A total of $1.4 billion in uncashed checks are currently sitting in the coffers of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
For many Par-Exers, especially senior residents it is an all-too-common story. A change of address or inability to keep up with changes in the cyberworld makes for lost CRA checks. In fact, Canada Revenue Agency sent email notifications to selected recipients on August 8, 2022, regarding the uncashed check feature on the accounts of many Canadians. If you received an email notification, please follow the instructions provided.
There are many reasons why Canadians may have an uncashed check from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). For example, someone may have moved and not updated their address, or the check may have been lost, stolen or damaged.
In May 2022, the number of uncashed checks by Canadians with the CRA reached 8.9 million. The CRA on Monday August 8, 2022 proposed several solutions to return this money to taxpayers as this amount continues to rise.
About 25,000 electronic notices about these uncashed checks will be issued in August to certain recipients of the Canada Child Benefit and related provincial and territorial programs, the GST/HST credit and Alberta Energy. This process will be repeated next November this year and May next year.
This initiative is not new since it was launched by the CRA in February 2020 and allowed the cashing of approximately two million checks, with a total value of $802 million, between February 10, 2020 and May 31, 2022.
For the residents in Park-Extension / Identify your uncashed checks
Additionally, as of 2020 , it is possible for all Canadians to view their uncashed checks using the My Account online tool. According to the CRA, some uncashed checks date back to 1998. The average amount of these checks is $158.
Government checks never expire or stop, so recipients can cash the checks they are entitled to. If you are having trouble cashing an old CRA check, mail the check to the Imaging and Receiver General Operations Directorate and request that the payment be reissued with a current date.
At the same time, the CRA on Monday, August 8 encouraged Canadians to sign up for Direct Deposit to receive any payment in their bank account directly without waiting for a check in their mailbox.
It is also possible for taxpayers to find out if they have uncashed checks by calling 1-800-959-7383
Never miss another payment
• Be sure to keep your address current.
• Sign up for direct deposit to get your payments quickly into your account.
Checks Issued in the Name of a Deceased Person
If you have a CRA check that was issued to a person who has died, give the check to the person handling their tax affairs or return the check to the General Imaging and Receiver Operations Division.
If you are managing a deceased person’s tax affairs, deposit the check into the estate account and complete the final tax return.
