What document provides authorization for an automatic payment to be deducted from your bank account?

A direct debit is a financial arrangement where an individual authorizes a company or organization to withdraw a predetermined amount of money from their bank account at regular intervals. This mechanism is particularly useful for recurring payments such as utility bills, loan repayments, and subscription services. The authorization provided by the individual ensures that the entity has permission to access the bank account for these transactions.

In contrast, a standing order is an instruction to a bank from an account holder to pay a fixed amount at regular intervals to another bank account, but it requires the account holder to initiate the payment. A cheque is a written order directing a bank to pay a specific amount from the issuer's account to the payee, and while invoices request payment, they do not authorize automatic deductions. Therefore, the direct debit is the correct choice for authorizing automatic payments from a bank account.