Check not cleared from previous year.

[PattiD]

The clock is ticking and my 18 months after the month a check was written is going to be up. Late last summer (2023) I wrote a check for $5.00 which came back as the person had moved. I should have dealt with it before the end of the year, but didn't. So, 2023 closed with it still on the books. If I void that check, it messes up the 2023 books, but I can't leave the check just dangling out there. What is the right thing to do?

[NeilZ]

The clock is ticking and my 18 months after the month a check was written is going to be up. Late last summer (2023) I wrote a check for $5.00 which came back as the person had moved. I should have dealt with it before the end of the year, but didn't. So, 2023 closed with it still on the books. If I void that check, it messes up the 2023 books, but I can't leave the check just dangling out there. What is the right thing to do?

FWIW ... the 2023 books are already messed up as it shows you being $5.00 less in the bank. I'm assuming that that check keep showing up in the reconciliation, right?

That said, do a backup of the accounting database, void it as of today, and on the reconcile check it off. Use this as a learning experience to not put off until tomorrow things you should do immediately

[PattiD]

I know. Silly me. I own it 100%. Thank you for your input. I DO appreciate it.