Does Wisconsin Owe You Money In 2021: How To Check

WISCONSIN — Money that belongs to Wisconsinites could be sitting in government accounts, but it's up to you to claim your property.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has managed the state's unclaimed property program since 2013 and has matched about $8.2 million in unclaimed property to its rightful owners, according to a news release in March.

Do You Have Unclaimed Money? Find out using the Department of Revenue's searchable database.

"Getting this property in the hands of its owners is something we take pride in doing," says DOR Secretary Peter Barca in a statement. "Mailing the checks this year is especially sweet as so many households continue to struggle with taking care of the basics like paying bills, rent and buying groceries."

Beyond the $8.2 million in matched claims is another $625 million yet to be claimed.. An unclaimed property search on the DOR website takes seconds and is available to everyone.

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.

Property becomes unclaimed or abandoned when there isn't owner activity on the account for a period of one to five years.

For more information:

PO Box 8982Madison, WI 53708-8982

Phone: (608) 264-4594

Email: DORUnclaimedProperty@wisconsin.gov