Washington state has more than $1.8 billion in unclaimed property, and one in two people have funds ready to be claimed.
Unclaimed property is any financial property held by an organization that has lost contact with the owner for an extended period of time. This can include uncashed paychecks, forgotten deposits or refunds, utility overpayments or a forgotten back account.
The Washington State Department of Revenue’s claimyourcash.org site allows you to easily search for any unclaimed funds.
“One of the best new features of our new website is there is no login,” said Tom Garden, operations manager with the Department of Revenue. “There’s no password. You don’t have to worry about that. You can just go to claimyourcash.org and then enter your name and hit search.”
The website features help videos to guide you, as well as a fast track process to get you your money faster. If you find unclaimed property, you’ll click on it and follow the next steps. Claim examiners will work with you to validate you as the owner and prove your identity, then the check goes out in the mail.
In the fall, businesses in the state are required to report and remit unclaimed property.
“Right now, thousands upon thousands of names are getting uploaded into our database, so even if you just searched, it’s a good time to search around this time,” Garden said.
You can also include the whole family and make it a fun activity.
“This is the holiday season, so at the holiday table, instead of maybe talking politics, go around the table and search unclaimed property with the family,” Garden said. “Make it a competition.”
To learn more, visit claimyourcash.org.
Sponsored by Department of Revenue. Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.