Checks are meant to be deposited or cashed promptly. Most banks impose limits on how long they will accept checks after they have been signed. The timeframe for acceptance can vary based on the bank’s policies and the type of check.

How long is a check good for?

Banks are not obligated to accept checks that are more than six months (180 days) old, as stipulated by the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), which governs commercial transactions including checks.

Once a check reaches this six-month mark—or longer, depending on the bank’s specific policy—it is considered stale and generally invalid.

However, banks can still process a stale check if they believe the funds are available. According to Federal Reserve regulations, a bank is not required to deposit a check if it has doubts about its ability to collect the funds from the paying bank.

Different rules apply to certified checks, U.S. Treasury checks, and money orders.

How long are different types of checks good for?

Different types of checks have varying validity periods:

  • Certified Checks: The six-month rule set by the UCC does not apply to certified checks. However, a certified check that remains uncashed for an extended period may fall under state abandoned property laws.
  • Government-Issued Checks: U.S. Treasury checks, including federal tax refund checks, are void one year after the issue date. If the check is not cashed within that year, the Internal Revenue Service will need to reissue it.
  • Money Orders: Money orders do not become stale, but cashing one late could incur additional costs. The issuing company may charge a nonrefundable fee deducted from the total amount if the money order is not cashed within one to three years.

What to do if you have a dated check

While it’s best to avoid letting a check expire, there are important factors to consider if a check has become outdated.

Watch out for ‘deposit item returned’ fee

If you attempt to cash an old check that bounces, the bank may impose a “deposit item returned” fee, which varies by institution. For example, Santander Bank charges $0 per check, while Bank of America’s fee is $12. The fee may be higher for international checks. Additionally, the individual who wrote the bounced check might incur a nonsufficient funds fee.

If the amount on the stale check is low and doesn’t exceed the returned-check fee, and you can’t reach the check writer to issue a new check or confirm their account status, it might be best to consider the check a loss and use the experience as a lesson.

You may be able to cash voided checks

Even if the writer of your stale check noted “void after 90 days” or a similar statement, it doesn’t guarantee that your bank will refuse to cash it beyond that period.

A court ruling in the case of Aliaga Medical Center S.C. v. Harris Bank N.A. established that banks can still process checks after the issuer’s requested void period unless the issuer explicitly instructed the bank not to honor the check after that time.

Before attempting to cash a check past the specified period, consider why the issuer made that request. They might be on a fixed income and unable to cover the amount after the time has passed, which could result in a deposit item return fee for you.

Give the check writer a heads-up

A person who issued a personal check may not be prepared for the impact on their account if you cash it months later.

To be considerate, contact the payer to inform them of your intention to cash the check. Verify that they haven’t changed banks or opened a new account since issuing the check.

If the check is older than your bank’s allowable period for cashing, it’s often simpler to ask the payer for a new check. Requesting an updated check can save you time at the bank and help you avoid potential fees.

In Conclusion

Cashing a check promptly ensures you access the funds without complications like bounced checks or expiration. If you find an old check, your best course of action is to contact the issuing bank or the check’s issuer to check its current status.

Additionally, regularly monitor your account and keep track of outstanding checks you’ve written. This helps you stay aware of your financial situation and prevents you from issuing a check without sufficient funds to cover it.