You can void a payment in Bill.com before it clears, but the window is narrow
A voided payment in Bill.com stops the transaction before money leaves your account. You can void a payment you've scheduled but not yet sent, or one that's been sent but hasn't cleared at the receiving bank yet. Once the payment has cleared — meaning the receiving bank has accepted and processed it — you cannot void it through Bill.com. At that point, you'll need to contact your bank or the payee directly to reverse it.
The steps to void depend on what stage the payment is in. A payment you scheduled but haven't released yet takes seconds to cancel. A payment already in transit requires you to act quickly, because the clearing window varies by payment method — ACH transfers typically clear in one to two business days, while checks can take five to seven business days after mailing.
Key Takeaways
- You can void a payment in Bill.com only before it clears at the receiving bank; once cleared, you must contact your bank or payee instead.
- Scheduled payments you haven't released can be voided when ready from the Bills or Checks tab; sent payments must be voided before the clearing window closes.
- ACH payments clear in one to two business days, while mailed checks clear in five to seven business days after the mail date.
- Bill.com will show you the payment status (scheduled, sent, or cleared) so you know whether voiding is still possible.
How to void a scheduled payment before you send it
If you've created a payment but haven't released it yet, voiding takes one step. Open Bill.com, go to the Bills tab (for bill payments) or Checks tab (for check payments), and find the payment in your list. Look for payments marked as "Scheduled" — these have not yet left your account.
Click on the payment to open its details. You'll see a Void button or option in the payment details panel. Click it, and Bill.com will ask you to confirm. Once you confirm, the payment is removed from your queue and will not be sent. The funds remain in your account. No notification goes to the payee because the payment was never transmitted.
How to void a payment that's already been sent
If you've already released the payment and it shows as "Sent" or "In Transit," you have a limited window to void it. The length of that window depends on the payment method. For ACH payments, you typically have until the end of the business day the payment is scheduled to clear — usually one to two business days after you sent it. For mailed checks, you have until the check clears at the receiving bank, which can be five to seven business days after the mail date.
To void a sent payment, go to the Bills or Checks tab and locate the payment. Click on it to see its current status. If the status still shows "Sent" or "In Transit" (not "Cleared"), the void option should still be available. Click Void, confirm your choice, and Bill.com will attempt to stop the payment before it clears. Bill.com will notify the receiving bank or, in the case of a check, may attempt to intercept it before delivery.
Check the payment status regularly after you void it. Bill.com will update the status to "Voided" once the void is confirmed. If the status changes to "Cleared" before you void it, the payment has already been accepted by the receiving bank, and you cannot void it through Bill.com.
What happens to the money when you void a payment
When you void a scheduled payment that hasn't been sent, the funds never leave your account — there's nothing to reverse. When you void a payment that's already been sent, the reversal process depends on the payment method and the receiving bank's speed.
For ACH payments, the receiving bank will reject the transaction and the funds will return to your account within one to two business days after the void is processed. For checks, if Bill.com can intercept the check before it's delivered, it will be returned to Bill.com and destroyed, and no funds will be withdrawn. If the check has already been delivered and cashed, the void will not work, and you'll need to contact your bank about a stop payment or reversal.
Why a payment might not be voidable
The most common reason you cannot void a payment is that it has already cleared. Bill.com shows the payment status as "Cleared" when the receiving bank has accepted and processed it. At this point, the transaction is final, and Bill.com has no ability to reverse it.
For mailed checks, if the payee has already deposited or cashed the check, Bill.com cannot void it. You would need to contact your bank to place a stop payment order, though this only works if the check hasn't been processed yet. For ACH payments that have cleared, contact your bank about initiating a reversal or dispute.
Some payments may also be locked from voiding if they're part of a recurring payment series or if they've been flagged for compliance reasons. If you see a message that the void option is unavailable, check the payment details for an explanation, or contact Bill.com support.
The difference between voiding and stopping payment
Voiding a payment through Bill.com is the fastest way to stop a transaction before it clears. A stop payment order, placed with your bank, is a backup option if Bill.com's void fails or if the payment has already cleared. Stop payment orders cost money (typically $25 to $35 per order) and take longer to process, but they can work even after a check has been mailed.
If you void a payment through Bill.com and it still clears, or if you miss the void window, contact your bank when ready to place a stop payment order. Provide your bank with the check number, amount, payee name, and the date you want the stop to take effect. Your bank will confirm the stop payment in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I void a payment if the payee has already received it?
No. Once the receiving bank has cleared the payment, Bill.com cannot reverse it. If the payee has already received and deposited the funds, you'll need to contact them directly to request a refund, or contact your bank about a reversal or dispute.
How long do I have to void a check after I send it?
You have until the check clears at the receiving bank, which is typically five to seven business days after the mail date. Bill.com shows the check status, so monitor it closely. Once the status changes to "Cleared," the void option is no longer available.
What if I void a payment by mistake?
If you void a payment and then realize you needed to send it, you'll need to create and send a new payment. Bill.com does not automatically resend voided payments. Create the payment again from scratch and release it.
Does the payee get notified when I void a payment?
No notification goes to the payee if you void a scheduled payment before sending it. If you void a payment that's already been sent, the payee may see a rejected or reversed transaction in their records, depending on the payment method and their bank's systems.
Can I void a recurring payment?
You can void individual payments in a recurring series, but this does not stop the series itself. To stop a recurring payment from sending future payments, you'll need to edit or cancel the recurring payment schedule in Bill.com, not just void one instance of it.