How Long Is My Check Good For? - What To Know

We’ve all been there, you’ve received a check, only to find it a few months later, potentially about to meet its expiration date. Because checks seem like a rather archaic way of handling money nowadays, this means that many of us aren’t aware of how these work. 

Previously, checks were one of the most common ways of granting people money, and it’s not hard to see why. They’re incredibly reliable, and are a very secure way of transferring money to another person. 

If you’ve received a personal check, and aren’t sure how to handle it, don’t worry, because we’ve got you covered. Below we’ve compiled a handy guide which discusses the expirations dates of personal checks, as well as other kinds too. 

To find out more, simply keep reading below. 

Also read: How To Budget Wisely With The Assistance Of Budget Apps

What You Need To Know About Personal Checks

So, before we jump straight in and discuss the ins and outs of expiration dates, first, let’s take a closer look at personal checks. What exactly are they and how do they work? 

A personal check is essentially a promise of cash. So if you’ve been handed a check with a sum of money written on it, if you take it along with you to your local bank, they will be able to cash it in for you, and you can receive that amount either directly into your bank account, or in cash. 

It’s good to know how these work, despite the fact that online bank transfers have now become far more commonplace. There are some landlords who require deposits in the form of checks instead of bank transfers, so if you ever need to write one yourself, it’s a good idea to know how to do so. 

You can collect a checkbook from your local bank, and this will contain a wad of papers that are ready to be written on. 

All you have to do is write the date that you're making out the check, who you’re giving it to, the sum of money you owe, and then finally your signature. It’s an incredibly easy and efficient process. 

When Will My Check Expire? 

So, before we answer this question, it’s good to know that there are several different kinds of checks in existence. The most common ones are personal checks, but there are also treasury checks, and local government checks. 

In order to find out how long your check is good for, first you’ll need to identify it. Below, we’ve compiled a list of expiry dates for each of these kinds of checks. 

Also read: 8 Personal Finance Apps For Your Better Future

Personal Checks

First, let’s start out with the most common kind of check out there, personal checks. If you’ve found yourself given one of these, you’ll typically have 180 days to cash it. But bear in mind, this is the timeframe from the date assigned to the check, not necessarily the day you were handed it. 

You will typically see on the back of the check that it says ‘void after 90 days’, but this typically isn’t the case. Most banks will still be happy to process your check for you for up to 180 days. We would however, recommend that you cash it in as soon as possible to avoid losing out on your money. 

Also read: The Complete Guide To Using Voided Checks

Treasury Checks 

The next type of check that we’ll be looking at are treasury checks. These kinds of checks are issued directly by the government when they owe you money. So, if you find yourself handed one of these checks, you’ll need to make sure that it’s cashed in within one year of receiving it. 

These checks last far longer than personal checks, so you don’t need to worry about them expiring anytime soon. 

The good news is that if a year has passed, and you’ve neglected to cash the check, you can still receive the money. You will however, need to contact the person who has issued the check, so that they can give you a new one that hasn’t expired yet. 

Local Government Checks 

Another kind of check that you might find yourself in possession of, are local government checks. These kinds of checks are given to you by the state, and will expire at different rates depending on where you live. 

There is no one rule about how long these checks take to expedite, as it’s completely dependent on your local government. Generally speaking, it will take anywhere from 6 months to one year for your check to expire. 

To find out when your check expires, you’ll need to contact your governmental agency to find out how long it’s good for if they haven’t provided you with the information. 

Just like treasury checks, if you forget to cash the money in, it’s still yours even after the check expires. You’ll just need to call the state to ask for a new one. 

Also read: Self-Employed Taxes For Dummies

Keep Track Of Your Checks 

If you find yourself regularly writing checks, make sure you keep track of them all, and write them down in a personal book. Otherwise you could find yourself spending money from your account that has already been allocated elsewhere. 

Make sure that if you have given a check to an individual that hasn’t been cashed, that you call them up to see that they follow through. 

Also read: Internal Revenue Code (Irc) - Section 162

Final Thoughts 

To sum up, personal checks typically last for up to 180 days. Checks that have been given by a treasury can last up to one year, whereas checks issued from local governments can last anywhere from 6 months to 1 year. 

No matter what type of check you’re dealing with it is also important that any pay stubs involved are of a high quality and can be produced with ease.