CRA has $1.7 billion in uncashed cheques and one could be yours
Could you be missing out on your own money? According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the agency is still waiting for Canadians to claim millions of cheques.
In an email to Daily Hive, the CRA stated that it issues millions of payments to taxpayers every year, either refunds or benefits. However, it seems that not all Canadians end up getting their money.
“Over time, some payments remain uncashed for a variety of reasons, such as the recipient misplacing the cheque or moving without updating their address,” stated an agency representative.
As of March 31 this year, the CRA held around 10.2 million uncashed cheques, worth an astounding $1.7 billion. Here’s what Canadians had yet to claim as of March:
- 10,036,240 cheques under $1,000
- 189,840 cheques $1,000 or more, but under $100,000
- 160 cheques $100,000 or more
How can you find out if some of that money is yours?
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Unlike filing taxes, checking for unclaimed cash is far easier — you can check by signing in to your CRA account.
“To help Canadians reclaim uncashed payments, the CRA launched a feature in February 2020 that allows individuals to view their uncashed cheques through their secure My Account portal,” stated the representative.
“Cheques can date back as far as 1998 and, because government-issued cheques never expire or stale date, the CRA can reissue a payment once requested by the taxpayer.”
How can you request payment of uncashed cheques?
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If you find an uncashed payment in your name, request a replacement cheque by filling out a “PWGSC 535 – Undertaking and Indemnity” form for each cheque. You can find this form in your account in the “Uncashed cheques” section. You can also call the CRA’s general enquiries line at 1-800-959-8281 for information.
According to CRA’s website, you must fill out the remaining fields on the form, sign and date it, and include your name and address under the signature. You must also have a non-family member witness sign and date the form. The witness must also enter their name and address under their signature. You can then submit the form online or by mail.
But be mindful when filling out the form.
The website states, “If the form is not filled out correctly, we will send you a new form and explain the errors made. You will need to fill it out and send it again. ”
Due to the increased volume of requests, it may take eight to 10 weeks to process your request.
Ensuring Canadians get their money
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Since launching the online feature that helps taxpayers reclaim uncashed payments, the CRA said it has made significant progress in ensuring Canadians get paid.
“Since the initiative was launched, Canadians have reclaimed approximately 4.5 million uncashed cheques valued at $1.6 billion as of March 2025,” stated the representative.
CRA is urging people to sign up for direct deposit, a hassle-free way to receive their payments.
“Canadians can ensure they never miss a payment from us again by registering for direct deposit,” stated the representative. “In My Account, taxpayers can sign up for direct deposit to get any payment quickly and directly into their bank account.”