How Long A Check Is Valid?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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.

What happens if you deposit an expired check?

Your bank may let you deposit the check, regardless of the issue date, but the issuing bank could still reject it. If this happens,

the funds might be withdrawn from your account and you might have to pay a fee

.

How long are checks valid once written?

Personal checks are typically valid for

six months

after the date written on the check. But banks might not notice the date, or they might choose to process stale-dated checks for customers.

How late is too late to cash a check?

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.

Can I deposit a 3 year old check?


Banks don’t have to accept checks that are more than 6 months (180 days) old

. That’s according to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), a set of laws governing commercial exchanges, including checks. However, banks can still choose to accept your check.

What happens if a check is never cashed?

What are outstanding checks? Outstanding checks are checks that have not been deposited or cashed by the recipient. Because the recipient has not cashed the check,

the payor still has the money in their account

. The payor still owes the payee money, making the payment a liability.

How can I cash an expired check?

Honoring the check expiry date is up to the bank’s discretion: If you find an old check, the best thing to do is

contact the bank

. The bank has the ultimate say in whether or not it will still honor the check and allow you to cash it.

How long can a bank hold a check by law?

The Federal Reserve requires that a bank hold most checks before crediting the customer’s account for no longer than a “reasonable period of time,” which is regarded as

two business days for a same-bank check and up to six business days for one drawn on a different bank

.

Do unwritten personal checks expire?

Do unwritten checks expire?

No, as long as the account and routing number on a check remain associated with a valid checking account, unwritten checks will not expire

. The only time it becomes possible for a check to expire, is when it is filled out with an issue date.

Do check books expire?


As long as you don’t write anything on the check, the checkbook is still good to use for years

. If you find a check that has some writing on it, like a date, an amount, and a signature, this is going to have an expiration. Most banks will not honor a check like this if it is more than six months old.

Does the date on a check matter?

The date section should include a future date that you would prefer the check be deposited or cashed on.

The date on the check serves as a “timer” that indicates when the check can be deposited or cashed

.

Can checks be reissued?


Checks that have been lost or stolen or that have not been cashed within 120 days of issue may be reissued

.

Can an expired check be reissued?

Treasury checks expire one year after the date of issue. Banks will not accept the expired check for cashing or deposit. Although the U.S. Treasury issues the checks,

you must apply to the authorizing agency to reissue the expired check

The IRS authorizes the Treasury to send a replacement check.

How do I know if a check is good?

To verify a check, you need to

contact the bank that the money is coming from

. Find the bank name on the front of the check. Search for the bank online and visit the bank’s official site to get a phone number for customer service. Don’t use the phone number printed on the check.

Can a bank hold your check for 10 days?


Some banks may hold checks that total $1,500 or higher for as many as 10 days

. The number of days the bank holds these checks depends on your relationship with the institution.

How long does it take a bank check to clear?

Clearing checks takes approximately

two to five business days

, meaning it takes two to five business days for the bank to receive the money. The length of your check’s hold depends on the check’s amount, the account holder’s available balance, and even your relationship with your bank.

Are check deposits reported to IRS?

Cash or Check Deposits of $10,000 or More: It doesn’t matter if you’re depositing cash or cashing a check.

If you make a deposit of $10,000 or more in a single transaction, your bank must report the transaction to the IRS

.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.