what type of micr ink for payroll check printing needed

[Lanie_10]

Hello I have an HP Officejet pro 8035 printer and need to print only 6-12 business payroll checks weekly for my employees and vendors. My question is what is the specific ink I need to order. I have an HP smart account and receive the basic monthly ink cartridges that are offered for the printer. Is the micr ink included already? If not, can someone help me?

[Sneha_01]

Hi @Lanie_10 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

To print payroll checks that are compliant with banking standards, you'll need MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) ink, which is required for the special characters printed on checks, like the account numbers, routing numbers, and check numbers. MICR ink is different from standard ink, as it contains iron oxide, allowing the characters to be magnetized for recognition by check processing machines at banks.

1. Does the HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 use MICR ink?

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 is a standard inkjet printer, and it does not come with MICR ink out of the box. The ink cartridges that are included with the printer (whether purchased through HP Smart or otherwise) are regular ink cartridges and do not contain MICR ink. Therefore, you’ll need to buy MICR ink cartridges separately.

2. What is MICR Ink?

MICR ink is a special type of ink formulated to meet the standards for printing checks. This ink is designed to make the magnetic characters on checks detectable by the bank's automatic check processing machines. It is typically black ink with iron oxide mixed in to allow magnetism.

3. How Do You Get MICR Ink for Your Printer?

Unfortunately, HP does not manufacture MICR ink for the HP OfficeJet Pro 8035, as this is a standard office printer and not a specialized check printer. Therefore, you would need to purchase third-party MICR ink cartridges that are compatible with your printer.

There are a few options to consider:

A. Buy MICR Ink Cartridges

You can buy compatible MICR ink cartridges from specialized suppliers, such as:

Check Printing Supply Companies: Companies like MICR Legal, Ink Technologies, and Supply Link offer cartridges specifically designed for use with your HP printer model (or other popular printer brands). These cartridges are pre-filled with MICR ink, ensuring you can print checks legally and comply with the standards for check printing.

Online Retailers: You can also check platforms like Amazon for compatible MICR cartridges for HP printers. Be sure to verify that the cartridges are compatible with the HP OfficeJet Pro 8035.

B. MICR Toner for Laser Printers

If you decide to use a laser printer for check printing instead of an inkjet printer, there are also MICR toners available that are designed to work with various HP laser printers.

However, since you’re using an HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 (which is an inkjet), you'll need to stick with MICR ink.

4. Ensure MICR Ink Compatibility

It’s essential that the MICR ink cartridges are designed to work with your specific model. Here’s how you can check:

• Verify Compatibility: Ensure the MICR cartridges are compatible with HP OfficeJet Pro 8035. If you're unsure, check with the supplier or review the product description online.
• Test the Ink: Once you get the MICR ink cartridges, perform a test print of a check to ensure the characters are being printed correctly and are magnetized. You can test this by taking the printed check to a bank or a business with check reading equipment.

5. Do You Need MICR Ink for All Your Printing?

No, you only need MICR ink for printing payroll checks. For regular documents, you can continue using the standard ink cartridges you’ve been using with your HP Smart account. The MICR ink is specifically for the printing of checks, and you should only need a few cartridges since you mentioned you print payroll checks for a small number of employees (6-12 per week).

6. Ink Supply Management

Since you mentioned you’re already enrolled in HP’s ink subscription service (HP Instant Ink), be aware that HP Instant Ink generally does not cover third-party MICR ink. You’ll have to order the MICR ink cartridges separately.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Rachel571

HP Support