Does Georgia Owe You Money In 2020: Find Out Here

ATLANTA, GA — Your money could be sitting in government accounts, but it's up to you to claim your property. The Georgia Department of Revenue holds on to millions of dollars until it is claimed by the rightful owner or that person's heirs. Many people who have unclaimed cash don't realize it, whether it's money owed from pension funds, business refunds or other sources.

What is unclaimed property? Typically that includes past wages, savings accounts, customer refunds, accounts payable, insurance payments, shares of stock, escrow funds, royalties and contents from safe deposit boxes. Most property is reported to the department after five years of inactivity.

While the U.S. government lacks a central website to find unclaimed funds, it recommends starting the search by looking for unclaimed money through the Georgia Department of Revenue website. Its Unclaimed Property Search form allows residents to input their name and city to begin the search.

Claim forms are mailed directly to the listed owner unless the owner is deceased. If the listed owner is a company or other organization, the claim forms will be mailed to the company address to the attention of an officer or other designated employee.

For questions about unclaimed property, call Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (excluding state holidays), at (855) 329-9863.

To search for unclaimed money that may be lying in a different state's treasury, click here.

If you don't have money lying in the state treasury, the government also suggests checking for unclaimed funds from bank failures or unclaimed deposits from credit union closures. You could also check for unclaimed or undelivered tax refunds or a refund from an FHA-insured mortgage.

Finally, you can check for unclaimed back wages, pension money or life insurance funds. Here is how to find out how to search for these unclaimed funds.