The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has released a tool that helps Canadians determine if they have any unclaimed cheques. According to the most recent data, the CRA has approximately 8.9 million uncashed cheques – worth roughly $1.4 billion – that have gone uncashed.
To help with this situation, the CRA recently introduced a feature that helps Canadians see if they have any cheques that are waiting to be claimed. Using this tool, which can be found in the My Account portal on the CRA website, you can collect any CRA cheques you didn’t cash dating back as long as you have been filing taxes. Check it out to see if you have some money coming your way!
Key Points
- The CRA recently introduced an online tool that allows Canadians to check for any unclaimed cheques.
- If you find any unclaimed cheques, you can request a reissue or direct deposit.
- Government cheques never expire, so i f you do eventually find out about an unclaimed cheque, you’ll still be able to cash it.
- To avoid any issues with unclaimed cheques, consider signing up for direct deposit with the CRA.
Why Do Some People Have Unclaimed Cheques?
There are many reasons why some Canadians have unclaimed CRA cheques:
- Address Not Updated: Some people who have moved may not have updated their new address with the CRA. In this case, the CRA may continue to send cheques to their old addresses.
- Lost Or Stolen Cheques: Cheques can get stolen or lost in the mail before they reach the recipient.
- Death Of The Recipient: If the recipient of the cheque has passed away, the cheque may go unclaimed unless the executor steps in.
- Misplaced Cheques: Sometimes cheques may be misplaced and forgotten about.
- Postal Strike: In the event of a Canada Post strike, cheques may be delayed or never delivered, leading to unclaimed payments.
What Happens If A Cra Cheque Is Stolen?
If a CRA cheque is stolen, you should contact the CRA right away. If the cheque is for a recurring payment, you should wait 10 business days from the date the cheque was issued, or 5 days if it’s a Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment. If the stolen cheque is not cashed, you can get a replacement payment. But if it is cashed, an investigation will be conducted.
How To Find Out If You Have Unclaimed Cheques
Fortunately, the CRA makes it easy for Canadian taxpayers to find out if they have any unclaimed cheques. Follow these simple steps to see if you have any unclaimed cheques from the CRA:
Step 1: Open A CRA Account
If you don’t already have one, you’ll first need to open a CRA My Account. You can do this on the CRA website.
How To Open A CRA Account
To open a CRA account, follow these steps:
- Gather Required Information: You’ll need your Social Insurance Number (SIN), date of birth, and information from your most recent income tax return.
- Choose Your Login Credentials: Select a user ID and a password on the CRA website.
- Verify Your Identity: You may be sent a security code for you to verify by the CRA.
- Access Your Account: Once you’ve registered your CRA account, you can log in to access your information.
Step 2: Go To The Uncashed Cheques Option
Once you open your account, log in and go to the My Account page. Scroll down to the “Related Services” tab, found on the right-hand side of your browser, and you’ll see an “Uncashed cheques” option. You can see if you have any uncashed cheques there.
How Do You Claim Unclaimed Cheques?
If you do have any uncashed cheques, follow these simple steps to claim them:
Step 1: Claim Your Cheque
You can claim your cheques in the “Uncashed cheques” section. Ask for a duplicate payment by selecting and completing the displayed 535 form.
Step 2: Send The Claim Form
Once you’ve completed the form, send it using the “submit documents online” feature in My Account or mail the form to the Sudbury Tax Centre:
Sudbury Tax Centre
Post Office Box 20000, Station A
Sudbury ON, P3A 5C2
If you’re mailing the form to the Sudbury Tax Centre, you must print it and sign it as the payee. You must also ask a witness to sign it, who cannot be a family member, and include your name and address as well as the name and address of your witness. Make sure to only send one form for each uncashed cheque.
Tips To Ensure You Don’t Miss A CRA Cheque
To avoid any issues collecting your CRA cheques, consider the following tips:
- Sign Up for Direct Deposit: The best way to ensure you receive your CRA payments on time is to sign up for direct deposit. That way, your money will be sent directly to your bank account quickly and safely.
- Update Your Contact Information: Make sure the CRA has your current address and contact information. So, if you move, be sure to update your information accordingly.
- Check Regularly: It’s a good habit to check your My Account on occasion to see if there are any notices from the CRA, including cheques ready for you.
Bottom Line
Using the “Uncashed cheques” tool in your My Account portal on the CRA website, you can see if you’re one of the millions of Canadians who have unclaimed cheques from the CRA. You never know if you have hundreds of dollars waiting for you that you didn’t know about! It only takes a few minutes to find out thanks to the CRA’s handy online feature.
