Frequently Asked Questions

A. Please contact your payment issuing department or agency responsible for each of your payments to notify them of your address change.

The Government of Canada will be replacing cheques with electronic payments by April 2016, please visit the Direct Deposit section to enrol in direct deposit.

A. Please contact your payment issuing department or agency to inform them and to request another payment. After verification is completed, which may include the completion of legal forms, a new cheque will be issued or a new payment will be deposited.

A. The superannuation program is administered by the Public Service Pension Centre of Public Works and Government Services Canada in Shediac, New Brunswick. Please go to Your Public Service Pension and Benefits Portal - Retired Member, or call 1‑800‑561‑7930 (within Canada and the continental USA) or 506‑533‑5800 (from outside Canada or the continental USA - collect calls are accepted).

A. Normally, the issuing department or agency for the payment is usually identified on the cheque stub. Often, there is also a phone number to call if you have questions. If there is no stub, please contact the Payment Products and Services Directorate, of Public Works and Government Services Canada, at 819‑956‑1455, or email the Receiver General for Canada (RequetesRG.RGEnquire@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca).

A. Receiver General cheques are never stale dated, meaning you can cash them no matter how old they are. The financial institution (bank, credit union, trust company, caisse populaire) in Canada has the right, however, to validate the cheque by faxing a copy to the Cheque Redemption and Control Directorate in Matane, Quebec. For more information you can visit the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Web site

A. No. By law, a financial institution (bank, credit union, trust company, caisse populaire) in Canada cannot charge a fee for cashing a Government of Canada cheque. For more information you can visit the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Web site.

A. In most cases, money received during the month of death has to be repaid, but there are some exceptions. Please contact the issuing department or agency for details on how to stop the payments.

A. Please contact the department responsible for details on how to stop the payments. If the deceased was receiving more than one federal payment, please contact each issuing department or agency.

A. Although all payments to and from the Government of Canada are made in the name of the Receiver General, enquiries regarding taxes and tax payments should be made directly to the Canada Revenue Agency.

A. Please do not deposit your cheque before the printed date. Due to mail processing, it is possible that certain cheques may be delivered in advance.

To have payments automatically deposited to your bank account on the appropriate date, please visit the Direct Deposit section to obtain additional information.

A. The Receiver General issues payments on behalf of departments and agencies; for details regarding payments, the recipient must contact the issuing department or agency.

A. All departments accept payment by cheque made to the Receiver General for Canada. Cheque payments should be mailed to the issuing department of agency, or at the Cheque Redemption and Control Directorate, located at

Many departments also accept payment by credit or debit card, while others allow payment by telebanking, personal computer banking, money order or travellers cheque. To determine which options are available to you, please contact the issuing department or agency for the services/programs that you are receiving.

A. The invoice was sent to you from the issuing department or agency for the services/programs that you are receiving, and all questions should be addressed to this department directly.

A. In some instances the estate is required to pay the invoice. Please contact the issuing department or agency for more information on how to make the payment.

A. Direct deposit is an electronic transfer of funds deposited directly into your bank account rather than through the use of a paper cheque.

A. Convenient â€“ Your payment will not be delayed as a result of unforeseen circumstances.

Reliable – Your payment will always be on time.

Secure – Your payment will not be lost, stolen or damaged.

Cost Efficient – With fewer cheques to print and mail, we are saving Canadian taxpayers' money. The cost to produce a cheque is approximately 83 cents while a direct deposit payment costs about 11 cents.

A. You can complete a single Direct Deposit Enrolment Form for one or several of the following Government of Canada payments.

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB)
• Government of Canada Annuities
• Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) Credits
• Income Tax Refunds
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB)
• Veterans Allowance and Benefits

For other type of payments (RCMP and Public Service Pension and Benefits, Canada Savings Bond, etc.), you can visit the "How else can I enrol?" section of the Individuals Living in Canada page to obtain additional information. 

A. Please visit the Individuals Living in Canada page to complete an enrolment form or Contact the Receiver General to obtain additional information.

A. Please visit the Individuals Living Abroad page to complete an enrolment form specific to the foreign country you reside in or Contact the Receiver General to obtain additional information for Canadian residing in foreign countries. 

A. If your payments are included in the list below, please complete a new enrolment form and provide your new banking information. You can obtain an enrolment form on the Direct Deposit section and at most banks.

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB)
• Government of Canada Annuities
• Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) Credits
• Income Tax Refunds
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB)
• Veterans Allowance and Benefits

For other type of payments (RCMP and Public Service Pension and Benefits, Canada Savings Bond, etc.), please contact your payment issuing department or agency to provide your new banking information.

Note: It is recommended that you do not close your old bank account until your first payment has been deposited to your new bank account.

A. Manual processing of enrolment forms can take longer than enrolling electronically. If after several payments you are still receiving cheques, please contact the payment issuing department or agency to verify that the form was received.

A. As an exception, the Income Tax refunds and Goods and Services Tax (GST)/ Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) credits issued by Canada Revenue Agency must be deposited into the same bank account.

For example, you can have your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payments deposited into one account and your Old Age Security (OAS) payments deposited into a different account. In this example you will need to complete two separate enrolment form.

For other type of Government of Canada payments, you can complete separate enrolment forms for each payment you wish deposited in a different bank account.  You can obtain an enrolment form on the Direct Deposit section and at most banks.

A. The diagram below will assist you in finding your banking information such as the branch number, the financial institution number and the account number that are usually found at the bottom of the cheque.

Other options to provide your banking information with your direct deposit enrolment form:

• attach a "void" cheque;
• complete an enrolment form during your next visit at your financial institution where a bank teller will assist you. This service is available at most banks.

Your branch number, financial institution number and account number can be found at the bottom of your cheque.

A. Please ask your bank teller for assistance with the completion of Section C of your direct deposit enrolment form during your next visit at the bank.

A. Yes, depositing money into your bank account using a direct deposit payment is no different than any other deposit made into your joint account. You will need to include the name of all account holders on your direct deposit enrolment form. Please visit the Direct Deposit Enrolment Form Completion Instructions for additional information.

A. For additional information or assistance with the completion of a direct deposit enrolment form, please contact the Receiver General. You can also ask your bank teller for assistance during your next visit at the bank.

A. You will find the mailing address on the direct deposit enrolment form. Please contact the Receiver General if you need additional information.

A. If you do not receive a payment when expected, please contact your financial institution. Should your financial institution be unable to assist you, please contact the Receiver General for further assistance.

A. The Receiver General issues payments on behalf of other departments and agencies. For inquiries related to the amount, please contact the payment issuing department or agency responsible for your payment(s).

A. The Government of Canada considers privacy and security of utmost importance in the issuance of payments. Any information you provide to the Government of Canada in support of Direct Deposit is protected under the Government of Canada Privacy Act.

Access to your bank account is governed by your account agreement with your financial institution. Please consult with your financial institution for more information regarding security measures for accessing your bank account.

A. Receiver General cheques are never stale dated, as stated in Canadian Payments Association Rule G2, General Rules Pertaining to Government of Canada Paper Instruments.

A. First, look for the two most prominent security features, the watermark and the fibres.

You should then refer to Canadian Payments Association Rule G7 Verification and Collection Procedures for Receiver General Warrants. For more information, you can visit the Automated Clearing Settlement System Web Page of the Canadian Payments Association, e-mail them at info@cdnpay.ca, or call them at 613‑238‑4173

For more information you can visit the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Web site

A. Receiver General cheques are never stale dated, as stated in Canadian Payments Association Rule G2 General Rules Pertaining to Government of Canada Paper Instruments.

For tips on how to validate a Government of Canada cheque or warrant, look for the two most prominent security features, the watermark and the fibres. You should then refer to Canadian Payments Association Rule G7 Verification and Collection Procedures for Receiver General Warrants Web Page of the Canadian Payments Association, e-mail them at info@cdnpay.ca, or call them at 613‑238‑4173.

A. It is recommended that you first contact the official responsible to follow-up on your behalf (please refer to your contract or order). To obtain contact information for the department or agency where an invoice was submitted for products or services provided, please consult the Departments and Agencies section of the Government of Canada Web site or call 1-800 O-Canada (1‑800‑622‑6232)).

Please visit the Business page for enrolment options. To obtain additional information, please consult the list of Contacts for Accounts Payable by Federal Departments and Agencies or call 1-800 O-Canada (1‑800‑622‑6232).

A. Through a competitive process, the Bank of America® was awarded a contract to manage the Government of Canada's foreign banking requirements.

A. For most recipients, their payment will be in the currency of the country where they live; therefore they should be getting a better exchange rate. Although cashing cheques may result in lower fees, direct deposits payments are not subject to postal disruptions.

A. The cheques will continue to display the Canada wordmark and logo on the top portion. The remainder of the cheque will be designed and signed by a Bank of America® official and may change depending on the requirements of the country.

A. No. As a result of this contract, you should benefit from a better exchange rate and may see a reduction in banking fees.

A. Exchange rates fluctuate over time, so it is impossible to pre-determine the rate. However, the Bank of America® will be able to offer a competitive rate. The fact that program payments are usually made on the same day for all recipients allows for the use of pooled conversion rates advantageous to the recipients.

A. Where the cheque has been requisitioned in Canadian currency and converted to local currency the amount on the cheque stub reflects the Canadian dollar value of the payment before it was converted to local currency.

The first direct deposit may take approximately three months after receipt of the completed enrolment form. Direct Deposit is available for recipients living in Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Europe (includes Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain), Finland, Hong Kong, India, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Singapor, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.

If you reside outside of one of these countries, please check Individuals Living Abroad page to find out if and when direct deposit will be available to your country. You can also contact the Receiver General for additional information.

Currently direct deposit is available for most program payments. To determine if direct deposit is available for the program for which you are receiving benefits you may call the department that issues your cheque. The numbers are as follows:

• Income Security Program (ISP)
  • Inquiries Clients from the US can call 1‑800‑277‑9914 (English) or 1‑800‑277‑9915 (French) Foreign clients can call 613‑957‑1954 (this call is at their expense) Clients can also fill out a feedback page at Contact Old Age Security (OAS) or Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Programs.
• Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)
  • Inquiries Foreign Countries Operations 00-1-800-996-22421 (toll free from UK, Germany, France, Belgium) 1‑888‑996‑2242 (toll free from US) Other countries 613‑996‑2242 (collect).
• Visitor Rebate Program
  • 1‑800‑668‑4748 (in Canada) 902‑432‑5608 (outside Canada). Clients can send e-mail to: Canada Revenue Agency - Visitors to Canada. Clients can write to:
    Visitor Rebate Program
    Summerside Tax Centre Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
    275 Pope Road, Suite 104
    Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
    C1N 6C6
• War Veterans Allowance (WVA)
  • Inquiries Ontario Regional Office-Benefit Administration Collect calls will be accepted at 705‑567‑9571 ext. 4371.

A. A claim of right is a right which entails responsibilities, duties, or obligations on other parties regarding the right-holder. For example: the right to have a name, the right to have a home, etc.

A. Pursuant to the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) Act, the Receiver General for Canada has no mandate to address claims of right. Also, claims of right do not impose any legal obligation on this Department. We recommend that you consult with a lawyer of your own choosing in order to be informed of your legal rights regarding claims of right.

A. You are not two people for tax purposes. For more information, see Canada Revenue Agency warns Canadians about tax protester schemes.

A. False. This myth is based on the faulty argument that the Canadian Constitution gives the power of direct taxation exclusively to the provinces. For more information, see Debunking tax myths.

A. False. Pursuant to the Financial Administration Act (FAA), all funds held in the CRF are managed by the Receiver General on behalf of the Government of Canada, and as per s.26 of the FAA, no payments shall be made out of the CRF without authority of Parliament. Therefore, you are not entitled on obtaining shares. We recommend that you consult with a lawyer of your own choosing in order to be informed of your legal rights regarding this matter.

A. In accordance with the Bills of Exchange Act, a bill of exchange is an unconditional order in writing, requiring the person to whom it is addressed to pay, on behalf of the person demanding it a sum certain in money to a third party.

A. The Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), which includes the Receiver General for Canada, has no mandate to address bills of exchange. Also, bills of exchange do not impose any legal obligation on this Department. We recommend that you consult with a lawyer of your own choosing in order to be informed of your legal rights regarding bills of exchange.

A. The birth certificate is not a property of the Government of Canada and it is not an instrument to request payment by the Government of Canada of any Debt incurred under your name. It is an official document issued by a Provincial Government giving details of a person's birth. For any information or to voice any concerns regarding a birth certificate, please consult the Provincial Government where the birth certificate was issued.

A. A social insurance number is not an account number. By law, Canadian citizens, newcomers to Canada or temporary residents must have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada, to receive certain federal/provincial government benefits and service, to pay income tax and receive a tax refund, and to provide to banks and institutions where interest is earned. For further information regarding your SIN, you should consult Service Canada. Please note Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) is responsible for the issuance of Social Insurance Numbers.

A. Pursuant to the Privacy Act, no personal information can be collected by a federal government institution unless it relates directly to an operating program or activity of the institution. With respect to the Receiver General, there is no program or activity specific to the allocation of funds located within the consolidated revenue fund for an individual by way of their SIN.

A. It is not in the mandate of the Receiver General to pay the debts contracted by an individual.

A. Each fall, the Public Accounts of Canada are tabled in the House of Commons. You can consult previous years of the Public Accounts of Canada starting with 1995 at Library and Archives Canada. For the current year, you can go directly to the page of the Public Accounts of Canada.

A. The Payment on Due Date rate is based on the average Bank of Canada discount rate for the previous month plus 3 percent. Complete information is available at Payment on Due Date (PODD).

A. If your account has been inactive for less than ten years, contact your financial institution. When there has been no owner activity in relation to the balance for more than 10 years, and the owner cannot be contacted by the institution holding it, the balance is turned over to the Bank of Canada, which acts as custodian on behalf of the owner. You can search for an unclaimed balance by using the search form from the Bank of Canada.

If you haven't found the information you need, you can contact the Receiver General for Canada.