Where Can I Cash a Check?

Government and tax refund checks · checked Nov 8, 2026

Cashing a government or tax refund check

In brief

Walmart, Kroger-family stores and most check cashers take government and tax refund checks; Walmart charges at most $8 on a check over $1,000. A Treasury check must be cashed or deposited within 12 months. Since September 30, 2025 the Treasury has been told to stop issuing most paper checks, so ask the agency about direct deposit or a prepaid card.

Cash a tax refund or government check

No. 0001
November 8, 2026

Results update as you type. Fees come from each company’s own published fee schedule.

Cashing a tax refund check for $1,200.00

Published fees only, cheapest first

Money today

  1. Bank of AmericaBank
    $8.00you keep $1,192.00
    Checks drawn on Bank of America personal accounts, over $50
  2. Walmart Lowest publishedStore
    up to $8.00you keep at least $1,192.00
    Pre-printed checks
  3. Pay-O-MaticCheck-cashing store
    $26.40you keep $1,173.60
    New York only
  4. AmscotCheck-cashing store
    $33.00you keep $1,167.00
    Florida only
  5. Ingo MoneyApp
    $60.00you keep $1,140.00
    All other accepted checks
  6. VenmoApp
    $60.00you keep $1,140.00
    All other accepted check types, money in minutes

Free or cheaper if you can wait

  1. Cash AppApp
    Freeyou keep $1,200.00
  2. Ingo MoneyApp
    Freeyou keep $1,200.00
    Money in 10 days, if the check is approved and not returned unpaid
  3. Walmart MoneyCardApp
    Freeyou keep $1,200.00
    Money within 10 days
Choose your state to see the legal maximum a check-cashing store may charge (where we have verified it), and to hide places that don’t operate there.
01

Paper checks from the government are being phased out

“Effective September 30, 2025, and to the extent permitted by law, the Secretary of the Treasury shall cease issuing paper checks for all Federal disbursements inclusive of intragovernmental payments, benefits payments, vendor payments, and tax refunds, except as specified in section 4 of this order.”

Executive Order 14247, Sec. 3(a) (90 FR 14001, March 28, 2025)

The order lists exceptions for people who do not have access to banking services, certain emergency payments and other cases the Treasury decides.

02

Rules that apply to Treasury checks

  • 12 months. A Treasury check must be negotiated within 12 months of its issue date. (31 U.S.C. § 3328(a)(1)(A))
  • Next-day money if you deposit it. Treasury checks deposited by the payee get next-business-day availability; so do USPS money orders, cashier's, certified and teller's checks and state or local government checks when deposited in person to a bank employee.
  • Endorsement for app deposits. Chime requires “For mobile deposit to Chime account only” on Treasury checks, and takes them up to $5,000.
  • State fee caps. New York: 1.5% for federal or state benefit checks and tax refunds. Florida: 3% or $5 for public assistance and Social Security. California: 3% with California ID, or $3.
03

Who says they take government checks

Places that say they take government or tax refund checks
PlaceGovernmentTax refundPayroll
Stores
H-E-Btakes itnot statedtakes it
Krogertakes ittakes ittakes it
Walmarttakes ittakes ittakes it
Check-cashing stores
ACE Cash Expresstakes ittakes ittakes it
AmscotFL onlytakes ittakes ittakes it
Check Into Cashtakes ittakes ittakes it
MoneytreeCA, CO, ID, NV, WA onlytakes ittakes ittakes it
Pay-O-MaticNY onlytakes ittakes ittakes it
Speedy Cashtakes ittakes ittakes it
Apps
Cash Apptakes ittakes ittakes it
Chimetakes itnot statednot stated
Ingo Moneytakes itnot statedtakes it
Venmotakes itnot statedtakes it

✓ the place says it takes this check✗ it says it doesn’t· it doesn’t say (ask)

04

Questions

Where can I cash a tax refund check?

Walmart (at most $8 on $1,200; its limit rises to $7,500 from January to April), Kroger-family stores, check-cashing stores (Amscot in Florida charges 2.75%: $33), or deposit it with Cash App for free. Deposited in your own bank account, a Treasury check must be available the next business day.

How long is a Treasury check good for?

One year. Federal law says the Treasury doesn’t have to pay a Treasury check unless it is negotiated to a financial institution within 12 months of its issue date (31 U.S.C. § 3328).

Are federal paper checks going away?

Mostly. Executive Order 14247 directed the Treasury to stop issuing paper checks for federal payments, including benefits and tax refunds, from September 30, 2025, with exceptions such as people without access to banking services.

Is there a cap on the fee for cashing a benefit check?

In New York, a licensed check casher may charge at most 1.5% for federal or state benefit checks and tax refunds. In Florida, at most 3% or $5 for state public assistance and Social Security checks. In California, at most 3% with California ID (3.5% without) or $3 for government checks.

05

Sources for this page

  1. Executive Order 14247, Sec. 3(a) (90 FR 14001, March 28, 2025) — From September 30, 2025 the Treasury was directed to stop issuing paper checks for federal payments, including benefits and tax refunds, with limited exceptions such as people without access to banking services.
  2. Executive Order 14247, Sec. 4(a) — The order lists exceptions for people who do not have access to banking services, certain emergency payments and other cases the Treasury decides.
  3. 31 U.S.C. § 3328(a)(1)(A) — A Treasury check must be negotiated within 12 months of its issue date.
  4. 12 CFR 229.10(c)(1) — Next-business-day availability for Treasury checks deposited by the payee.
  5. Walmart: Check Cashing — Government and tax refund checks; fees; $7,500 limit January to April.
  6. Amscot: Check cashing rates (PDF) — Government check bands; 2.75% for tax refund checks.
  7. Cash App: Mobile Check Deposits — Government-issued checks accepted, free.
  8. Chime: Deposit Account Agreement — Treasury check limit and endorsement.
  9. Cal. Civ. Code § 1789.35 — California cap on government check fees.
  10. Fla. Stat. § 560.309(8) — Florida cap on government check fees.
  11. N.Y. Banking Law Article 9-A — New York cap on government check fees.

Every fee on this site comes from the company’s own page, fee schedule or agreement, or from a statute or regulator. How we check them and how to report a change: methodology.

Cite this page

Where Can I Cash a Check. “Cashing a government or tax refund check.” Updated November 8, 2026. https://wherecanicashacheck.com/government-checks/