Canadians Hold $2 Billion in Unclaimed Federal Checks, Documents Reveal

Recent parliamentary documents reveal that Canadians have left over $2 billion unclaimed in federal checks. Specifically, approximately 3.9 million paper cheques, totaling $2,159,665,155, remain uncashed. These checks include tax refunds, pension payments, and various benefits issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and other federal departments.

Unclaimed Federal Checks: Key Figures

Among the uncashed cheques, significant amounts include:

• $141 million in Canada Carbon Rebate cheques.
• $50 million in Climate Action tax credits for British Columbia residents.
• $42.8 million from the Canada Child Benefit program.

These rebates were intended to mitigate the costs associated with carbon pricing and to help families with child-rearing expenses. Although the rebate programs have concluded, these government checks do not expire. Canadians are encouraged to replace any lost or damaged cheques.

How Taxpayers Can Claim Their Money

Taxpayers have the option to check their Canada Revenue Agency accounts to verify any uncashed cheques. Alternatively, they can contact the agency by phone for further details. This approach may help recover funds that many might not realize were available to them.

Cheque Issuance Trends in Canada

Historically, the federal government has favored direct deposit methods for payments. As of now, only 8.51 percent of federal payments are issued by cheque. Despite this, many agencies continue to distribute a high volume of paper checks. The administrative cost for issuing each cheque is approximately $1.83. From April 1, 2022, to September 30, 2025, mailing out 121 million cheques may result in a taxpayer burden of around $222 million.

Future Considerations for Payment Methods

The government has considered alternatives to cheque payments, such as prepaid card programs. However, it determined that these options would be too costly compared to direct deposit. Additionally, public sentiment showed resistance to the adoption of prepaid cards for government payments.

This information was disclosed in a response to a question by Conservative finance critic Adam Chambers. Public Services and Procurement Canada prepared the response, stating that the responsibility of managing the transition away from paper cheques lies with individual departments.

In conclusion, Canadians are advised to explore their eligibility for uncashed federal cheques to reclaim missed opportunities for receiving substantial funds.