Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
#1
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Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
I just got an unexpected tax rebate from HMRC
It was unexpected because I filled in the 'Leaving the UK' HMRC forms last November and got a pretty big rebate then, so I wasn't expecting another one!
Will I have any problems depositing an HMRC cheque in my Canadian account and does anyone know what the fees are likely to be other than via a sub-standard exchange rate?
I could post the cheque back to my personal banker (AKA my eldest daughter) in the UK, but might not be worth the hassle...
It was unexpected because I filled in the 'Leaving the UK' HMRC forms last November and got a pretty big rebate then, so I wasn't expecting another one!
Will I have any problems depositing an HMRC cheque in my Canadian account and does anyone know what the fees are likely to be other than via a sub-standard exchange rate?
I could post the cheque back to my personal banker (AKA my eldest daughter) in the UK, but might not be worth the hassle...
#2
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Location: Whitby, Ontario
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Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
I have deposited UK cheques over here from time to time with no problem. They have quoted me a rate at the time of deposit so I know the expected CAD amount and told me how many days before it will clear - it's varied from 15 to 30 working days for reasons I can't determine.
That's with TD - I presume other banks will be similar.
That's with TD - I presume other banks will be similar.
#3
Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
I have deposited UK cheques over here from time to time with no problem. They have quoted me a rate at the time of deposit so I know the expected CAD amount and told me how many days before it will clear - it's varied from 15 to 30 working days for reasons I can't determine.
That's with TD - I presume other banks will be similar.
That's with TD - I presume other banks will be similar.
#5
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Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
I just got an unexpected tax rebate from HMRC
It was unexpected because I filled in the 'Leaving the UK' HMRC forms last November and got a pretty big rebate then, so I wasn't expecting another one!
Will I have any problems depositing an HMRC cheque in my Canadian account and does anyone know what the fees are likely to be other than via a sub-standard exchange rate?
I could post the cheque back to my personal banker (AKA my eldest daughter) in the UK, but might not be worth the hassle...
It was unexpected because I filled in the 'Leaving the UK' HMRC forms last November and got a pretty big rebate then, so I wasn't expecting another one!
Will I have any problems depositing an HMRC cheque in my Canadian account and does anyone know what the fees are likely to be other than via a sub-standard exchange rate?
I could post the cheque back to my personal banker (AKA my eldest daughter) in the UK, but might not be worth the hassle...
Both of my parents regularly do it with their UK pension cheques without any problems so I doubt you would have any.
#9
Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
From what I remember, the rate I got when depositing UK cheques was only a couple of cents below the official rate. Not really worth worrying about unless it's for many thousands of pounds.
#10
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Joined: Mar 2014
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Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
Yea, I had an HMRC cheque deposit without a hold earlier this year, which I thought was pretty weird.
I figured it was that it's a government cheque so the chance of it bouncing would be slim...
I figured it was that it's a government cheque so the chance of it bouncing would be slim...
#11
Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
Don't know who you bank with but we have a separate sterling account with our Canadian bank so we don't have to worry about the spread on the exchange rate until we need the money. Its used as a sort of savings or trip to UK fund.
#12
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Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
I also recieved a rebate which was nice $$$. I was told six weeks clearing, but lucky for me my wifes friend is over so will have her take it back to the UK and deposite there.
#13
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Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
Well, after the 3 cashiers figured it out between them, I successfully deposited the cheque.
$2000 immediately available, $600 held for 30 days. Seems to be completely random...
$2000 immediately available, $600 held for 30 days. Seems to be completely random...
#14
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Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
The banks have to allow access to at least $100 of "uncleared" funds in your account from a CAD/Canadian bank cheque. This amount can increase as you establish a good banking record, and they are unlikely to advertise what that limit now is. Mine is now (I think) about $1.5k.
So let's say your access limit is $2k, they might have held the amount over that limit for the usual 30 days on foreign cheques, but allowed immediate access to the $2k - discretionary.
They also have discretion not to hold anything back at all - let's say you consistently had a balance of $100,000 in their bank over several years and presented a cheque for $2k. If it bounces, it is ultimately your responsibility so there is plenty of money in your account for them to simply take it back - which they will.
If you had $100 in the bank, they would no doubt hold the full amount of the foreign cheque, as there isn't sufficient to cover it if it bounces - unless you had a great history with the bank, they knew you well and you regularly banked foreign cheques which were always ok..... etc.
So quite a lot of thought goes into whether they hold and how much. The better and longer your banking record is and the higher your banked funds, the less chance you have of a hold being put on.
I bank UK cheques about once every two months and unless I get someone new, they don't put a hold on.
So let's say your access limit is $2k, they might have held the amount over that limit for the usual 30 days on foreign cheques, but allowed immediate access to the $2k - discretionary.
They also have discretion not to hold anything back at all - let's say you consistently had a balance of $100,000 in their bank over several years and presented a cheque for $2k. If it bounces, it is ultimately your responsibility so there is plenty of money in your account for them to simply take it back - which they will.
If you had $100 in the bank, they would no doubt hold the full amount of the foreign cheque, as there isn't sufficient to cover it if it bounces - unless you had a great history with the bank, they knew you well and you regularly banked foreign cheques which were always ok..... etc.
So quite a lot of thought goes into whether they hold and how much. The better and longer your banking record is and the higher your banked funds, the less chance you have of a hold being put on.
I bank UK cheques about once every two months and unless I get someone new, they don't put a hold on.
Last edited by Kaye5; Oct 1st 2014 at 11:12 pm.
#15
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Re: Depositing an HMRC cheque in Canada
I've been with RBC in good standing for 11 years now, and still can't convince them my dad's Christmas cheque wont bounce, so it's always held for 20 or so business days.
They clear Canadian cheques from companies right away up to 700 and then they hold the rest for 5 business days.
Only cheques they don't place any hold on are government, but I am not sure they are allowed to. (provincial disability cheque)
Its all very random how bank works, no 2 people or accounts are the same and different tellers do different things as well.
But people like me are not the kind of people the banks like, so they wont go out of their way to do much, the balance is 0 most of the month, so they make no money off us, so I guess I can see why they really have no interest in service.
Last edited by scrubbedexpat091; Oct 2nd 2014 at 11:46 am.