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What is unclaimed property?
Generally, unclaimed property is any financial asset that hasn't had owner activity for a period of one year or more and the holder of the asset is not able to contact the owner. This includes:
- Savings accounts
- Checking accounts
- Uncashed dividends
- Stocks and mutual funds
- Customer deposits or overpayments
- Certificates of deposit
- Credit balances
- Refunds
- Matured life insurance policies
- Uncashed death benefit checks
The unclaimed property law also requires that utility deposits, unclaimed wages and property resulting from a business closure, be reported as unclaimed property after one year of inactivity. The law does not include real estate.
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How does property become unclaimed?
Property becomes unclaimed or abandoned when there isn't owner activity on the account for a period of one to five years (depending upon the type of property)
and is reportable to the Department of Revenue (DOR) if the holder of the asset does not make contact with the owner as a result of due diligence. A holder may include a bank, savings institution, credit union, securities brokerage firm, mutual fund company, insurance company, business or utility company.
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How do I report and remit unclaimed property to the department?
All businesses and other organizations with unclaimed funds are required to file their Unclaimed Property Holder Report electronically. You can use Holder Reporting Software (HRS), UPExchange, or
My Tax Account to prepare your holder report. Our
Options for Holder Reporting page has links to the report options, as well as
Publication 82, Unclaimed Property Holder Report Guide to help you prepare and submit your report.
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Why does Wisconsin have an unclaimed property law?
The law was enacted in 1970 to allow Wisconsin residents to search one place for missing funds. After one to five years of inactivity, Wisconsin businesses are required to turn over all unclaimed money, stock, and safe deposit box contents to DOR. Additionally, out of state businesses holding property where the last known address of the apparent owner is a Wisconsin address are also required to turn over all unclaimed property to the department. This process relieves businesses from the expense and liability associated with carrying unclaimed property on their financial records. Most importantly, the process benefits Wisconsin residents because DOR makes an effort to reunite all rightful owners with their unclaimed property.
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Who administers the law?
DOR serves as custodian of the property on behalf of the owner.
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What happens to unclaimed property when the Department of Revenue cannot locate the rightful owner?
DOR serves as a custodian for abandoned funds and holds these funds indefinitely. There is no time limit for you to claim your money from DOR. If at any time you can prove ownership or legal rights to the unclaimed funds, we will approve payment to you or your heirs without charge. Exception: property held under secs.
852.01 or
863.37, Wis. Stats. has a statute of limitations of 10 years to claim the property.
DOR must sell the unclaimed property at public auction to the highest bidder usually within three years after receiving it. In the case of any security, DOR waits at least one year before selling the security. Securities listed on an established stock exchange are sold at prices prevailing at the time of sale on the exchange. Other securities may be sold over the counter at prices prevailing at the time of sale or by any other method DOR considers advisable.
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What effort does the Department of Revenue make to find the rightful owners?
DOR has a number of methods to try and locate owners, including:
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How can I avoid having my property turned over to your office?
Here are ten ways to ensure your property is not turned over to our office:
- Make sure you update addresses with insurance companies, investor relations and utility providers.
- Promptly cash all refund, rebate and dividend checks.
- Respond to stock shareholder service requests for action.
- Resolve insurance claims in full.
- Identify co-owners or beneficiaries of financial and investment accounts.
- Automatic withdrawal for safe deposit box rental fees.
- Make deposits at financial institutions where you have accounts.
- Use store or vendor credits within one year.
- Update financial and investment accounts following marriage, divorce, death of a spouse or name change.
- Inventory the type and location of financial assets and provide to trusted advisor or friend.
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How long is the Department of Revenue required to hold securities (stocks and mutual funds) before they are sold?
By law, DOR holds all securities for one year before they are sold.
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I may have unclaimed funds held by my local municipality or court. How do I claim them?
These funds are held by the County Treasurer on behalf of the courts and municipalities in that county and are not sent to DOR. Contact your County Treasurer for assistance.