Cheque information

This section presents information on Québec government cheques that the Ministère des Finances issues to individuals and to businesses.

To find out why a cheque was issued, contact the government department or body This link opens a new window. responsible for the cheque or consult the table below. While the Ministère des Finances issues most Québec government cheques, it is government departments and bodies that have access to the files of individuals and businesses that can answer questions that concern them.

The appearance of a cheque issued by the Ministère des Finances

All cheques issued by the Ministère des Finances display the “Finances Québec” logo in the upper left-hand corner. Moreover, the picture watermark on the cheque represents the Québec flag on a background of blue and white clouds.

Why the Ministère des Finances issues cheques

Government departments and bodies make payments to individuals and businesses pursuant to the government programs that they manage. The Ministère des Finances is responsible for conducting the government’s financial operations, including the management of its bank accounts. Accordingly, it issues the cheques requested by the government departments and bodies.

Identification of the government department or body responsible for a cheque issued by the Ministère des Finances

1. Verify that the Ministère des Finances has issued the cheque (see The appearance of a cheque issued by the Ministère des Finances section above).
2. The number appears in the upper right-hand corner and comprises three digits, a hyphen, and eight additional digits.

3. Locate the first three digits of the cheque number before the hyphen. The digits, called the prefix, identify the nature of the cheque or the government program under which the cheque was issued.
4. Using the prefix on the cheque, consult the following table to identify the nature of the cheque or program to which it pertains and the name of the government department or body responsible. If you have questions concerning the cheque, please contact the government department or body responsible at the number indicated in the table below.

Table of responsible departments and agencies

Note: The name and telephone number of the government department or body responsible should appear to the right of the “Finances Québec” logo on the cheque stub. If this information or the cheque stub is missing, please join the Ministère de la Cybersécurité et du Numérique at csc.sagir@mcn.gouv.qc.ca.

Replacing a lost, stolen or expired cheque

Simply contact the government department or body responsible for the cheque and request that it be replaced.

To report a change of address for the issuance of a cheque

Please contact the government department or body responsible for the cheque.

Use direct deposit

Simply contact the government department or body responsible for the cheque.

Duration of the validity of a cheque issued by the Ministère des Finances

Cheques issued by the Ministère des Finances are cashable up to 12 months after the issue date and become stale-dated after that time.

Cashing a cheque if you do not own a bank account

A cheque issued by the Ministère des Finances can be cashed without owning a bank account, under certain conditions, in the following financial institutions: Royal Bank, CIBC, Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal, TD Bank, National Bank, and Desjardins.

To do so, you must:

1. visit a branch of one of the financial institutions listed above with the cheque in your name;
2. present at the branch an official identity document with photo and signature such as a driver’s licence, a passport, or a health insurance card, or two other official identity documents with signature.
3. The cheque must be valid, and its value must not exceed $1 750.00

Fees demanded by a store or commercial enterprise to cash a cheque

Section 251 of the Consumer Protection Act stipulates that no fees may be demanded of an individual to exchange or cash a valid cheque issued by the Ministère des Finances.

Asking a merchant to cash a cheque

The merchant should not assume the responsibility of cashing a cheque issued by the Ministère des Finances since most financial institutions can do so, subject to certain conditions, without the individual’s being obliged to own a bank account.

Dishonoured cheque at the time of cashing

A cheque issued by the Ministère des Finances du Québec may be dishonoured by a financial institution at the time of cashing. This may occur in the following situations:

1. The cheque is physically damaged or the MICR line is incomplete or missing. In such a case, the cheque recipient may contact the department or organization responsible for the cheque to obtain a new payment.
2. The cheque has already been cashed.
   1. A person may inadvertently cash the same cheque twice, causing the second attempt to be dishonoured. When this happens, the recipient of the cheque can review his or her bank statement to find a record of the first attempt or contact his or her financial institution for more information. To avoid such a situation, we suggest that the recipient write the date of cashing on the back of the cheque and destroy it after the time period recommended by the financial institution.
   2. If, after verification, the recipient does not identify the first attempt to cash the cheque, he or she may contact the department or organization responsible for the cheque to report the fraudulent endorsement of a cheque.

Fraudulent endorsement of a cheque

Fraudulent endorsement occurs when a cheque is cashed by someone other than the recipient, or by someone not authorized by the recipient. It can be the result of theft, forgery or an error by the financial institution at the time of cashing.

A recipient of a cheque who is a victim or believes to be a victim of fraudulent endorsement should contact the department or organization responsible for the cheque to initiate a refund process.

At that time, the department or organization will offer to have the recipient of the cheque complete a statutory declaration confirming that the cheque was not cashed. The department or organization will then submit the refund request to the Ministère des Finances, which will conduct an investigation into the situation. After a minimum of 60 days¹ following receipt of the request by the department or organization, the Ministère des Finances will obtain a refund of the cheque from the financial institution in question and will inform the department or organization, which will in turn notify the recipient that the amount of the cheque has been recovered and that a new payment can be issued, if applicable.

1. The 60-day period is established by the financial institutions and is beyond the control of the Ministère des Finances. It is used to allow for a dispute if the cheque has not been fraudulently endorsed, in accordance with the rules established by Payments Canada.