Checks are not made to be held onto for too long. Many banks place limits on how long they’ll accept checks for after being signed, though that amount of time varies depending on several factors, including the bank’s policies and the type of check.
How long is a check good for?
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.
After those six months — or longer, depending on the specific bank’s policy — the check is considered stale, making it no longer valid.
Banks are still allowed to process a stale check as long as the institution deems the funds are good. A Federal Reserve regulation says a bank doesn’t have to deposit a check if it has reason to doubt that it’ll be able to collect the money from the paying bank.
The rules are a bit different for certified checks, U.S. Treasury checks and money orders.
How long are different types of checks good for?
Different types of checks are valid for different amounts of time.
- Certified checks: The UCC guidelines that allow banks to deny checks after six months don’t apply to certified checks. But a certified check that sits for too long may be subject to state abandoned property laws.
- Government-issued checks: Checks issued by the U.S. Treasury (such as federal tax refund checks) are void one year after the issue date. The Internal Revenue Service needs to reissue the check if it has been sitting around for longer than a year.
- Money orders: Money orders don’t go stale, but cashing one late might cost you. The company that issued the money order could charge a nonrefundable fee that’s taken from the total amount if you don’t cash the money order within one to three years.
What to do if you have a dated check
Though you want to avoid letting a check go out of date, there are some important considerations for a check that has become outdated.
Watch out for ‘deposit item returned’ fee
If you try cashing old checks that bounce, the bank may charge a “deposit item returned” fee. The fee varies from bank to bank.
Santander Bank, for example, charges $15 a check, while atBank of America, the fee is $12. The fee might even be higher for international checks. Plus, the person who wrote the bounced check might be charged a nonsufficient funds fee of up to $35.
If the stale check is a nominal amount that doesn’t surpass the returned-check fee, and you’re unable to contact the check writer for a new check or to make sure their account is still active, your best bet may be to forfeit the check and chalk it up to a learning experience.
You may be able to cash voided checks
The writer of your stale check may have specified “void after 90 days” or something similar on the check when it was issued to you, but it doesn’t necessarily mean your bank won’t cash the check after that period.
A court decision in the case of Aliaga Medical Center S.C. v. Harris Bank N.A. ruled that banks can retrieve funds after the issuer’s requested void period unless that person specifically instructed the bank not to honor the check after that time frame.
Before cashing a check after the requested time frame, consider the reason for the payer’s request. It might be the case that they’re living on fixed income and won’t have the funds available after the specified time frame. You may end up getting charged a deposit item return fee if that’s the case.
Give the check writer a heads-up
Someone who wrote a personal check is probably not prepared for the hit their checking account balance will take if you cash it months later.
Be considerate — call or text the payer to let them know your intent. Make sure to also double-check that they haven’t switched financial institutions or opened a new account.
If the check is older than your financial institution’s time frame for cashing checks, it may be easier to ask the payer to write a new check. Asking for an up-to-date check can save you time at the teller’s desk and help you avoid paying bank fees.
Bottom line
Cashing a check promptly ensures that you can access the funds without issues, such as the check bouncing or having it go stale. If you ever come across an old check, the best option might be to contact the issuing bank or the check’s issuer to determine its current status.
It’s also a good idea to monitor your account and keep an eye out for outstanding checks that you’ve written. That way, you’re not only aware of your financial standing, but also shielding yourself from issuing a check when there aren’t sufficient funds to cover it.
–Staff writer René Bennett contributed to this article.
FAQs
In the US, most checks may be negotiated either by encashment or by depositing the item, for six months after they are written. Once they reach six months, they become stale dated and are no longer considered negotiable. This dovetails nicely with the rules governing stop payments, which are good for six months, also.
What is the time limit for cashing old checks? ›
Personal, business, and payroll checks are good for 6 months (180 days). Some businesses have “void after 90 days” pre-printed on their checks. Most banks will honor those checks for up to 180 days and the pre-printed language is meant to encourage people to deposit or cash a check sooner than later.
How long are old checks good for? ›
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. However, some banks do accept checks older than six months.
Can a check be cashed after 5 years? ›
Personal and business checks typically expire after six months. A government-issued check will likely have a “Void by” date of a year or less. If you want to cash a two-year-old check, you'll have to contact the party that issued it and ask for a replacement.
What happens if I deposit an expired check? ›
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.
Can I cash a check that is 3 years old? ›
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.
Can you cash a check from 7 years ago? ›
There isn't a law against cashing old checks as long as there wasn't a request to stop the payment, but it's up to each financial institution whether or not it wants to cash the check. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "The Bank/Credit Union Refused to Cash a Check Because It Was More Than Six Months Old.
Can I cash a check from 2 years ago? ›
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.
Can uncashed checks expire? ›
The United States Department of Treasury automatically voids all uncashed checks after one year from the date of issue and returns the funds to the issuing agency. Stale-dated and uncashed checks can only be re-issued within 6 years from the original date of issue, per the Barring Act 31 U.S.C. 3702(b).
What happens if a check is never cashed? ›
Uncashed checks can become a problem if they are not addressed in a timely manner. The check issuer may eventually consider the check as stale-dated and no longer valid, or the funds may be turned over to the state as unclaimed property.
Check books, or cheque books, for our English cousins, don't by their own nature have an expiration date. They expire if the account numbers change, or if a bank has been purchased and the routing numbers change. Other than that, they are only stale if there's not enough money to cover the check written.
Does the date on a check matter? ›
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.
What is a stale check? ›
What is a Stale check? Checks which are at least 180 days old (6 months) are considered stale. Tellers in banks will sometimes reject a check if the date is over that limit. This does not prevent a check from clearing the bank when deposited through other means than a teller.
How to check if a check is still valid? ›
Complete an ABA routing number lookup.
Developed by the American Bankers Association in 1910, the ABA routing number identifies the financial institution responsible for the payment. To make sure a check is valid, use a routing number lookup system for verification.
Can I deposit a year old cheque? ›
Cheques are considered stale-dated after six months, unless it is a certified cheque. A stale-dated cheque means that the item is old, and not necessarily invalid. Financial institutions may still honour these items, but there is no obligation to do so.
Can you mobile deposit old checks? ›
There are some exceptions, so check out our Terms & Conditions for a complete list. A few examples of deposits we don't accept include: Checks made payable to anyone other than yourself and any joint account holders. Checks that are more than six months old, postdated, or not dated.
Can you cash 2 year old checks? ›
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.
Can I cash a 2 year old cheque? ›
Although there's no clear expiry date across the board, most banks will accept personal cheque deposits within a timeframe of six months.
How do I cash a check older than 90 days? ›
Keep in mind that some personal checks may include the phrase “void after 90 days”. If you present them after the 90-day window but before 180 days have passed, many financial institutions will still allow you to cash or deposit the check.
