A domestic money order from the U.S. Postal Service is good forever and always worth its full face value, so how long a money order is good for really depends on who issued it. USPS money orders never expire and carry no dormancy fees.1USPS. Money Orders Money orders from private companies like MoneyGram and Western Union also have no printed expiration date, but monthly service charges can start eating into the balance after about a year, so an old private-issuer money order may be worth less than you paid for it, sometimes nothing at all.
USPS Money Orders Don’t Expire
A USPS domestic money order you find in a drawer years later is still worth every cent printed on it. The Postal Service confirms that domestic money orders do not expire, do not accrue interest, and are cashed for the exact face amount.1USPS. Money Orders That puts them in a different category from personal checks, which banks have no obligation to honor after six months.2Cornell Law Institute. Uniform Commercial Code 4-404 – Bank Not Obliged To Pay Check More Than Six Months Old
One ceiling to know: a single domestic USPS money order can be issued for no more than $1,000.1USPS. Money Orders Age doesn’t change that figure in either direction. The amount you bought it for is the amount you can cash it for, whenever you get around to cashing it.
International USPS Money Orders Are the Exception
International postal money orders are a different product with a shorter clock. Per the Treasury Financial Manual, they are valid for one year, with the expiration date printed on the front.3U.S. Department of the Treasury. Treasury Financial Manual Volume II Part 4 Chapter 7000 – Procedures For Processing Postal Money Orders USPS also notes that no claim for improper payment on an international money order is permitted more than a year after payment.4USPS. Money Orders – The Basics If you’re holding one past that date, you’ll need to contact USPS about a replacement instead of trying to cash it.
Private Issuer Money Orders: No Expiration, but Fees Can Shrink the Balance
MoneyGram and Western Union, the two largest private money order issuers, both say their money orders don’t expire. What they do impose is a monthly service charge once the money order has been sitting uncashed for a set waiting period. Those charges keep coming out of the balance until you cash the money order or the balance hits zero.
- MoneyGram: a monthly service charge may begin after the money order has been uncashed for one year. The exact dollar amount is printed in the service charge section on the back.5MoneyGram. Frequently Asked Questions About Purchasing a Money Order
- Western Union: a non-refundable service charge may be deducted from the face value if the money order goes unused for one to three years after purchase, depending on the state where it was bought.6Western Union. Western Union Money Order
There’s a real distinction between a money order being valid and being worth what you paid. A private-issuer money order may still be accepted for deposit years later, and the fees could have reduced the actual balance to well below the printed amount. Before you try to cash an old one, read the fee schedule on the back, or call the issuer with the serial number and ask what the remaining balance actually is.
USPS money orders are not subject to any of this. The fee concern applies only to money orders from private companies.
Why Dormancy Fees Exist
Private issuers treat uncashed money orders as a long-term liability on their books. The monthly service charge offsets administrative costs once the dormancy period passes, and it continues every month until the money order is cashed or the balance is exhausted. Fee amounts and dormancy triggers vary by issuer and by state law, so there’s no single national standard. The terms you’re bound by are the ones printed on the back of your money order at the time of purchase.
When Uncashed Money Goes to the State
Every state has an unclaimed property law that forces companies, including money order issuers, to hand over uncashed balances to the state treasury after a set dormancy period. The process is called escheatment. For money orders, the dormancy period generally runs from about three to seven years after the purchase date, with most states using a three- or five-year window.
Once that transfer happens, the original money order can’t be cashed at a bank or through the issuer anymore. The state becomes the custodian of the funds and holds them until the rightful owner files a claim. States don’t keep the money permanently; in most states, the funds stay available to the owner indefinitely.
Whether you get any interest on escheated funds depends on the state. Some pay accrued interest when returning the money; others return only the original amount. If interest is paid, you may receive a 1099-INT form for tax purposes.
What to Do With an Old Money Order
For a USPS money order of any age, you can walk into a Post Office and cash it or deposit it at your bank. The face value is what you get.
For an older private-issuer money order, call the number on the money order (or the issuer’s website) before you try to cash it. Give them the serial number and ask for the current balance. That tells you how much of the face value survives after any service charges.
If the funds have already been turned over to the state, you’ll claim them through the state’s unclaimed property division instead of the issuer. Search your state’s unclaimed property website (or a national aggregator like MissingMoney.com) by name and past addresses, and file a claim if you find a match. There’s no fee to claim your own property from a state treasury; be wary of third-party “finders” offering to do it for a cut.
If a USPS money order has been lost, stolen, or damaged, you can start a Money Order Inquiry on PS Form 6401 at any Post Office.7USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry The current processing fee is $21.00, and you’ll need your original purchase receipt with the serial number.8USPS. Notice 123 – Price List The investigation can take up to 60 days, and if USPS confirms the money order was never cashed, it will issue a replacement.1USPS. Money Orders MoneyGram and Western Union each have their own replacement procedures, which generally require the serial number, the exact purchase amount, and a processing fee; any dormancy fees already deducted won’t be refunded.