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Key takeaways
- Checks can expire. Most personal checks are valid for up to six months (180 days) before they expire.
- Some checks, like government and cashier’s checks, may be valid longer, but it’s best to cash or deposit them as soon as possible.
- To avoid expired or lost checks altogether, consider using direct deposit or mobile check deposit for faster, safer access to your money.
- For any expired check, you can contact the issuer to request a replacement.
A check is a formal slip of paper that allows you to transfer funds from your checking account to another person. However, even if you write a check correctly, banks and credit unions may still limit whether it’s valid after a certain period of time.
Depending on the type of check, some banks and credit unions can reject it if you hold on to it for too long. So, how long is a check good for? Does a check have an expiration date? And if so, when do checks expire? Keep reading to find out.
How long are checks good for?
How long are checks valid for? Most standard checks are good for six months. After that, things may get tricky.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, checks older than six months are considered “stale checks.” Federal law does not require a bank or credit union to honor such checks – though certain states may have different requirements.
This six-month timeframe is set by the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), a set of laws governing all commercial transactions in the United States. Once the time limit set by this UCC six-month rule is reached, it’s up to the bank or credit union to decide whether they will honor it and let you deposit or cash the check.
Every bank and credit union handles stale-dated checks differently. Some may still process them if they believe funds are available in the account to cover the payment. However, some may refuse to honor the check. To be safe, deposit or cash the check before the six-month period is up.
Types of checks and when they expire
Do checks expire if not used? Yes, but the timing varies depending on the type of check. Some become stale after six months, and some are still good after 180 days.
If you’ve been wondering, “How long does a check last?” check out these typical expiration dates on the nine most common types of checks.
Here’s an overview of when checks expire, broken down by type:
| Type of Check | How Long the Check Is Good For |
|---|---|
| Business Check | 6 months (sometimes 90 days or 1 year) |
| Cashier’s Check | Varies by bank (60–90 days or no expiration) |
| Certified Check | No set expiration |
| Federal Tax Refund Check | 1 year from issue date |
| Money Order | Typically never expires |
| Personal Check | 6 months |
| State or Local Government Check | Around 1 year (varies by state) |
| Traveler’s Check | Never expires |
| Treasury Check | 1 year from issue date |
Let’s look closer.
How long are certified checks good for?
A certified check is a personal check that a bank reviews to ensure funds are available in the account holder’s checking account and that the check won’t bounce. Compared to regular personal checks, certified checks offer more security and give the recipient peace of mind that the check is legitimate.
While certified checks typically won’t expire, they could be subject to state unclaimed property laws.
How long are federal tax refund checks good for?
Depending on your preference, you can have your tax refund deposited directly into your bank account, or you could choose to have the IRS mail a check to you. If you opt for the latter, you must remember to cash or deposit the check within a certain time, or it will become invalid.
Federal tax refund checks are good for one year from the issue date. If your check is older than a year, contact the IRS at 800-829-0115 to request a replacement check.
Set up direct deposit with the IRS and get your tax refund up to five days early when you direct deposit with Chime and file directly through the IRS.5
How long are money orders good for?
Like personal checks, money orders are secured forms of payment. However, instead of pulling funds directly from your checking account, money orders are prepaid, which means they won’t bounce due to insufficient funds.
Since money orders are prepaid, they typically never expire, and you can cash them out anytime. However, it’s always wise to double check any rules around fees or money order expiration.
How long are personal checks good for?
A personal check is a paper slip from your bank or credit union, signed by you, that instructs your financial institution to transfer a specific amount of money from your checking account to the payee’s account.
Here’s how long a personal check is good for: Under federal law, banks and credit unions are not required to accept personal checks older than six months. In other words, a personal check can expire after six months.
How long are treasury checks good for?
An example of a treasury check would be the checks from the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act issued to millions of Americans during the pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Treasury voids uncashed treasury checks after one year. To replace an expired treasury check, contact the federal agency that authorized the payment.
How long are cashier’s checks good for?
A cashier’s check withdraws money from the bank’s funds rather than your personal checking account and is signed by a cashier or bank teller. In short, a cashier’s check is backed by your bank’s funds and guarantees the funds will be available when the check is cashed.
Cashier’s checks are useful for ensuring a check won’t bounce or when you want to securely make or receive large payments. How long a cashier’s check is good for depends on the bank and the local laws. Some may have a “void after 60 days” or “void after 90 days” disclaimer on them for when to void the check, while some may never expire.
How long are state or local government checks good for?
Checks issued by federal agencies – like the federal tax refund checks – are typically valid for a year, but this timeframe could vary on the state level. If you find an old state or local government check, contact the agency that issued it to determine whether it’s still valid.
As of Sept. 30, 2025, certain federal programs are no longer sending out paper checks – you’ll have to set up direct deposit to receive some government benefits.
How long are business checks good for?
Unlike personal checks that withdraw money from a personal checking account, business checks – like paychecks from an employer – pull funds from a business checking account.
Do paychecks expire, along with other types of business checks? Yes, like personal checks, business checks typically become invalid after six months. However, in some cases, businesses may have “void after 90 days” printed on their checks (though the bank may still honor it if you deposit it within six months).
If you’re wondering how long payroll checks are good for, ask your employer if they last for six months or have a different expiration date.
How long are traveler’s checks good for?
A traveler’s check is a check that you purchase at a bank or credit union and take with you when you travel. Once you’re abroad, you can use the traveler’s check instead of cash or exchange it for the local currency.
If you’re thinking, “How long do I have to deposit a check that’s a traveler’s check?” we have good news for you: Traveler’s checks never expire. You can cash them as long as the issuing financial institution is still operating.
What to do if your check has already expired
Follow these steps if you’re holding an expired check.
1. Contact the issuer for a reissue
If your check has already expired, request a new one from the person, company, or organization that issued the check. Depending on their procedures, they might ask you to return the expired check or pay a stop payment fee.
2. Request ACH or digital payment
If you don’t want to wait around for a paper check, ask the issuer if they can send payment electronically instead. An ACH or other digital payment will arrive to your bank account faster, and you won’t have to worry about depositing a check before it expires.
3. Dispose of the old check safely
Once you’ve received your new payment, dispose of the old check. It’s best to shred or tear the check into small pieces to protect your account number and other sensitive information.
Your next move toward fee-free faster money
The answer to “How long can you wait to cash a check?” varies by type, but the simplest way to prevent your check from going stale is to deposit or cash it as soon as possible.
If you have an older check, contact the issuer first to confirm whether it’s still valid. If not, ask if they could re-issue it.
To make check cashing easier, learn how to make mobile check deposits. It’s simple and eliminates the hassle of taking a trip to the bank or ATM.
With Chime, it’s easy to set up direct deposit and mobile check deposit. These fee-free features help you get paid faster and avoid the hassle of depositing paper checks.
FAQs on how long checks last
Can I deposit a 2 year old check?
Usually, banks don’t have to accept a check that’s more than six months old as it’s considered “stale.” If you have a 2-year-old check, reach out to the person or company who wrote it and ask for a new one to make sure the funds are still available.
What happens if a check is never cashed?
If a check is never cashed, the money stays in the account of the person or business who wrote it. After a certain period (usually a year or more), the funds may be turned over to the state as unclaimed property.
How long until a check is bad?
After six months, standard checks are considered “bad” and banks don’t have to cash or deposit them. To avoid issues, it’s best to deposit a check ASAP.
Can you cash a check written in a foreign currency?
Some banks allow you to deposit checks written in a foreign currency. The process may take several weeks, and you may be required to visit the bank in person with your government-issued ID.
What happens if you cash an expired check?
If you try to cash an expired check, your bank may reject it or return it. Banks are not required to honor checks that are expired, which generally happens after six months. If your bank accepts the check, it may place a longer hold on your funds to confirm the funds are collectible and not fraudulent.
What should I do if I wrote a check that hasn't been cashed?
If you wrote a check that hasn’t been cashed, contact the recipient to find out if they received it. If so, encourage them to deposit it before the expiration date. If the check is lost or expired, you can request a stop payment from your bank. To transfer the funds, you can write a new check or send the money electronically.
Will the bank place a longer hold on an older check?
A bank may place a longer hold on an older check, since older checks are more likely to bounce or be fraudulent. Banks may also place a longer hold if your account has been open for less than 30 days.