Cashing a Government of Canada cheque
Learn how to cash a Government of Canada cheque. Know when a bank may refuse to cash your cheque.
Learn how to file a complaint, cash an old cheque and avoid cheque-cashing fees.
Cashing a Government of Canada cheque at a bank
You have the right to cash your Government of Canada cheque for free at:
- a bank, including federal credit unions
- an authorized foreign bank
You can do this at any bank branch in Canada that has tellers and offers cash services. You can cash the cheque even if you’re not a customer of that bank.
Tip
To avoid delays in accessing your money, sign up for direct deposit.
Direct deposits are fast, convenient and secure. If you receive federal payments by cheque, consider registering today. It allows you to get your payments on time, even in an emergency.
Learn more about the Government of Canada direct deposit.
Learn more about cashing a cheque and your rights.
Showing identification the bank can accept
The bank must confirm your identity before it cashes your cheque.
You can meet the identification (ID) requirements in one of these three ways. You must show original ID, not photocopies.
1. Identification with two reliable documents
You must provide:
- one document with your name and address, and
- one document with your name and date of birth
The two documents must come from this list:
- identification issued by the Government of Canada or a provincial government
- a recent notice of tax assessment from the Government of Canada or a provincial or municipal government
- a recent statement of benefits from the Government of Canada or a provincial government
- a recent Canadian public utility bill
- a recent bank account statement or credit card statement
- a foreign passport
2. Identification with one government-issued photo ID
You must provide one piece of ID issued by the Government of Canada or a provincial government. It must include:
- your signature
- your photograph
3. Identification with one document
You must provide a document from a reliable source that shows your name and date of birth.
You can use this option only if one of these people also confirms your identity:
- a customer in good standing with the bank, or
- someone in good standing in the community where you’re cashing the cheque
Knowing when a bank may refuse to cash your cheque
By law, a bank can refuse to cash a Government of Canada cheque if:
- there’s evidence that someone altered the cheque or it’s counterfeit
- the cheque is for more than $1,750
- it has reasonable grounds to believe there was illegal or fraudulent activity related to the cheque
Information provided if the bank refuses to cash your cheque
If the bank refuses to cash your cheque, they must give you a written statement.
They must also give you:
- information about their complaint-handling process
- the contact information for the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI)
- the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) mailing address, website address and telephone number
You can file a complaint with your bank if they refuse to cash your cheque and you’re dissatisfied with your bank’s decision.
Learn how to file a complaint with your financial institution.
Cashing an old Government of Canada cheque
You can cash a Government of Canada cheque no matter how old the cheque is. Government of Canada cheques don’t have an expiry date.
An older cheque may take longer to cash because a financial institution may first want to verify that the cheque is legitimate.
Reissue of an older cheque by mail
If you have trouble cashing your cheque, send it to the Cheque Redemption and Control Directorate. Ask to have it reissued with a current date.
Cheque Redemption and Control Directorate
Returned Cheques
P.O. Box 2000
Matane, QC
G4W 4N5
Cashing your cheque at a payday lender or cheque-cashing service
Payday loan companies and other cheque-cashing services charge a fee to cash a Government of Canada cheque.
The fee is usually a percentage of the amount you’re cashing plus a flat fee.
Example of how fees affect the amount you receive
Suppose you have a Government of Canada cheque worth $1,000.
Cashing the cheque would cost about $33 if the cheque-cashing company charges:
- 2.99% of the value of the cheque, plus
- $2.99 for each item you cash
After fees, you would get about $967 instead of the full $1,000.
Tip
Before using a payday loan company or other cheque-cashing service, make sure you understand all the conditions, including the fees you’ll need to pay.