| Every year, the Internal Revenue service and | | | | the companies who have checks that have not |
| various state and local governments issue a list of | | | | cleared their bank be forwarded to them for |
| taxpayers that never received their refunds. | | | | unclaimed funds. Sometimes people have no idea |
| These refunds sit in the governments' accounts | | | | how they are owed money, but these companies |
| until they are claimed by the taxpayer. There are | | | | do owe you. If you wait too long to collect it, you |
| numerous ways this happens. Some people may | | | | may never see it. There are even some people |
| move and not have any mail forwarded to their | | | | who get these lists and try to contact the people |
| new address. Some may pass away and have | | | | who are owed money. |
| nobody to claim monies owed to them. | | | | The entities which owe you the money usually will |
| These entities owe this money to the taxpayer | | | | not go beyond trying to mail it to you at the |
| and if it goes unclaimed for too long, it may legally | | | | address they have on file. In other words they do |
| become the entities' money. There are ways you | | | | no follow up, like they would if you owed them |
| can check to see if you are on a list for money | | | | money. As a tax preparer, I have clients who are |
| owed to you. If you do a Google search, you can | | | | afraid of the IRS or their state and local |
| find sites that will give you a way to search for | | | | governments, so they won't pursue these issues. |
| your name and then instructions on how to get | | | | Often times you would only have to fill out a |
| the money. | | | | simple form that changes your address. |
| There are also many other situations other than | | | | Sometimes you may need to go a little further to |
| tax returns that the governments will hold money. | | | | provide a lot more proof of who you are. Visit |
| Working in a tax department for a large | | | | The IRS to find out if you are owed money from |
| company, I had the chance to see many things. | | | | the IRS. |
| Most states have a requirement for payroll for | | | | |