Jun 9, 2026
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The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is sitting on a pile of money — and it has been for years.
According to the CRA, more than 10.7 million uncashed cheques worth over $1.87 billion were sitting waiting to be collected — with some of these payments dating all the way back to 1998.
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As of April 2026, the average uncashed cheque is now worth $175 — up from $158.
The good news is that government-issued cheques don't expire, but the CRA cannot void or reissue these cheques without a request from you, the taxpayer. So, if you've ever moved, missed a notice or simply forgot to cash a refund, an unclaimed cheque could be yours.
Why do so many cheques go uncashed?
Common reasons for uncashed government cheques are typically mundane: You move, change your name or misplace an envelope. Benefit payments and tax refunds sent by mail are especially vulnerable if the CRA doesn't have your current address on file.
The CRA began proactively notifying Canadians about unclaimed payments in 2020, when it launched its My Account portal feature. Since then, about two million uncashed cheques valued at $802 million were collected and cashed by Canadians. But many uncashed cheques continue to sit in government coffers. While the CRA sends email notifications to tens of thousands of taxpayers encouraging them to log in and check their CRA My Account, the fact is, you don’t have to wait for a reminder. Here’s how to find out if the government owes you money.
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Does the government owe you money? Check in 2 minutes
If you're registered for the CRA My Account portal, checking for uncashed cheques takes less than two minutes:
- Log in at My Account on canada.ca
- Navigate to the "Related services" section
- Click "Uncashed cheques"
- If a cheque is listed, complete the duplicate payment request form online — or mail it to the Sudbury Tax Centre
Not registered for CRA My Account? You can call the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 to ask about uncashed payments. If you use a tax representative, they can also check on your behalf through the CRA's Represent a Client service.
What happens after you claim
If you're already signed up for direct deposit through the CRA, your reissued payment will arrive directly in your bank account. If not, a replacement cheque will be mailed to the address on file — which makes keeping your address current on your CRA account critical.
Keep in mind that uncashed cheques don't earn interest and won't increase with inflation. So, a cheque from 2005 is worth the same nominal amount today as it was then. The key, now, is to cash it sooner rather than later.
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There's also an important offset rule. If you currently owe money to the CRA — for example, from unpaid taxes in a previous year — the agency will automatically apply your uncashed cheque to that outstanding balance rather than paying it out to you directly.
What to do with the money once you have it
A windfall of $158, or more, is a good prompt to tidy up your finances. Consider using the cash to:
Pay high-interest debt
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Bolster the emergency fund
If you don't have three to six months of expenses set aside, a savings account with a high interest rate is the right place for found money.
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TFSA or RRSP contribution
If debt and emergency savings are covered, sheltering the funds in a registered account means the money grows without triggering tax.
The amount may feel small, but it's money you've already earned — money that belongs to you.
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How Canadians can claim their money from the CRA
- Log in to CRA My Account and navigate to 'Uncashed cheques' under Related services
- If a cheque is listed, submit the duplicate payment request form online or by mail to the Sudbury Tax Centre
- Sign up for CRA direct deposit so future payments don't get lost in the mail
- Update your address and contact information with the CRA — especially if you've moved recently
- If you can't access My Account, call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 or ask your tax representative to check on your behalf
- Once funds arrive, prioritize high-interest debt, then emergency savings, then registered accounts
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Romana King, Senior Editor at Money.ca, also writes for various North American publications and the RKHomeowner blog. Her book, House Poor No More, is an Amazon bestseller and five-time award winner, including the 2022 New York CPA Society's Excellence in Financial Journalism (EFJ) Book Award.
