Are you the owner of one of CRA's 160 cheques worth over $100,000? How to review your account and setup direct deposit.

The CRA is looking to reunite Canadians with a surprising stash of forgotten money: 160 uncashed cheques worth over $100,000 each, and more than $1.7 billion in total dating as far back as 1998.

How does this even happen? Sometimes a cheque gets mailed to an old address, tossed out with junk mail, or never deposited when someone moves or changes their banking info. Since the CRA doesn’t cancel these old cheques, they sit in government limbo waiting to be claimed — like hidden treasure. So, if you’re feeling lucky, log in to your CRA My Account and check for uncashed cheques.

1. Login to CRA My Account

Start by logging into your CRA account here. If you don't have an online account, you can register here. To register, you will need:

• Your social insurance number (SIN)

• Your date of birth

• Amounts reported on your most recent tax return (that was filed and assessed)

CRA My Account and Register for an account

2. View your Uncashed Cheques

You can see whether you have any uncashed cheques by selecting the link from the right side of your homepage.

3. Register for Direct Deposit

If you haven't done so already, you can register for direct deposit to ensure that CRA isn't holding your money interest-free.

From the homepage, select Profile and then scroll to the Direct Deposit area to add your banking information. It's important to check back at least once per year to ensure this information is up to date.

Don't want CRA having electronic access to your information? You can call their personal tax line at 1 (800) 959 8281 and inquire about uncashed cheques. Be prepared to provide your SIN, date of birth, address, and details from your most recent tax return.