Unclaimed Money Lookup - Idaho

Free Idaho Unclaimed Money Lookup

Idaho Unclaimed Money -
The Ultimate Guide 2024

The Gem State has tons of unclaimed assets that you can learn how to claim in our ultimate guide to unclaimed money in Idaho.

Your Guide to Idaho Unclaimed Property

Known as the Gem of the Mountain by the Native Americans who lived there, Idaho later adopted the nickname of the Gem State. Though it is one of the smaller states in the country with only 1.7 million residents, Idaho has plenty of unclaimed assets held by the Unclaimed Property Division under the guidance of the Idaho State Treasurer. Those funds are all available for those who search the state’s database. Once you find any money that shows you as the owner, you can work with the treasurer to claim it.

Though Boise is the largest city in the state, Idaho is home to many cities such as Pocatello, Meridian, Idaho Falls and Twin Falls. Do you live in one of those cities and wish that you had some extra cash for your next camping adventure or road trip? Maybe you need money to pay for a bill that you didn’t expect or just want to put some cash in the bank. Thanks to the Idaho database, you have the chance to find that money and get a check in as little as six weeks. Our ultimate guide to unclaimed money in Idaho ensures that you know how to use the database and file a claim.

What is Unclaimed Property?

An unclaimed property is essentially any type of property that has a monetary value. The property must belong to someone known as the owner who an organization or institution cannot locate. Idaho refers to both organizations and institutions as the holders of those assets. Holders can only get in touch with the state treasurer if it finds that the owner has no interest in the property or made no attempt to obtain it.

This often happens when the owner passes away and has assets that their heirs do not know about. It can also occur if you forgot that you owned an asset or move and do not change your contact information.

One example of the unclaimed property found in Idaho is unclaimed wages. Also known as paychecks, these are checks issued by an employer to an employee. Many people forget to pick up checks when they quit a job after a few hours or because they only worked one shift. If you leave a job due to a toxic environment, you might go to great lengths to avoid your employer and forget that you have a final check. Employers also notify the Idaho State Treasurer about paychecks that employees didn’t cash that includes unpaid expenses or time off.

Insurance benefits and payments are other examples. Also known as a premium, an insurance payment is an amount that you send to the insurer for coverage. You may get a refund check because you paid too much. If you have a deductible and send more than the total amount due, the insurer will send you back a check. Insurance benefits are funds that you receive after filing a claim. This might include money set aside to repair your vehicle after an accident or funds to make repairs to your home. Insurers also release beneficiary payments to those listed on a policy when an individual dies. In some cases, Idaho will also have safe deposit boxes and stocks and/or bonds for those who search the database.

How Much Unclaimed Money Does Idaho Have?

The Idaho State Treasurer is responsible for holding millions of dollars along with millions more than it receives every year. As of April 2021, the official website lists the total holdings of the state at more than $110 million, which is around $64 per person. Though some people may only find a few dollars worth of assets, others find property with a value of $100 or more. You can easily find out how much you can claim when you use our guide to using the database. The United States as a whole has more than $40 million in unclaimed money, which doesn’t include the funds held by certain agencies and organizations.

Your Step by Step Guide to Finding Unclaimed Property in Idaho

If you have any questions about unclaimed money in Idaho, we recommend that you visit the Idaho Unclaimed Property website. You can also use this site to keep track of your claim after you file it.

Step 1: Skip the homepage and head to the Search for Unclaimed Property page on the website. This page gives you some basic tips on how to search.

Step 2: Look for the search box, which you’ll see on the right side of the page. You need to enter your last name in the first box that you see, which is also the only box that you need to use. Idaho recommends adding your first name if you think that your name will bring up too many results. You can replace your last name with the name of a business as well as add either your city or zip code before clicking the “Submit” button.

Step 3: Wait for the site to finish its search based on your criteria and bring up the results that it found. You will see eight columns across the page that show you the name of the owner and the co-owner’s name if the asset has one. Idaho will also list the property number and holder’s name along with the exact value of the property. It’s helpful to examine each property before you claim any of them. The “Amount” column is especially helpful as it lets you know if the property is worth claiming. For example, we found several assets listed with a value of $1 or less.

Step 4: Claim your property with one click on the orange “Claim” button located in the left column. This brings up another box that you can click on to view your claim.

Step 5: Confirm that you were the original owner of the property and that your name matches the one shown. You may want to compare your current or old address to the one attached to the asset. Click on the drop-down menu beneath the “Claimant Relationship” box to state whether you are the owner or filing as a business owner, government agency or heir. Click on the “File Claim” button when you’re ready to file.

How to Claim Your Idaho Property

Once you find an Idaho property and show that you’re the owner, the system will help you complete the remaining steps. We’ll take a look at each step and what you need to do.

Step 1: Look for the red asterisk located next to different boxes on the contact information page. Those symbols let you know what Idaho requires and which sections you can skip. The Idaho Treasurer asks for your home address and how you heard about the site along with your email address and a phone number. After adding your first and last names, you can add more information such as your driver’s license number if you want.

Step 2: Check your claim summary to see what type of information Idaho requires. You should get an email that shows you what else you need to file.

Step 3: Take photos of both your official social security card and driver’s license. If you do not have a driver’s license, you can use another photo ID if a government agency issued it. Idaho will also accept official documents that show your SSN.

Step 4: Gather your information and upload copies to your device before visiting the upload page on the website. Idaho asks that you use the claim ID number found on your official claim form and enter it into two different boxes. You will also need to enter the email address you gave the treasurer when filing and confirm it.

Step 5: Scroll down until you find the “Add Document” button. Clicking on it will bring up a box that lets you search your device for the photo or document that you want to add. You can do this up to five times before you need to reload the page.

Step 6: Head to the top of the page and look for a gray box. This box goes over what it means to submit your information. Once you finish reading, click on the box found on the left and submit your claim.

Are There Other Places to Find Unclaimed Property?

Don’t stop your search for abandoned and unclaimed property once you look at the state database. If you spent time in any other state, check with their unclaimed property departments to see if they have a database or partnered with Missing Money. This site works with quite a few states along with some regions of Canada and lets you search for your name or the name of someone you know to find unclaimed property.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is another helpful online resource as it has information about every bank in the nation. Even if you banked with an institution that closed, the FDIC can help you claim the money held in your account and file a claim to get it back. We recommend asking the National Credit Union Administration for help if you used a credit union rather than a traditional bank. The NCUA can help you get the cash held in a credit union back when the institution closes.

Some places to check when you look for unclaimed money and other assets include:

Department of Veterans Affairs: The VA is where veterans go after leaving the military to get benefits such as health insurance and home loans. If you are the beneficiary of a life insurance policy bought with help from the VA, the government agency allows you to claim it. You can get help claiming a policy that lists a loved one as a beneficiary, too.
U.S. Federal Investments: Treasury bonds let you get certificates as a child that you can turn in later to get their face values once they mature. Many people lose their original certificates and assume that the money is gone. As long as you know your social security number, you can use this site to look for bonds.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): HUD can help you avoid the hassles that happen when you can’t make your mortgage payment along with help getting your initial mortgage. When you check with HUD, you may find that it issued a check in your name that you never got but can now claim,
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: The Pension Guaranty Corporation ensures that workers who open pensions can claim their money when they retire. One of the nice things about this site is that it lets you search with just an individual’s name. You may even find that one of your parents listed you as a beneficiary of their pension.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Don’t let the stories you hear about the IRS from using the government website to search for missing money. The IRS can help you track uncashed refund payments and get your money even years after you filed your taxes.
U.S. Railroad Retirement Board: If you have any loved ones who worked for the railroad, we recommend using this site to see if they left behind any retirement funds. You can legally claim the funds as an heir in most cases, even if the deceased did not name you a beneficiary.

Unclaimed Property Laws in Idaho

It’s helpful to take a look at Idaho’s unclaimed property laws to make sure that you have a legal right to an asset, especially if you plan to file for property owned by a deceased parent. You can also find out if a holder followed the laws in Idaho and what to do if you learn that they broke one or more of these laws.

Idaho Unclaimed Money FAQs

What Does Idaho Do with Safe Deposit Boxes?

Safe deposit boxes are one of the only types of tangible assets that the Idaho State Treasurer will hold. It often receives the contents from those boxes when the owners pass away without naming any beneficiaries. Idaho requires that the holder make sure that the owner is deceased or has no interest in the box through letters sent to their last known home or work address. The state will then hold the property for a period of three years before holding an auction. It will advertise the sale in local papers no less than three weeks before the auction date. You have up until the day of the auction to file a claim that shows you are either the owner or the original owner’s heir.

Can You Give Up a Claim to a Property?

If you find a property in the Idaho database that you no longer want, you have two options. The first is that you can simply ignore it. Idaho does not require that you claim all of your listed assets and lets you file one claim for all that you do want. You can also donate your property. Once you reach the contact information page, scroll down and click on the box located next to the “Donate My Property” line. You can then use the drop-down menu to show that you want to donate it to the Idaho General Fund or Public School Permanent Endowment Fund. Idaho also lets you donate to the Park and Recreation Capital Improvement Fund or the Veterans Cemetery Maintenance Fund.

Does the Idaho Unclaimed Property Division Ever Contact Owners?

Idaho does several things in the hopes of getting in touch with missing property owners. It uses social media such as Facebook to let people know when it adds new names to the system. You may see ads in the newspaper or hear commercials on the radio or television that encourage listeners to check the site. Idaho’s outreach efforts also include promotional events held in cities across the state. Some residents will also receive letters from the treasurer that tell them they have unclaimed property they can claim.

How Long Does Idaho Hold Unclaimed Assets?

The Gem State added a new code to its regulations in 2012 that require the state to hold all unclaimed assets indefinitely. You don’t need to worry that the treasurer might transfer your money to one of the public funds if you don’t come forward within five or 10 years. Even if you lost an asset 20+ years ago, the state will still list it in the database. The only exception is for tangible property. In addition to the public auctions it holds to dispose of safe deposit boxes, Idaho will also sell stocks and bonds after holding them for three years.

Who Can Claim a Deceased's Property?

Idaho allows different types of people to claim a deceased’s property. In many cases, this is the executor of the estate who a judge names during the probate case. The judge may also name a personal representative. If the estate has a small value, the representative can claim any property and either become the new owner or transfer it to another person. The closest living relative can also file a claim if the estate does not require probate court. Idaho considers the living spouse as the next of kin followed by any children that the deceased has. In some cases, the deceased’s siblings, parents or grandchildren can file for their property.

How Long Does it Take Idaho to Release Your Funds?

Idaho tries to return lost assets to the owners within a few months. If you get a letter from the state that includes a property ID number, most of your information is already in the system. This helps you complete the process faster and may help you get your check in a month or less. Some find that the process takes much longer because Idaho needs a signed affidavit or notarized documents from them.

Should You Pay an Asset Finder?

Some people think that they need an asset finder to navigate through the complicated world of unclaimed property. Idaho encourages anyone looking for lost money or assets to use its online system and see how easily it lets them file a claim. The Gem State has a law on the books that prohibits asset finders from filing claims and getting money for a period of two years. Any asset that it receives will go live and allow the owners to claim them. Asset finders have to wait two years before they can take money from you in exchange for filing your claim.

Are There Ways to Protect Abandoned Property?

Many types of property become abandoned when the owner passes away and the family can’t find their assets. No matter how old you are, create a detailed list of all of your assets and the information that your family and friends need to access them. You should also name beneficiaries and let them know that they can claim the assets. We also recommend logging into any online accounts that you have every six to 12 months and updating your information as needed.

Conclusion

Whether you live in Boise or one of the smaller cities in Idaho, you can use the Unclaimed Property Division to find dozens of different types of assets. Many find that they locate at least one asset in the database and that their searches only took five minutes or less. You can gather your required documents and upload them just as quickly. Use our ultimate guide to unclaimed money in Idaho to get an idea of what you might find before checking with the state. We offer helpful guides to other states that can also help you on your hunt for unclaimed property.

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