The Washington state Department of Revenue's Unclaimed Property Program has returned an all-time high of $138.9 million in unclaimed property to thousands of Washingtonians this past year, the department announced in a news release.
The program is a free public service administered by the Department of Revenue. Each year, banks and other businesses turn over unclaimed money, stocks, and securities to the program. Revenue holds the property until it is claimed by the rightful owner or heir.
The amount returned in fiscal year 2023 far exceeded the $89.4 million returned in 2022, the department reported.
More money also is coming in to the program. Washington state law requires businesses and other organizations to review their records each year to determine whether they hold any funds, securities, or other property that has remained unclaimed for the required abandonment period and turn it over.
Holders reported a record $322 million in unclaimed property, up more than $75 million from $246.5 million the prior year.
This spring, Revenue also launched the new Money Match program, which automatically returns unclaimed property to Washingtonians after verifying ownership and without requiring an owner to file a claim or submit documentation. Since the new program launched, it has issued 9,104 checks for a total of $1.2 million, according to the news release.
"Returning money to rightful owners is the best job in state government," Washington's Unclaimed Property Administrator Patti Wilson said in the news release. "It is especially great when we return money to individuals who did not know they had money coming to them."
Check claimyourcash.org to see if you have money waiting to be claimed.
