Unclaimed Money Lookup - Arizona

Free Arizona Unclaimed Money Lookup

Arizona Unclaimed Money -
The Ultimate Guide 2024

Check out our ultimate guide to Arizona unclaimed money to find out where this money is and how you can get it.

Arizona Unclaimed Money

Known as The Grand Canyon State, Arizona is the sixth largest state in the nation and home to more than 7.4 million people. If you currently live in Arizona or once did, you can do an unclaimed money search today. Our ultimate guide helps you find funds held by the state government as well as the federal government. You can also get help finding out how to claim money held by other organizations and any property that belongs to you.

How Does Arizona Define Unclaimed Money?

Like most states, Arizona defines unclaimed money as any type of money where an individual or business holds funds that belong to someone else. The holder is responsible for trying to find the owner and must make multiple attempts to locate them and return their money. One thing to keep in mind is that the holder does not need to make any attempts to find the owner if the owner moves outside The Grand Canyon State. After Arizona becomes the holder, it will retain the original name and address listed by the owner.

Unclaimed property is similar but refers to tangible goods or products. The most common examples include physical property that a bank holds when an owner abandons a safe deposit bank. If you moved suddenly and forgot that you opened the box, the bank may continue charging your card on file until it expires. The bank will then try to find you and eventually turn the property over to the state until you file a claim.

What are Some of the Types of Unclaimed Money and Property?

Unclaimed money includes all funds held by an individual or organization in your name. This often includes any type of check that you didn’t cash. Did you open layaway at a store and then stopped making payments? While you might think that the money returned to the store, the store will usually hold the balance after charging a restocking fee.

It will send you a check, but if you no longer live there, the check returns to the store. Checks can also come from companies where you worked and deposits that you put down as well as refunds issued in your name.

Arizona may have unclaimed money in the form of bank accounts, too. Take for example a bank account that you thought you closed. If you left any funds in a checking or savings account, it will continue accumulating interest on those funds. While you might get a check for just a few dollars, that check might include hundreds of dollars or more. Another example is a credit balance, which occurs when a company owes you money. You can also look for refunds from utility companies when you move.

Why Does Arizona Hold Unclaimed Money?

Arizona believes that unclaimed money still belongs to the rightful owner, which is why it helps those owners find their missing funds. If the owner never comes forward, the state can eventually take ownership of the property and become the legal owner. Arizona is one of the only states that issue an annual report that shows all unclaimed property and money in the state. You do not need to wait for that list to come out before searching though as the site makes it easy to find any money that belongs to you. When the holder notifies the state, Arizona will send a written request to your last known address to tell you about the funds. Unless you still live there, you’ll likely miss this notice and need to use the site.

Sources for Arizona Unclaimed Property Other Than Missing Money

Though you can use both Missing Money and the Department of Revenue to find unclaimed money in Arizona, there are tons of other sources that can help you with your search, too.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is an organization responsible for holding any funds once held by a bank or financial institution. Though you likely assume that banks will last for years, they can either close or become part of a larger bank. Your money does not disappear when the bank closes or becomes part of another branch. This organization gives you the option of searching for your money. It has information available for banks that once existed in Arizona and other states.

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Those who served in any branch of the military can get many benefits through the VA such as mortgages to buy their first homes and health insurance. The VA also offers life insurance policies and allows holders to name their beneficiaries. Searching the VA database helps you see if any loved ones had unclaimed policies through the VA.

US Federal Investments

If you think that you have a bond that someone bought for you, check with the U.S. Federal Investments. The Treasury Department issues bonds at a low price that mature in the future. You may have one or more bonds that are worth more now than they were when originally issued.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides help with those facing foreclosure as well as those buying homes. If you or a loved one had a home loan through HUD, the department might have a refund check waiting. This website helps you find those checks and also learn about the refund scams that appeared in recent years.

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Many people hold jobs in which they pay into a pension fund with the knowledge that they will receive money from that fund when they retire. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation gives you the option of looking for retirement funds that are still out there in another person’s name. You can use the site to file a claim if you are the beneficiary of one of those accounts.

US Railroad Retirement Board

Arizona is home to several railroads and millions of people who worked for them. The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board maintains an active database of people who worked for the railroads and have pension or retirement funds that they never used. It allows you to look for funds that you can claim on the behalf of a retired person or if you are the beneficiary of an account.

Internal Revenue Service

Have you ever waited for a refund check from the Internal Revenue Service and found that it never came? Through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) database, you can search for federal refunds that you never got. This includes both paper checks sent to you and funds that were not deposited in your bank account.

National Credit Union Administration

If you ever had an account with a credit union, check the National Credit Union Administration for any unclaimed money. This includes credit unions in Arizona and other states as well as federal institutions. Not only can you search for unclaimed money through this site, but it also walks you through the steps of filing your claim.

Unclaimed Arizona Property Database

While some states have dedicated databases that let you search for money and property, Arizona partnered with the Missing Money website through its Department of Revenue. One of the benefits of using this site is that you can easily search for multiple states that might owe you money. Not only can you do a general search that includes your name and all of the listed states, but you can search for the specific states where you once lived or worked.

What Information Do You Need to Run an Unclaimed Property Search?

Arizona requires different things to search for unclaimed money than it does to file a claim. The Missing Money website is easy to use and only asks for a minimum of your last name. Using just your last name increases the results that you get, which is why you should also add your first name or at least your initial. To file a claim, you need:

a completed claim form that you can get online
a copy of your photo ID or a notary’s signature on the bottom of your claim form
proof that you have a valid social security number
some type of proof that you lived at the known address shown on the claim form

What Are the Steps to Making an Unclaimed Money Claim?

Step 1: Visit the Unclaimed Property Search created by the Arizona Department of Revenue.

Step 2: Scroll down until you see the search box, which is around the middle of the page. Type your last name in the second box and your first name if you want to narrow down the results. You also have the choice of looking for unclaimed property in Arizona held in the name of a business.

Step 3: Wait for the site to redirect you to the Missing Money website. Several states use Missing Money to help residents find unclaimed money and property. You can skip using the Department of Revenue website and go directly to Missing Money.

Step 4: Check out all of the names listed on the left of the screen to find your name. Arizona not only shows that it has a hold on the money, but it will also list as much information is available. You can see if the name matches a past address that you had and both who reported the money and the amount. We noticed that Arizona often states that the amount is unknown and the holder was not disclosed. If there is a co-owner listed on the account, you can view that, too.

Step 5: Click on one of the “Claim” buttons to file a claim in Arizona.

Step 6: Confirm that the details on the site are accurate and match your personal information. Arizona will list the full name and address of the claimant.

Step 7: Fill out the entire form, starting with the relationship box. Arizona asks if you are the original owner or believe that the property belongs to your business. You can also select an option to file on the behalf of a deceased person or a person who is still alive.

Step 8: Add all of your information to the boxes on the bottom of the page to claim your missing money. Arizona requires your full name and email address along with your phone number. You have the right to claim funds if you no longer live in Arizona. If you need to claim funds as a business owner, the site has a box that you can click to load that form.

How Much Unclaimed Money is in Arizona?

The Arizona Department of Revenue claims that the state has more than $1.5 billion in unclaimed money and property that belongs to others. This figure only refers to the money and property that Arizona holds. When you factor in all of the other states, there are billions of dollars in unclaimed funds.

Will Arizona Hold Unclaimed Money Forever?

People often assume that states will either keep their money forever or just for a few years. Arizona has a statute of limitations that states it will only hold funds for a period of 35 years. The clock starts as soon as the holder notifies the state. If you do not file a claim within 35 years, Arizona will become the rightful owner of the money. Arizona is not responsible for holding the funds that belong to you if the holder is in a different state. Let’s say that you lived in Arizona while in college and moved to California for your first job before moving back in your twenties. Any money that a company or individual holds on your behalf in California will not appear in the Arizona database. If you lived anywhere else over the years, you’ll want to check the databases in those states.

Arizona Unclaimed Money Finder

The Arizona Department of Revenue provides everything that you need to know about searching for unclaimed money and filing claims. It also provides you with a small search box that directs you to the Missing Money site.

Unclaimed Money Laws in Arizona

A good place to find out more about unclaimed money laws in Arizona is in this Quick Reference Guide. It goes over the reporting requirements for holders as well as what they need to do to report abandoned money. You’ll find similar help for the owners of unclaimed money in Arizona.

Do I Need an Arizona Money Finder?

Professional money finders include both entities and people who will search and file claims for you. The most common reason to use one is that you don’t think that you can complete the steps. We’ve heard from people who requested a claim form online and then forgot to file the claim once it came in the mail. Arizona will eventually return the funds to the database and allow others to claim them. A professional finder can search the Arizona database and the databases in other states and file claims for you. Before you get your money though, the finder will take a percentage.

How Can I Protect Myself?

To protect yourself, make sure that you keep detailed records about all of your accounts and that you update them as needed. This includes adding new beneficiaries if you go through a divorce or lose a family member and filing a change of address when you move. You should also make a legal will and let your heirs know where it is in your home. Arizona allows you to make a will without legal help as long as two witnesses watch you sign it.

Arizona Unclaimed Money FAQ

Can I Claim Money if I No Longer Live at the Same Address?

Many people don’t know that they have missing money because the notices went to their old addresses. You can still file a claim in Arizona if your address changed as long as you can prove that you once lived there. Arizona accepts proof such as a utility bill, bank statement, auto registration, or court papers. You can also use any mail that lists both your name and the old address.

How Can I File if the Claim Lists Multiple People?

Some Arizona unclaimed money accounts list one or more joint owners. This can occur if you opened a bank account with a parent or shared property with a former spouse. If the other person passed away, you can file with a copy of the individual’s death certificate. Arizona will accept a divorce report along with a property statement from divorced couples. If you no longer have contact with the other owner, you can submit a notarized statement that shows you do not know the person’s location. Arizona will give you the percentage of the account that you own.

Can I File a Claim for a Living Person?

You may find unclaimed money in Arizona that belongs to a parent or elderly relative. While you can fill out the online form for them, you cannot file the full claim and get the money unless you have proof that you have the individual’s power of attorney. Arizona will also accept an official letter that shows you are in charge of the person’s trust or proof that you are the parent of a minor child who is the claimant. As a parent, you also need a copy of the child’s birth certificate.

How Do I File on the Behalf of a Deceased Person?

Arizona has several steps that you need to file when claiming money for someone who passed away. You need to start with the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property, which is available online. Along with this form, you need to submit a copy of the person’s official will or trust. If the estate is worth $75,000 or more, you need to go through probate before filing a claim. The state usually does not let you claim missing money or property until 60 days after the person’s death.

Can I Get a Form if I Don't Have a Printer?

When filing claims in Arizona, you can complete most steps online. The last steps require printing the form and signing it before returning it to the Department of Revenue. If you do not have a printer, you can send an email to the department with your claim information and let them know that you cannot print the form. You also have the option of calling the department at (602) 364-0380 between the hours of 8 and 5 on weekdays. The state will send the form to your home with your information already listed on it.

How Long Do I Have to Claim My Money?

As we already stated above, Arizona will hold unclaimed money for a period of 35 years. This gives you plenty of time to find your money in the database and claim it. There are exceptions regarding physical property though. Arizona will liquidate both securities and the contents of the safe deposit box within three years of receiving the property. It will then hold the proceeds from the liquidation for 35 years. While you cannot get the contents of your box back after three years, you can request the proceeds from the sale of the contents.

Conclusion

Our ultimate guide to unclaimed money in Arizona for 2024 goes over everything that you need to know about finding any type of property or money in the state as well as how to use a claim to get it. Check out our guides to other states to get more help.

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