How to Cash a Post-Dated Check

Accept and cash a post-dated check carefully.

People can write a post-dated check to determine when a payee may cash the check. A person may utilize this check-writing method when a checking account does not currently contain sufficient funds, but when funds should be present in the account by a specific date. When you accept a post-dated check, you must adhere to the date on the check and wait to cash it until that date arrives or passes.

Instructions

1. Note the date on the check. Generally, when someone presents a post-dated check as payment for goods or services, the payer makes the payee aware of the post-date to ensure that the payee does not attempt to cash the check early. Cashing the check early will likely result in an overdraw of the checking account.

2. Sign the back of the check.

3. Take the check to your bank on the date or after the date on the check and present it to a teller for cashing.

Tips & Warnings

• Cash the check as soon as possible after the date on the check arrives to ensure that the monies in the account remain there to cover the check.

• Accepting a post-dated check involves some risk on the chance that the check writer is writing the check without the intention of covering it as expected. If the check writer never deposits money to cover the check or even closes the checking account before the date on the check, you may not be able to recover the money due to you.

References

• My PayDayLoanCash: What Are Post-Dated Checks?
• The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers: How to Book Returned and Postdated Checks