Legally, banks are only required to honor checks for six months. Beyond that, it is up to the bank's discretion, which may include contacting the account holder for approval. The bank also can simply bounce the check without even trying to reach out, which means the depositor may get hit with a "deposit item returned" fee that can be up to $30 or more.
Key Takeaways
By law, banks are only required to honor checks for up to six months.
Consider contacting the issuer before attempting to cash a stale check.
U.S. Treasury checks are good for up to one year.
Traveler’s checks and domestic U.S. Postal Service money orders don't expire.
It's all too easy to misplace a check. But figuring out what to do if a check resurfaces may seem confusing, especially if they resurface months, or even years, later—perhaps well after their expiration date.
A personal check that's several months old may have been forgotten by the issuer. Practically all checking accounts have zero interest, meaning most people only keep just enough in the account to pay the bills. As a result, when the forgotten check resurfaces without warning, there may not be enough funds in the account to cover it.
This is why it is always best to contact the issuer before attempting to cash a stale or outstanding check. Making the call may be awkward, but accidentally slapping your grandma with a hefty overdraft fee is worse.Ask for a new check if the old one is pastthe six-month mark.
Personal Checks vs. Company-Printed Checks
Do personal checks expire more quickly than company-printed checks? Actually, there is no technical difference between these two types of checks, but the risk of triggering fees is slightly higher with personal checks, as companies are less likely to carry bare-bonesbalances.
Some checks come printed with text stating that a check becomes void after 90 days. This can be safely disregarded as an attempt to remind people not to hold a check for too long. The six-month rule applies regardless of what is printed on the check.
Examples of Expiration of Checks by Type
Checks issued by the U.S. Treasury are good for one year. Make sure to cash your federal tax refund check no later than a year from the date it was issued. You can request a new check from state and federal agencies.
If you lose your state tax refund or a local government check, you'll have to contact the agency that sent it to you. State and local governments may have their own expiration dates.
Note
A money-order issuer may charge fees on the order if enough time passes. Check with your issuer for guidelines.
As mentioned, personal checks are usually valid for up to six months after the date they were issued, but you shouldn’t count on the bank to pay attention to the dates.
Traveler’s checks and domestic U.S. Postal Service money orders don't expire.
What Happens If a Check Is Never Cashed?
Checks that remain outstanding for long periods of time can't be cashed, as they become void. Outstanding checks that remain so for a long period of time are known as "stale" checks. Some checks become stale if dated after 60 or 90 days, while all become void after six months.
Can You Cash a Two-Year-Old Check?
You probably cannot cash a check that's two years old. Banks don't have to accept checks that are more than six months old. Banks are still allowed to process an older check, if the institution believes the funds are good.
What Can I Do With an Old, Uncashed Check?
It's always best to contact the issuer before trying to cash a stale or outstanding check. Such a call may be awkward, but it's better than imposing an overdraft fee on the person or business that wrote it.Ask for a new check if the old one is past six months old.
The Bottom Line
Even if banks are only legally required to honor checks for a six-month period, it is usually a good idea to avoid any potential problems by depositing checks when you receive them. And if you fear that a check you have written has been lost or stolen, you should move promptly to cancel the check with your bank.
How Long Are Personal Checks Legally Valid? Typically, personal checks are good for six months (or 180 days) from when they're dated. After that, they're considered "stale." Legally, banks and credit unions are not obligated to accept stale checks.
Blank checks, or unused checks, that are truly blank — no names, amounts or dates filled in — generally don't expire, provided that the associated account is still active.
Can You Cash a Two-Year-Old Check? You probably cannot cash a check that's two years old. Banks don't have to accept checks that are more than six months old. Banks are still allowed to process an older check, if the institution believes the funds are good.
Keep canceled checks for one year unless you need them for tax purposes. Refer to them when you reconcile your accounts each month so you know what has cleared. If your bank does not return your canceled checks, you can request a copy for up to five years.
Banks don't have to accept checks that are more than six months (180 days) old. That's according to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), a set of laws governing commercial exchanges, including checks.
The law states that it doesn't matter if the check you had in your possession was real or fake, completing it with fraudulent intentions is illegal. Under the counterfeit items law, if you received a blank check from someone else and entered a dollar amount without their permission, that's referred to as forgery.
How long is a check good for if not cashed? Most banks will honor a check for up to six months or 180 days after it was written. Exceptions include several types of government-issued checks, like tax refunds and U.S. Treasury checks, which are good for up to a year.
While you will have a tough time cashing a check that has been sitting around for several years, it is still possible. Even after the expiry date determined by state law, banks can choose to cash checks, but it may take some time and effort.
If you deposit an expired check, several different scenarios can unfold. The first is that your bank and the issuing bank honor the check. Your bank might reject the check and you'll need to ask for a replacement, or your bank might accept the check and the issuing bank might reject it.
What Are Some Reasons a Bank Won't Cash a Check? Some reasons why a bank won't cash a check include not having a proper ID, not having an account with that bank, the check is filled out incorrectly, or the check being too old.
Writing a bad check is a crime if the check writer knew that there were insufficient funds to cover the check and intended to defraud you. It is also a crime to forge a check or write a fake check.
Additionally, checks can be lost or stolen, leading to delays or potential fraud. Another disadvantage of paper checks is the security risks. Personal and bank account information is printed on the check, making it easier for fraudsters to access sensitive information.
Keep records for 3 years from the date you filed your original return or 2 years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later, if you file a claim for credit or refund after you file your return. Keep records for 7 years if you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, all documents with sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and bank account information, should be shredded to protect your identity from theft. Old bank statements and many other types of documents fall under this category.
Most financial experts say you should keep your bank statements in either digital or hard copy for at least one year. Once they've been in the filing cabinet (or your computer hard drive) for one year, you can finally shred the paper or press the delete button.
Once the payee deposits the check, it is reconciled against the payor's records. Checks that remain outstanding for long periods of time cannot be cashed as they become void. Some checks become stale if dated after 60 or 90 days, while others become void after six months.
A signed check immediately becomes legal tender that a bank can deposit or cash before the indicated date on the check. Therefore, a bank will be able to accept a check if it is dated and signed. Ask your bank or credit union for their specific policy for postdated checks in their account disclosures.
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