How To Check If The Government Owes Me Money

Unclaimed And Forgotten Funds Are Everywhere

Andy Smith is a Certified Financial Planner , licensed realtor and educator with over 35 years of diverse financial management experience. He is an expert on personal finance, corporate finance and real estate and has assisted thousands of clients in meeting their financial goals over his career.

Across the U.S., millions of dollars wait in old bank accounts, forgotten retirement and pension plans, and tax refunds for their legal owners to claim them. Most frequently, money goes unclaimed because of misaddressed mail or checks, or notifications weren’t forwarded after recipients moved.

Once you know where to look, you also can apply some basic methods for finding missing money and getting that money back. Below, we’ll share 8 places you can look.

For Your Protection Banks Insurance Companies Utilities Investment Companies And Many Other Businesses Are Required By State Law To Surrender Inactive Accounts To The State These Accounts Are Known As Lost Abandoned Or Unclaimed Funds

The Unclaimed Property Unit serves as custodian of this money. If you can prove you are entitled to the money, we will gladly return it to you, at any time, without charge. Until the money is claimed, it is used by the States General Funds, serving the citizens and taxpayers of the State of New Mexico.

To search for unclaimed property in New Mexico visit missingmoney.com.

For specific eligibility requirements and site links, see Filing a Claim.

Search For Unclaimed Money Held By States

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How To Find Find Unclaimed Property

Online

You can search for unclaimed property online through the Unclaimed Property Division’s database.

1. In the search form, enter the following:

– Your name

– Address

You will see if any property matches your information.

2. If you find property that belongs to you, select the entry and click Start Claim.

3. Enter the information requested and submit your claim.

To find unclaimed property by phone, call the Unclaimed Property Division of the Treasurer’s Office and ask for help conducting your search. You can contact us at the number below:

367-0400

How Can I Claim Money That My State Owes Me

If your search results show that a state is holding money or property of yours, you can submit a claim to get it back. Each state handles claims a little differently. Some will allow you to submit your claim online, while others may require you to mail documentation to support your claim. Among the documents you may need to provide are:

• A copy of your photo ID
• A copy of your Social Security card or Individual Tax Identification Number
• Verification of your current address
• Documentation relating to the type of property, such as banking records, a cashier’s check or a stock certificate

Note that a state may auction some financial assets. For example, Florida holds auctions on the contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes. After the auction, owners may still be able to claim the item’s value.

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Search With An Ic Number

Once youve updated your profile, you will be taken to the eGUMIS dashboard. To start your search, click on Click here to check for unclaimed moneys.

Enter the identification number you want to check. Note that you can only check a maximum of two numbers a day youll have to wait for the next day if you want to check more numbers.

If the identification number you entered has any unclaimed money, youll see search results appear below. Click Proceed To Application to continue.

Who Owns This Debt

The public owes 74 percent of the current federal debt. Intragovernmental debt accounts for 26 percent or $5.9 trillion. The public includes foreign investors and foreign governments. These two groups account for 30 percent of the debt. Individual investors and banks represent 15 percent of the debt.

The Federal Reserve is holding 12 percent of the treasuries issued. The Federal Reserve has been purchasing these bonds to keep interest rates low after the 2008 Financial Crisis. States and local governments hold 5 percent of the debt.

Foreign governments who have purchased U.S. treasuries include China, Japan, Brazil, Ireland, the U.K. and others. China represents 29 percent of all treasuries issued to other countries, which corresponds to $1.18 trillion. Japan holds the equivalent of $1.03 trillion in treasuries.

Investing in U.S. treasuries is a deliberate strategy for foreign countries. China has been using these bonds to keep the Yuan weaker than the U.S. dollar and benefit from low import prices. Intragovernmental debt encompasses different funds and holdings.

Some agencies take in revenues and use this money to purchase treasury bonds. This makes the revenues usable by other agencies, and these bonds can be redeemed in the future when these funds and holdings need money.

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How To Find Lost Money

A forgotten savings account or a lost paycheck can be a lifeline for many people during this time. Luckily, there are credible websites that can help you search for these windfalls of cash.

To start, visit NAUPA’s website Unclaimed.org, a national network collecting records from all 50 states. From there, you can find links to each state’s official unclaimed property program. These are all vetted government resources, so it’s important you go through NAUPA-provided websites versus a general search engine.

When you click on a state, you will be directed to its official website. To search for your unclaimed money, use both your current and maiden name if you legally changed your last name. You may want to try different search inquires as well, such as using the first initial of your first name plus your full last name.

Because unclaimed property is reported to the state where the company or organization is located, it’s common to have lost money in more than one place, especially if you have moved between states. To search multiple states at once, NAUPA recommends using MissingMoney.com, a free website they endorse. Make sure to check every state where you have lived and done business.

Some other government sources with searchable databases include:

• The IRS website for any undeliverable tax refunds
• The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for unclaimed pension money
• The U.S. Treasury Hunt for unclaimed savings bonds, registered Treasury notes or registered Treasury bonds

Got Two Minutes See If Your State Owes You Money Here’s How

Your state’s unclaimed cash isn’t a secret or hard to find. Here’s what to do.

You can check to see if your state owes you money for free online.

The first half of the child tax credit checks are ending in December and the possibility of a fourth stimulus check is not promised. But your state may want to send you money for other reasons, such as if it’s holding on to something of yours. It’s a nice surprise, especially if you’re still waiting on long overdue tax refunds. But how can your state hold onto money that belongs to you? Here’s what we know.

States can hold onto uncashed checks, stocks, bonds or the contents of a safe deposit box. And you have the right to check and claim your money for free Some states publicize the news on its website, like New York’s $17 billion in unclaimed property. The state is returning close to $1.5 million to residents every day, totaling over $283 million this year.

The process to see if you have unearned money only takes about 2 minutes, and just a few minutes more to claim it. And once the state sends what it owes you, you can have extra money to spend or save. We’ll show you what to do. And for the latest on money, start by learning about the expanded child tax credit or the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and what it means for you. This story was recently updated.

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What Kind Of Unclaimed Property Can My State Hold On To

States could be holding a range of your items you can claim, including: a forgotten checking or savings bank account, a dividend, stocks, bonds, a credit balance, a refund or cash settlement, a utility deposit, an uncashed cashier’s check, a money order, insurance benefits, wages or the contents of an abandoned safe deposit box .

While many states will hold financial assets ranging from mineral rights to the contents of a safe deposit box, some will not take other types of property, including real estate, cars and unused gift certificates. Check with your state to see what types of property you can claim.

What If You Cant Find The Money Youre Owed

If you know that there is unclaimed money out there and it has your name on it, one of the above agencies should be able to find something out there for you.

There is always the possibility that it went unrecorded, slipped through the cracks, or was wrongfully claimed.

Its always important to keep a long record history when it comes to any kind of financial transactions, especially when youre dealing with auto insurance, banking institutions, credit unions, accounts held through an employer, retirement accounts, and military benefits.

The ones we just listed are the tip of the iceberg.

Its often difficult to keep an accurate record in our day-to-day lives, especially as the years roll on, addresses change, financial status changes, employment changes, and other life changes.

However, keeping records can save you a lot of headaches in the future.

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Moneyare You Owed Money Heres How To Find Out Without Getting Scammed

First, go to your states unclaimed property website to check if youre owed funds. If youve moved around a lot, you can try sites like missingmoney.com or unclaimed.org, which may be able to search multiple state databases at once. The search uses your name and your city to check for any funds. Remember to try a maiden name or a middle initial if those apply to you.

There are several different places where you might be able to find more funds:

• If you have an Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgage, you may be eligible for a refund through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Take a look at the HUD website.
• If you expected a tax refund and never received it, it may have been sent to the wrong address or bank account. Additionally, if you didnt file your taxes but should have received money back, you can check the IRS website to claim your missing refund.
• Still hanging on to some savings bonds you never cashed in? If youre missing the paper copy, you can request a savings bond reissue here.
• If your government-insured bank or credit union was liquidated, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or National Credit Union Administration will refund any deposits you had not claimed. For banks, search the FDIC for credit unions, search the NCUA.

What You Need For Find Unclaimed Property

The State Treasurer’s Office is currently holding $2 billion in unclaimed property. One in ten people have property that they don’t know about. If you would like to find out if you have unclaimed valuables, review the guides below. Visiting our website can also give you more information on unclaimed property.

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Heres How To See If Youre Owed Money

Simply log in to your CRA account once youve logged in, select Uncashed cheques located in the related services section on the right side as you scroll down.

The next page displays any cheques you havent cashed, with the amounts displayed next to them.

To claim them, you will need to download a pre-populated form, which then has to be signed by you, as the payee, and also by a witness.

Then you scan and submit the form online or mail it to the CRA.

CRA cheques never expire or become stale-dated. You can cash your CRA cheque for free at any bank in Canada, reads the website.

For a lot of people, theres likely nothing left to claim. But for otherscha-ching!

Let us know if you find anything in the comment section below!

But First What Is Unclaimed Money

Unclaimed money can refer to unpaid money that is legally payable to you, or money that has been dormant for many years. According to the Accountant Generals Department of Malaysia, there are three categories of unclaimed moneys:

• Money that has been unpaid for at least a year .
• Money that has been idle for at least seven years .
• Money to the credit of a trade account that has been dormant for at least two years .

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Whose Unclaimed Tax Refunds Are These

There’s a wide range of reasons why a tax refund might go unclaimed. There are some patterns, though, among those people who are owed unclaimed returns. The most common individuals who don’t claim their refunds from the IRS include:

• Students
• Workers who work part-time or for only part of the year but have income taxes withheld
• Self-employed workers with low earnings who make estimated tax payments but don’t file a return because their earnings are below the threshold
• Individuals who fail to file a final return on behalf of a deceased family member who is due a refund
• Individuals who qualify for the earned income credit but don’t file a return because their earnings are below the threshold

Free Cash: How To Check If You Are Owed Any Unclaimed Money

Memo to Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer. It appears your government has $418.20 in unclaimed money for you. Every dollar counts, especially in a recession!

Scott and Jen Morrison of NSW? $609.87 interest from an old bank account, it seems.And Richard Pratt of Victoria? Its your lucky day. Youre owed $4300.

Seeing if you have any unclaimed cash owing is as simple as plugging your name into an online form.Credit:Louise Kennerley

It’s simple to check and see if state or federal governments are holding any free, unclaimed money for you or anyone you know.

There are billions of dollars waiting to be picked up by people who have moved address, changed name, lost paperwork or been left an inheritance they dont know about.

The numbers are jaw-dropping: The federal government is holding $1.2 billion of other peoples money NSW has $442 million of our cash, and Queensland is sitting on $159 million. Victoria wont say what its total is, but its “hundreds of millions”.

One mystery woman from Mulgrave, Victoria, has $994,994 in unclaimed cash. In NSW, someone has $1.1 million, and in Queensland, the biggest single cash pile is $419,870 from a deceased estate.

Unfortunately, I found nothing for me, but a quick search revealed that my dad has $1500 and a colleague found $680.

You can claim it at any time theres no limit but first you have to know its there.

The process for checking if you have a windfall is surprisingly easy.

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When Is The Deadline To Claim My Money

Most states — including Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas — do not have a deadline for you to claim your money or property. However, for some items, such as jewelry, coins and stamps or the contents of a safe deposit box, states may auction off the property and then hold the proceeds for the rightful owner to claim. Check with your state to find out if you have a deadline to claim your property and if the state will auction off items after a period of time.

Life Insurance Policy Proceeds

A much-overlooked form of lost money constitutes life insurance policies. This often occurs because beneficiaries dont know of their existence after a family member dies. If the benefits arent held by the state, check with the insurance company where the policy was held.

Another option is to sell your life insurance policy for a lump cash sum. Many people dont realize that if you meet certain eligibility requirements, you might be able to sell your policy for up to 60 percent of its death benefit value. This is offered through Harbor Life Settlements and is known as a life settlement. Its an excellent way to stop paying steadily increasing premiums and enjoy some found money.

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Other Trusted Sites For Unclaimed Funds

MissingMoney.com is another verified and trusted site that you can visit if you want to start a search for any unclaimed funds that may be owed to you.

Simply scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the map of North America. From the next page, you can choose your state, which includes all fifty and even some provinces in Canada.

You can also scroll down below the interactive map, find your state, and link directly to the primary unclaimed funds search engine for that state.

Each state and province beneath the interactive map is loaded with information upfront for you to take note of, including the phone numbers for that agency, email, and full address if you need to contact them by mail or utilize that mail for any future interactions.

Its important to take all of this information and write it down as you conduct your search.

You may find bits and pieces of potentially unclaimed money here and there and youll want to be able to reference any notes you take as you go along.

Missing Money also has a page full of hyperlinks for every government agency that may be able to help you in your search.

They even include some departments outside of the United States, such as Canadian Bank Accounts, Swiss Bank Accounts, Australia Unclaimed Property, and Kenya Unclaimed Property.