format | Destination portal file format requirements (e.g., EPFO rejects PDF; Demat portals may require PDF). | Convert and export to the exact format required (JPG/JPEG for EPFO; PDF or JPG for Demat/KYC). |
| File Size Error (EPFO) | File size must be strictly between 100 KB and 500 KB for EPFO claim submissions. | Use an image compressor to adjust the file size into the 100 KB–500 KB window while maintaining text sharpness. |
| Missing Printed Name | Non-personalized cheque leaf without account holder name printed above the signature line. | Upload an attested bank passbook front page with photo, branch stamp, and signature instead of non-personalized cheque. |
| Name or Coordinate Mismatch | Name spelling on cheque differs from Aadhaar, PAN, or portal profile record. | Submit bank passbook with updated name or obtain a bank verification certificate confirming account ownership. |
| Merged Bank / Old IFSC Code | IFSC code printed on older cheque belongs to pre-merger bank branch. | Order a fresh personalized chequebook from your new consolidated bank or use an updated passbook statement. |
NO! A signature is strictly NOT required on a cancelled cheque. 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 and forgery risks.
YES! A single scanned copy (PDF or JPG) of a cancelled cheque can be reused and uploaded multiple times across different portals (such as EPFO PF claim, Demat account, mutual funds, salary verification, and insurance), provided your bank details remain active and unchanged and the digital image remains clear and legible.
A 'Scanned Copy of Cancelled Cheque' is a clear digital file (JPG or PDF) of your cancelled cheque leaf. Portals require this file during online verification (such as EPFO claim settlements, MCC NEET counseling security deposit refunds, or Zerodha/Groww Demat onboarding) to verify that funds will be credited directly to your authenticated bank account.
To upload on EPFO: 1) Log in to unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in. 2) Go to 'Online Services > Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D)'. 3) Verify your bank account number. 4) Scroll to the upload field and select your scanned cheque leaf strictly in JPG/JPEG format between 100 KB and 500 KB. 5) Click 'View' to confirm legibility before submitting. For UAN management, see our EPFO UAN Guide.
If your chequebook is non-personalized (does not have your name printed on it), organizations like EPFO and stockbrokers will reject your upload. In this case, upload a self-attested copy of your Bank Passbook front page (bearing your photo, name, account number, and branch manager's stamp) instead of the non-personalized cheque leaf.
A blank cheque has no amount or payee filled in but is signed—which is extremely dangerous as anyone who accesses it can fill in any amount and attempt encashment. A cancelled cheque has two diagonal parallel lines with 'CANCELLED' written across it and NO signature, making it completely invalid for payment clearance while preserving its utility as coordinate proof.
File requirements vary by portal: 1) EPFO Member Portal strictly mandates JPG/JPEG format between 100 KB and 500 KB (PDF uploads are not accepted). 2) Stockbrokers and Demat KYC (Zerodha, Groww, Upstox) typically accept PDF or JPG up to 1 MB or 2 MB. 3) NEET counseling (MCC) accepts PDF or JPG up to 1 MB. Always check destination portal instructions.
If you do not have a chequebook, acceptable alternatives include: 1) An attested copy of your Bank Passbook front page (with photo, name, account number, and branch stamp), 2) A certified Bank Account Statement from the last 1 to 3 months stamped by the bank branch, or 3) A formal Bank Account Verification Letter on bank letterhead signed by the branch manager.
No. A properly cancelled cheque without a signature cannot be presented to any bank for cash withdrawal or clearing. Under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) CTS-2010 rules, crossing a cheque with 'CANCELLED' renders it non-negotiable. Furthermore, without an authentic customer signature, no bank can legally debit funds.
Mandates standard security features, paper quality, watermark, void pantograph, and MICR band specifications across Indian commercial banks.
View Reference Document ↗Specifies that uploaded cheque leaves must be in JPG/JPEG format between 100 KB and 500 KB, with the member's name pre-printed by the bank.
View Reference Document ↗Authorizes cancelled cheques bearing printed account holder name and IFSC as valid proof of bank account for Demat, trading, and mutual funds.
View Reference Document ↗Details bank coordinate requirements for NEET UG/PG counseling security deposit refunds via cancelled cheque copies.
View Reference Document ↗Double-check your file against our pre-upload checklist to avoid rejection, or see accepted passbook alternatives if you do not have a chequebook.