SKU:

HEWC4096A-MCR

Printer Brand:

Hewlett Packard

OEM Number:

C4096A

Ink Color:

Black

Page Yield:

5,000 Pages

Printer Type:

Laser Cartridge

Condition:

New Compatible

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this the MICR version of the 96A?

The toner inside is the difference. This C4096A cartridge is filled with MICR toner — magnetic toner formulated so that the numbers printed along the bottom of a check can be read by bank sorting equipment. The cartridge itself is the standard 96A fit for a LaserJet 2100 or 2200 series printer; only the toner is specialised, and this single MICR cartridge is $79.05.

Can I print ordinary documents with it as well?

Yes. MICR toner prints normal black text and graphics just like standard toner, so letters, invoices and reports come out fine. Most offices simply dedicate the printer to check runs while this cartridge is fitted, so plain toner and check stock never get mixed up.

How many checks or pages will one cartridge produce?

It carries the same rating as the standard C4096A: about 5,000 pages at typical coverage. A check uses very little toner — a payee line, an amount and the magnetic line along the bottom — so a payroll or accounts-payable run gets through a great many checks before the cartridge runs low.

Will my bank accept checks printed with this cartridge?

We cannot guarantee that, and no toner seller honestly can — acceptance depends on your bank, your check stock and your printer's print quality as much as on the toner. What we recommend is simple: before a full run, print a small test batch of checks and ask your bank to confirm they read correctly. That one check, done once, protects every run after it.

How should I store a spare MICR cartridge?

Keep it sealed in its bag, flat, in a cool dry cupboard away from sunlight and magnets. Leave the seal in place until fitting day, and when you do fit it, pull the tape, rock the cartridge gently side to side, and print a test check before starting the real run.

What support and returns cover comes with it?

Orders ship from the nearest of our Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia and California warehouses, and our HP support team is available Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM CST. This cartridge carries a 1-year warranty and 1-year free returns; the full process is set out on our shipping & returns page.

How do we stop this MICR cartridge being confused with a standard C4096A?

Label it, and label the printer. The MICR and standard versions share the same 96A fit, so they swap into the same LaserJet 2100 or 2200 without resistance — the only difference is the toner inside, which no one can see. Mark the MICR cartridge's box clearly, keep it in its own spot in the cupboard, and if one printer is your check printer, a note on that machine saves the classic error: a payroll run printed in plain toner that the bank cannot read.

After a check run, can we swap back to a standard cartridge in the same printer?

Yes — the slot does not care which version is fitted, and many offices run ordinary documents on a standard cartridge and checks on the MICR. When you take the MICR cartridge out part-used, put it straight back in its bag and box, mark it as MICR, and store it flat away from magnets, as you would a new one. When it goes back in for the next run, pull no tape — it is already open — just rock it gently and print a test check first.

Does an all-checks workload use this cartridge at the same rate as office letters?

No — checks sip toner. A check carries a payee line, an amount, a signature and the magnetic line, which is very light coverage compared with a full page of text. So the 5,000-page rating, measured at standard coverage, understates how many checks one C4096A MICR cartridge can produce. Mixed use lands in between: the honest way to judge your interval is to note the install date and count your check runs against it.

If we change check stock or move this cartridge to our other 2200, should we test again?

Yes. Bank readability depends on the combination of toner, check stock and the individual printer, so changing any one of the three reopens the question. Print the same small test batch on the new setup and have your bank confirm the checks read correctly before the real run. It is the same one-time check recommended for a first cartridge, repeated whenever the combination changes — a few minutes that protects every check printed afterwards.

About This C4096A MICR Cartridge

Printing your own checks on a LaserJet 2100 or 2200 only works if the magnetic line at the bottom of each check stays readable, and that is the whole job of this cartridge. It is a C4096A — the HP 96A fit — loaded with MICR toner and rated at 5,000 pages, priced at $79.05 for a single cartridge. Fit it, run a small test batch, have your bank confirm the checks read cleanly, and your payroll and supplier payments can come straight off a printer you already own.