CONTACT: Patty Mayers, Communications Director
608.266.2300 or DORCommunications@wisconsin.gov
Earlier this week, the Department of Revenue (DOR) sent 20,312 unclaimed property checks worth $2.2 million to people matched with unclaimed property. Additionally, the department sent 301 letters to potential claimants for properties worth more than $2,000 each. If all they all respond, the payout will be worth a total of $2.4 million.
“We want people to know about this,” says Department of Revenue Secretary Peter Barca. “More importantly, we want people to respond for their own benefit – to claim what’s rightfully theirs. If you receive one of these letters, be sure to follow the instructions and claim your property.”
CHECKS: If the matched unclaimed property value is $2,000 or less, you will receive a check that you may cash because DOR has already verified you are the owner of that unclaimed property.
LETTERS: If the matched unclaimed property value is more than $2,000, you will receive a letter with instructions on how to claim the property. Follow the instructions on the letter to make an official claim.
In June 2015, DOR launched the matching program. It makes the process more efficient and benefits those taxpayers who may not even be aware they have unclaimed property. In total, the agency has returned $24.6 million in unclaimed property since 2015.
Unclaimed property includes funds from savings or checking accounts, uncashed dividends, insurance policies, or other accounts that the owner may have forgotten. Institutions such as banks, credit unions, insurance companies, and other businesses are required to report unclaimed property to the department each year by November 1. The department then holds the property for safe keeping until it is claimed by the owner.
Visit DOR’s Unclaimed Property webpage for more information about the program. You can also search an online database for unclaimed property in Wisconsin.
