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Every year, millions of unclaimed properties are turned over to the U.S. Treasury. These include inherited money, unpaid wages, government benefits, and tax refunds. The U.S. government does not make a practice of contacting citizens about this money, but it does provide free search websites that keep a database for unclaimed properties. To find what you may be owed, look online, or call your state unclaimed property office.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Finding Missing Money
Ask yourself what unclaimed money you might be owed. Did you abandon a bank account? Might you have inherited money or a trust fund? Have you failed to cash in on stocks, bonds, dividends, security deposits, trust funds, or escrow accounts? Are you eligible for government benefits, pension funds, that you have not claimed?[1]- Did you leave a job with money owed to you? Were you earning pension funds at a business that closed?
- Are you owed a tax refund?
Search unclaimed properties using a government program database. The U.S. National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) has a website where you can search by state. You will be directed to your state government treasury department's website, which provides information on unclaimed personal or business properties.[2]
Use an alternative search with a state and provincial government database. NAUPA endorses a free search data based called Missing Money. When you locate Missing Money on the NAUPA website (or through searching online), enter your first and last names and any state you have lived in. The database will find a match if you are owed funds.
Get your unclaimed money from IRS or other government agency such as the Inland Revenue. Millions of tax refunds are left unclaimed every year. If you were expecting a refund that you did not receive, check the IRS' Refund Status website. Enter your social security number, your filing status, and the dollar amount you expected refunded. Alternately, call the IRS' Refund Hotline.[3]- If you didn't receive your refund because you moved and the IRS didn't have your new address, you may be prompted to enter a new address.
- If you do not file taxes, but federal taxes are withheld from your pay, or you qualify for an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), you may be owed money. File a return within three years of the passed filing deadline to get your refund.
Avoid third-party negotiation. Contact the unclaimed property office in your state, or in the state where you are owed money. Especially if you have been contacted by a third party "finer" or "locator" who wants to charge you a percentage of the total you will gain. It may take longer, but going through the government will get you your money for free, no strings attached.[4]- Locators are often employed by companies that owe you money before they turn the funds over to the state. Contact your local government or contact the company directly to avoid dealing with the locator.
- Many finders and locators work within the law, but others are scam artists. Never sign a contract with one without contacting your local unclaimed property office.
Watch out for scammers. People may try to trick you out of your money by claiming to represent the government. The government will not contact you to let you know you are owed funds. If you are contacted by anyone claiming to have money for you, do not give them any information about yourself. Contact your state unclaimed property office to verify any communications you receive about unclaimed money.[5]- If you are sure an email is a scam, report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Finding Inherited Money
Establish that your benefactor has passed away. If you have reason to believe that someone may have died and left you money, take steps to determine whether this is true. To determine this, call a relative or friend of the deceased, or look for an obituary online. Use a genealogy search database if you are having trouble finding results. Many sites charge for this service, but many also offer free trial periods.[6]
Gather necessary data. To claim insurance benefits, or to apply for a death certificate, you may be asked for information about the deceased. Try to obtain their full name, maiden name, and social security number. Determine where they died and where they may have made out their will or bought a life insurance policy.[7]- To obtain a social security number, contact the Social Security Department.[8]
Request a death certificate. To claim any money you may have inherited, you will need a death certificate. Once you have determined that your relative or benefactor has died, you can contact the state in which he or she died and request a death certificate. Depending on the state, you may need to prove a valid right to one, such as being named as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy. In this case, you will need to first determine that you are a beneficiary.[9]
Find out if there was a will. Contact relatives or friends of the deceased, if you are on friendly terms, to determine whether or not there was a will. Check records available in the deceased's county seat. If you have access to the deceased's files, search them to discover a copy of the will.[10][11]
Find out if there was a life insurance policy. Check probate records for your benefactor's name. If he or she died intestate, without a will, the estate may have been distributed in court. Contact the state insurance department of any state in which the policy may have been written. Look online for state listings of insurance brokers to determine which the mostly likely candidates were, and contact them.[12]Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Claiming Your Money
Provide proof of residency, ownership, or relation. You will need documentation that proves your right to the kind of asset you are attempting to claim. You may need proof of residency, in the form of bills, or proof of ownership, in the form of property deeds. You may need copies of your tax forms. Be persistent, even if you do not have needed forms, as it is not uncommon for long-neglected assets to be difficult to claim.- If one state office cannot help you, call another.
- Ask if there is alternative documentation you can provide, such as tax records.
- Ask for a form to fill out explaining that you need to file a claim but do not have the required documentation. If the office with which you are speaking does not have such a form, another office might.[13]
- You may have a right to an approximation of money in cases of insufficient recordkeeping.
Claim your money online. If one of the searches comes up with unclaimed money for you, you can follow the instructions online. Instructions will vary depending on what money you are owed. Provide scans of any documents you are asked to provide. If you have trouble, contact your state treasury department by phone or by email.
Claim money through the mail. Check the state treasury website of the state that owes you money. Download the "claim form" and print it. Fill it out. Visit a notary public and have it notarized. Mail to the address stipulated on the state treasury website. Follow any additional steps your state might require.- To find a notary, go to the American Society of Notaries and enter your zip code.
- Alternately, ask if there is a notary at your local postal office or bank.
Talk to a lawyer. If the funds you are fighting for are significant, it could be worth hiring a lawyer. For instance, if you are trying to claim stocks or bonds that have been sold without your permission, or an inheritance that is yours but is held by the state, you might come up against passed statutes of limitations or other obstacles toward your obtaining your property. If your claims have been denied despite your best efforts, discuss your options with a lawyer.- If you find you cannot prove that you are the sole claimant, you may need to provide some form of protection to the state or property holder before your money is released. Ask if you can buy a surety bond to protect the state against future claims.[14]
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Community Q&A
Search
- QuestionWhen I check the status of my claim it says "in line for review." What does that mean?
DonaganTop AnswererIt means they're going to "review" your claim at some point in the future. - QuestionHow can I find out what bank account of mine has money?
Community AnswerYou can always download a secure banking app which will show all your transactions and balance, or you can go to your bank and ask for a statement. You can also check your balance on a banking machine. - QuestionHow can I find a lawyer to assist a minor with their inheritance and trust?Community AnswerAsk people you trust for a referral for a lawyer.
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Tips
- Before counting on a claim, do thorough research. The database is updated periodically.Thanks
- You will be asked to provide documents to prove your identity such as birth certificate, social security number, and driver's license.Thanks
- Tax returns must be filed within 3 years from the date the refund was due. After 3 years, they are turned over to the U.S. Treasury.Thanks
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Warnings
- Avoid using a third party or middleman, as he or she may charge a significant amount or a percentage of your unclaimed money.Thanks
- Do not share personal information, such as your social security number or bank information, with anyone claiming to have unclaimed funds for you.Thanks
- Contact your state unclaimed property department about any unsolicited communication you receive about unclaimed money.Thanks
- Watch out for scams. If someone contacts you about unclaimed money, they are not actually a representative of the government.[15]Thanks
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References
- ↑ http://www.unclaimed.org/other/
- ↑ http://www.unclaimed.org/other/
- ↑ https://www.unclaimed.org/what/
- ↑ https://www.unclaimed.org/what/
- ↑ http://www.unclaimed.org/uploads/resources/99/examples-of-fraudulent-unclaimed-property-email-messages.pdf
- ↑ http://www.bankrate.com/finance/retirement/owed-inheritance.aspx
- ↑ http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_locate_lost_life_insurance_benefit.htm
- ↑ https://secure.ssa.gov/apps9/eFOIA-FEWeb/internet/main.jsp
- ↑ http://www.bankrate.com/finance/retirement/owed-inheritance.aspx
- ↑ http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_locate_lost_life_insurance_benefit.htm
- ↑ http://www.bankrate.com/finance/retirement/owed-inheritance.aspx
- ↑ http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_locate_lost_life_insurance_benefit.htm
- ↑ http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-06-24/business/fl-unclaimed-property-vasquez-20110624_1_unclaimed-money-unclaimed-property-unclaimed-cash
- ↑ https://www.suretybonds.com/edu/faqs/
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/unclaimed-money
About this article
How.com.vn Staff
How.com.vn Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by How.com.vn Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. How.com.vn's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 60,782 times.
Co-authors: 18
Updated: October 11, 2022
Views: 60,782
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 60,782 times.
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