Frequently Asked Questions

What's in the box, and what is it for?

One MICR toner cartridge in the CF281A fit — the HP 81A — intended for printing checks on the Enterprise M605dn, at $137.86. Its toner is magnetically formulated so the routing line on each check can be read by the scanners banks use to process payments.

Our M605dn is shared across the department — can it still print checks?

Yes, with a little choreography. The cartridge swaps like any 81A, so the pattern is: load check stock, fit this MICR cartridge, run the payments, then return the machine to general duty. The Enterprise M605dn itself needs no settings changed for the cartridge to do its part.

Will the bank accept checks printed with it?

That's decided by more than the cartridge — the bank's readers, your check stock and your software's layout of the MICR line all count, so a guarantee isn't ours to give. The working method is a small test batch first, scanned or reviewed by your bank, and live runs only after their confirmation.

Why does the MICR line need magnetic toner specifically?

Because that's how the reading works. The characters are sensed magnetically as the check moves through processing equipment; toner without a magnetic component prints characters the machines simply cannot pick up. It is the entire reason MICR cartridges exist as a separate product from the standard CF281A.

How long will one cartridge serve our payment schedule?

It carries a 10,500-page rating. A page of check stock holds one check and a stub — light coverage — so a department printing weekly runs should see one cartridge last through many cycles. Track the first one's run count and reordering becomes simple arithmetic.

What cover ships with it?

Our 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns, delivery from our Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia or California warehouses, and support Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM CST. Delivery terms are detailed on our shipping & returns page, and the wider range is organised under HP.

About This M605dn MICR Cartridge

A shared departmental printer pulls double duty in most offices, and there's no reason checks should be the exception. This CF281A MICR cartridge — 10,500 pages of rating, $137.86 — slots into the M605dn's normal routine: swap in for the payment run, swap out after, and keep the bank test as the standing first step whenever the setup changes.