Information used to prepare the payroll check is taken from the ___________.

The payroll register is the source of information used to prepare payroll checks because it contains a comprehensive summary of all employees' earnings and deductions for each pay period. This document consolidates various data points, including hours worked, gross pay, deductions for tax withholdings, and other relevant adjustments. All of this information is essential for calculating the final amount that needs to be disbursed in payroll checks.

While the employee earnings record, time clock, and expense report provide useful information, they serve different purposes in the payroll process. The employee earnings record tracks individual employee earnings over time but doesn't summarize everything needed for the current payroll period. The time clock is primarily used to record the hours worked but lacks the complete payroll calculations, and expense reports generally relate to business expenditures, not payroll calculations. Thus, the payroll register stands out as the key document for generating accurate payroll checks.