How long are checks generally good for?
Personal checks are typically good for 6 months (180 days), but business checks, government checks, U.S. Treasury checks, cashier’s checks, money orders, and traveler’s checks are different. Read on if you need information about a specific type of check.
The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) is a collection of laws and regulations meant to harmonize the laws of sales and regulations across the U.S. The UCC tells banks that they are under no obligation to accept personal or business checks that are older than 180 days (6 months). So, generally speaking, personal and business checks are good for 6 months; however, some banks will accept older checks.
If you found an old check made out to you, you should check with your bank and verify their policy. If you wrote a check that hasn’t been cashed, you may consider putting a stop payment on the old check. After that, you should contact the recipient of the check to see if they want a fresh check to replace the old one.
How long are different types of checks good for?
Different types of checks have different expiration days. The 6-month rule is a general rule, but that doesn’t apply to all types of checks and money orders.
How long are personal checks good for?
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.
If you’ve been given a check, it’s best to cash or deposit it as soon as feasible. If you hold onto a check for a while you run the risk of the account number or routing number changing or the check writer may have forgotten about the check and spent the money on something else. This may cause you to have to pay returned check fees.
How long are U.S. Treasury checks good for?
By law, U.S. Treasury checks are good for one year after the date on the check. This means that federal tax refund checks are good for one year as those are issued by the U.S. Treasury. After that time, you’re still entitled to money the government owes you, but you’ll need to contact the issuer of the check and request a new check.
How long are state/Local government checks good for?
Checks from the state or local government agencies will expire according to state law. So, how long a state tax refund check is good for will vary from state to state, but generally it’s 6 months to a year. If you have an expired state tax refund check, you should contact the state and request a new check. Just like with the federal checks, you’re still entitled to what the government owes you.
When you receive a check from a governmental agency, read the check and look for anything that tells you when it expires. The best bet is to deposit or cash the check before the expiration date.
