Whether a post-dated cheque may be cashed or deposited before the date written on it depends on the country.
(4) A cheque is not incomplete or irregular on its face by reason only that it is post-dated (whether or not the date has arrived).
'[4] The Australian Taxation Office require that cheques made for tax payments 'must not be post-dated'.
[5] The Australian Federal Police in their information to small businesses on avoiding fraud advise: 'Do not accept post-dated or pre-dated cheques'.
[7] Under the clearing rules of the Canadian Payments Association, a post-dated cheque cannot be cashed prior to the date written on it.
It will only become cheque on the date shown on it and prior to that it remains a bill of exchange under Section 5 of the Act.
In the UK the legislation is clear; 'A cheque is a bill of exchange drawn on a banker payable on demand'.
[17][18] It is common for the terms and conditions of current accounts to state that post-dated cheques should not be written and will be dishonoured if detected.