There was a bit of publicity a while ago about CRA uncashed cheques – turns out they had accumulated over $1 billion from these. Have you looked to see if you have any money waiting to be claimed?
These cheques could be for tax refunds, childcare benefits, GST rebates, EI benefits, or for many other purposes. And there are plenty of reasons for why you and other Canadians were unaware of this missing money.
Despite all the media coverage and social media notices over the last year or so, there are still many people who haven’t checked up on this.
Have you checked for CRA uncashed cheques? We’ve got the info you need to start looking into this.
Getting your uncashed cheques from CRA online
So how can you check for uncashed cheques from CRA?
Simply login to your CRA My Account right here.
If you don’t have an account, you’ll have to register for one, which requires your:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN),
- date of birth,
- postal code, and
- the amount entered on line 101 of last year’s tax return.
Once you’re on the government site, there are 3 different ways to login:
- through one of the sign-in partners, which includes most Canadian banking institutions,
- using the same CRA user ID and password that you set up before, or
- using your B.C. Services Card (only for residents of B.C.).
In order to login, you’ll need to have filed your income tax and benefit return for this current year as well as for last year.
If you have trouble signing in with one method, it’s recommended that you try one of the other methods before contacting the CRA for help.
Note: Earlier in 2021, the CRA was forced to suspend about 800,000 of its accounts due to an information leak on the dark web. If yours was one of these accounts, you would have received an email or letter with instructions on regaining access.
What to look for after logging in
Once you’re logged in, you can find the “Uncashed cheques” link on the right-hand side – right at the bottom of the “related services” section.
If you have any cheques that you haven’t cashed yet, they’ll be displayed here with the amount they’re worth next to them. This is also where you’ll find the option to duplicate them.
You’ll be required to contact the CRA (through the methods provided) and they’ll verify your account.
There may be some forms you’ll have to fill out in order to do this. You’ll have to download and sign the forms, get someone to act as a witness, then send the forms back to the CRA – either by scanning and submitting online or through regular posted mail.
After verification, they’ll issue a replacement cheque.
If you don’t have any uncashed cheques, here’s the message you’ll get:
Details to keep in mind
Your uncashed CRA cheques never expire, so it’s a good idea to check just in case something happened a long time ago. Life gets hectic and there are plenty of reasons you could have missed the cheque:
- you moved, but didn’t update the CRA with your new address,
- the cheque was lost in the mail,
- someone stole the cheque before it reached you, or
- you received the cheque, but somehow misplaced it before cashing it.
Since the cheques never expire, you can also use these resources down the road if you notice a lost, stolen, or destroyed cheque.
If you’re having trouble cashing these older cheques, the CRA suggests mailing it to the following address and asking to have it reissued with a current date:
Imaging and Receiver General Operations DirectorateReturned Cheques
P.O. Box 2000
Matane, QC G4W 4N5
Finally, be aware that it will take time to process your request. CRA processing times can vary, but they’ll usually tell you to expect a 6 to 8-week wait before you receive your new cheque.
Contact information for CRA uncashed cheques
If you need to get ahold of the CRA for any reason, you can find their detailed contact information on this page. They have several different phone numbers you can call, depending on what subject you’re looking for information on.
Some important CRA phone numbers
If you’re having trouble with your My Account, the phone number is 1-800-959-8281. It’s an automated line.
Most other individual tax enquiries can also be directed to 1-800-959-8281.
To check your account balance, the number is 1-866-474-8272 (also automated).
What to do with your uncashed CRA cheque
There are many ways you can spend this extra money, but the first step should be to deposit it into a no fee chequing account. We recommend the no fee account from Simplii Financial, an online-only bank that’s owned by CIBC.
Opening a chequing account through Simplii means you won’t have to worry about:
- monthly fees,
- minimum balances,
- limits on your debit transactions, bill payments, or withdrawals,
- paying for Interac e-Transfers, or
- fees at CIBC ATMs across Canada.
This means that the amount you deposit from your CRA cheque will be untouched until you decide to spend it.
Plus, they’re currently offering a $200 promotion for those who open a new no fee account and add an eligible direct deposit of at least $100 for 3 months. Adding your paycheque can easily fit this requirement.
Speaking of direct deposits, it’s also a smart idea to register for direct deposit with the CRA. That way, you’ll never have to worry about missing or uncashed cheques again. Instead, they can go right into your Simplii no-fee chequing account.
How much will you find?
We’ve heard of people finding up to $4,000 in uncashed cheques.
So what will you find?
Let us know in the comments below – and good luck!
FAQ
Is the story about CRA uncashed cheques a scam?
This is not a scam – there are many people throughout Canada who have found unclaimed money when they log into their CRA accounts. The money is from cheques issued by the government, including tax rebates, income assistance, GST payments, etc. These cheques could have been lost, stolen, or simply were never cashed or deposited by the owner.
How can I access my CRA uncashed cheques?
Accessing this money is quite easy. Go to the CRA My account login page and sign in using 1 of the 3 methods available. Once in, click the “Uncashed cheques” link on the right-hand side of the “related services” section. Any uncashed cheques will be listed there and the steps to claim them will be laid out for you.
How long does it take to get your uncashed cheque from the CRA?
The time it takes for the CRA to send you a new cheque can vary, but they’ll usually tell you that they’ll process your request within 6 to 8 weeks. You’ll likely receive the money faster if you register for direct deposit instead of having the cheque sent in the mail.
What should I do with my CRA uncashed cheque?
We recommend using a no fee account from Simplii Financial. If you don’t already have an account with this online bank, it’s easy to open a no fee chequing account – and it’s also easy to qualify for their $200 cash back promotion. We also recommend that you change your settings so all CRA payments are direct deposited into your no fee chequing account in the future.
Leave a comment
Comments