An Echeck is a form of electronic payment used by Alameda County to charge (debit) a taxpayer's account after obtaining authorization directly from the taxpayer via the Internet. Sometimes they are called electronic check, ACH-based electronic checks, or Echeck. An electronic check works just like a regular check. Your bank account information is securely transmitted through the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, a withdrawal is generated against your account, and money is transferred to the County's bank account.

There is a $3.00 fee for this service.

You may draw an Echeck on a savings account, or on a Money Market account, as long as the account has an ABA routing number and account number that can be used for an Echeck. You should contact your financial institution to confirm this option.

This Echeck transaction is for a one time authorization only. If you wish to make another payment you will repeat the same process.

Echeck can be returned (bounced) by the bank for a number of reasons:

1. Insufficient Funds from your checking, savings or money market accounts
2. Wrong ABA routing number
3. Wrong Bank account number
4. Stop Payment

Alameda County charges $25.00 returned check fee for the first returned (bounced) Echeck and $35.00 for each subsequent returned (bounced) Echeck. Your financial institution may charge additional fees.