Arizona has millions in unclaimed property – here's how to see if any of it's yours

Russ Wiles | The Republic | azcentral.com

The Arizona Department of Revenue is urging consumers and businesses to check for possible unclaimed money after it returned a record $64.3 million over the 12 months ended June 30.

Some 17,759 claims were successfully processed in fiscal 2018, including some made by people living outside of Arizona, said Ed Greenberg, a department spokesman. That works out to an average of more than $3,600 per claim.

For more information, visit www.azunclaimed.gov. The site can also be found through the department's main website, www.azdor.gov, by clicking on the Unclaimed Property tab near the bottom of the page.

Those who want to check also may call the department at 602-364-0380 or send an email to unclaimedproperty@azdor.gov. The department will mail a form to fill out to begin the process.

Unclaimed property includes Arizona state-tax refund money as well as cash that was sitting in old bank accounts, uncashed payroll checks, credit balances, possessions in inactive safe-deposit boxes, rebates and deposits turned over by utilities and other businesses.

People who move from Arizona sometimes forget about deposits and other assets. Non-residents also can make claims, Greenberg said.

Property often becomes unclaimed when people change addresses or, in some cases, die with no family members aware of the assets. Most accounts are considered abandoned and are turned over to the state after three years of inactivity.

The $64.3 million returned during fiscal 2018 topped the prior record of $57 million in fiscal 2017.

Assets are returned when owners provide documentation showing their right to claim the property. Claimants must file a claim form and provide evidence of a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license or other documentation linking them to the owner’s last known address.

Claimants also must provide documentation demonstrating a legal right to claim any property listed in someone else's name.

Reach the reporter at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8616.

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