Many banks will honor a check after six months unless they have reason to be suspicious of the transaction. Each bank will handle cashing an expired check according to its own policies. Be aware that the issuing bank is not under obligation to cash a check for a noncustomer, regardless of expiration. Many checks, especially payroll checks, contain fine print that voids the check after a certain period, such as 90 or 180 days. Other types of checks will have specific expiration timelines. U.S. Treasury checks are good for one year after the date indicated on the check.
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- State and local government checks generally expire six months from the issue date, but this can vary by state and specific government agency.
- Travelers’ checks often don’t include expiration dates as long as the issuer of the travelers’ check is still in business.
- If you’ve found a “forgotten” cashier’s check, look for this disclaimer.
- They are guaranteed funds, making them reliable for long-term transactions.
- Personal, business, and payroll checks are good for 6 months (180 days).
Checks have a limited lifespan to avoid these types of financial issues. The listings that appear are from companies from which this website may receive compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Not all companies, products or offers were reviewed in connection with this listing. A dated check is different from a postdated check, which is a check with a future date specified on it.
Traveler’s Checks
Most businesses and individuals are willing to reissue a check once they verify that it was never cashed. These are seven types of checks and how long they typically take to expire. And while you (or your bank) could legally have a stale-dated check returned and not honor the funds, doing so can be a time-consuming and challenging process. If a stop-payment status is issued, the check is no longer cashable, regardless of the date. Thus, cashing checks sooner than later is the safer financial move.
- Traveler’s checks never expire as long as the issuing bank is still in operation.
- Determining if a check is still valid can be as simple as looking at the expiration date.
- For that reason, you’ll want to read the fine print on any check you receive to look for evidence of an expiration date.
- If the account has been closed or if there are insufficient funds to cover the check amount, it will be considered invalid, regardless of the expiration date.
A U.S. Treasury check, such as a tax refund or a Social Security benefit, must be cashed within one year of its issue date. Since only two months have passed since you received Aunt Lisa’s gift, a financial institution will still honor the check. This won’t always be the case, however, so let’s go over the cases where checks can expire and what to do if you’ve missed out on cashing a check in time.
Chase for Business
While not in circulation or in use as they once were, traveler’s checks, or checks used instead of local currency when traveling abroad, don’t have an expiration date. If a traveler’s check turns up, as long as the issuing bank or credit card network is still in existence, you can use it. As noted above, banks are legally obligated to honor a personal check for up to six months. If you find an expired check, you may want to contact whoever issued it before attempting to cash it. Typically, banks print the words “void after X days” on cashier’s checks that can go stale. If you’ve found a “forgotten” cashier’s check, look for this disclaimer.
Policies of Different Banks Regarding Expired Checks
The banks, lenders, and credit card companies are not responsible for any content posted on this site and do not endorse or guarantee any reviews. The check writer may switch banks, thus changing their account or routing number as well. There’s also the chance the account no longer has enough funds to cover the check’s amount. Try to cash your check as soon as possible to avoid headaches later on.
While personal checks are subject to expiration dates, that’s not the case with other types of checks. Other types of checks, such as cashier’s checks or tax refund checks, do not expire as quickly as personal checks. American Express advises customers with old traveler’s checks, which do not expire, to simply use them as they would normally. Most checks are valid for up to six months, but expiration can vary by type and issuer. Personal and business checks typically expire after six months, while U.S.
When Does a Check Expire?
Like many kinds of checks, they’re generally valid for 6 months. Other types of checks, like certified checks or government-issued tax-refund checks, may have a longer expiration or none at all. A certified check is a check verified – or certified – by a bank ensuring that the stated funds are available how long is a check good for in the account to cover the check. Though certified checks typically don’t expire, they are often subject to state unclaimed property laws. Typically, personal checks are good for six months (or 180 days) from when they’re dated.
If you want a basic checking account with no monthly maintenance fee, or an interest-earning checking account, we’ve got the options that are right for you. 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.
Waiting to cash a check also increases the chances of insufficient funds being available to cover the check. Review your bank statements regularly to see which checks have cleared and which are still pending. If a check hasn’t been cashed after a month or two, follow up with the recipient to confirm they received it.
Business checks, such as checks sent to vendors and payroll checks issued to employees, are usually good for six months. And while the phrase “void after 90 days” might appear on some business checks, most banks and credit unions will still honor business checks that have aged past that mark. The minute you receive a check, it’s a good idea to cash or deposit it immediately. That way, you can avoid having to worry about an expired check or asking the check’s issuer to write a new check. Once you’ve cashed or deposited the check, it’s out of sight and out of mind. Treasury checks are good for one year after the date on the check.
