Have you ever moved, changed banks, or missed a government payment? If so, you could be among thousands of Canadians owed money through CRA uncashed cheques — some worth over $100,000.
In 2025, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revealed it is holding more than 10.2 million uncashed cheques worth a staggering $1.7 billion in total. These payments — dating back to 1998 — include tax refunds, GST/HST credits, benefit payments like the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), and more.
Most Canadians have no idea this money is waiting for them. And for 160 lucky individuals, the CRA is holding cheques each worth over $100,000, simply because they were never deposited or claimed.
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What Are CRA Uncashed Cheques?
CRA uncashed cheques are legitimate government-issued payments that were mailed out — but never deposited. Reasons include:
- Lost or misplaced cheques
- Address changes without updates to CRA records
- People assuming small cheques weren’t worth cashing
- Forgotten benefit payments
Because CRA cheques never expire, all of these payments are still valid — whether they were issued 3 years ago or 30 years ago.
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CRA Uncashed Cheques: How Much Money Is Sitting Unclaimed?
As of April 2025, the CRA holds:
- 10.2 million uncashed cheques
- $1.7 billion in total unclaimed value
- 190,000 cheques worth between $1,000 and $100,000
- 160 cheques worth more than $100,000 each
Some of this money dates as far back as 1998, and payments could have been missed from:
- Income tax refunds
- GST/HST credit payments
- Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
- Ontario Trillium Benefit
- Climate Action Incentive payments
- Other federal benefit programs
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How to Check If You Have CRA Uncashed Cheques in 2025
You can easily check for CRA uncashed cheques online using the secure CRA My Account portal. Here’s how:
Step-by-Step:
- Visit: CRA My Account
- Log in using your CRA credentials or banking sign-in partner.
- On the Overview page, scroll down the right-hand column.
- Click the link labeled “Uncashed Cheques.”
- You’ll see a list of any cheques issued to you that haven’t been cashed.
If you have any CRA uncashed cheques, instructions will be provided to request reissuance.
Who is Eligible for CRA Uncashed Cheques?
Anyone who has ever received or been eligible for federal payments could have an unclaimed cheque. This includes:
- Seniors receiving OAS or GIS
- Families receiving the Canada Child Benefit
- Low-income Canadians eligible for GST/HST credits
- Students who claimed education tax credits
- Workers owed income tax refunds
- Renters who received Canada Housing Benefits
Even if you received a payment years ago, you may still have money unclaimed.
Why Are There So Many CRA Uncashed Cheques?
The CRA says cheques go uncashed for various reasons:
“Over time, some payments remain uncashed for a variety of reasons such as the recipient misplacing the cheque or moving without updating their address,” CRA spokesperson Nina Ioussoupova told National Post.
When cheques remain unclaimed for more than six months, they are flagged and made available for reissue upon request.
What Happens to the Money?
While CRA cheques never expire, the funds don’t sit in a special account. Instead, unclaimed money goes back into the federal treasury until someone claims it. Once you request reissuance, the CRA will pay the amount owed.
To date, more than 4.5 million uncashed cheques have been claimed through this initiative, totaling $1.6 billion.
How to Avoid Missing Future CRA Payments
To ensure you never miss another CRA payment:
- Sign up for Direct Deposit through CRA My Account
- Update your mailing address and banking information regularly
- Check the CRA Uncashed Cheques page annually
Final Thoughts: Don’t Leave Free Money on the Table
The CRA uncashed cheques initiative is helping millions of Canadians recover money they didn’t know they were owed. With more than $1.7 billion still waiting, and some payments worth over $100,000, there’s never been a better time to log in and check.
If you’ve paid taxes, received benefits, or lived in Canada since 1998 — you might be one of the thousands eligible to claim a CRA uncashed cheque today.