If you've got money that belongs to you which could be claimed from a bank or a tax refund, don't you think it's about time you get your hands on the cash that you're owed? The fact is, millions of dollars in cash are unclaimed because people choose to move house or city, and they can't receive the checks that have been sent to them in the post. In fact, there are dollars lying unclaimed in everything from forgotten 401K plans, to old company pensions and bank accounts. Knowing where to check for free unclaimed money is a good way to start getting back the cash that's rightfully yours.
Where to Start: Tax Refunds
If you're wondering where to check for free unclaimed money, one of the best places to start is with tax refunds. Every year, thousands of refund checks sent out by the IRS are returned to the sender because taxpayers have changed their name or address. If you moved home before the IRS had a chance to send a refund out to you, then you could have missed out on money that you are legally owed.
Similarly, state tax refunds don't always find their way to the people that deserve them, because those people make the choice to move house, change their name, or their address is misfiled in the tax database. On the plus side, there are a range of websites out there where you can start looking for unclaimed money by state, province, or territory.
Retirement Benefits and Pensions:
Another good place to consider when you're wondering where to check for free unclaimed money, is retirement benefits. Old retirement funds and pensions can be completely forgotten about when people decide to change their job or move to a different location. Even if the amount in your old pension balance is relatively small, the interests could mean that the amount you are owed has gradually grown into a surprise that is well worth tracking down in time for your pension. Fortunately, the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits offers a fantastic resource for this purpose.
Treasury Funds:
According to information given by the Treasury Department, there are literally tens of thousands of payments that are returned to their doorstep as undeliverables every year. In other words, the Treasury fund has a record of literally billions of dollars in savings bonds that have stopped paying interest. The best thing you can do in this case is to turn your bond in as quickly as possible, so that you can start earning money on the cash you have built up over the years.
Bank Accounts:
Finally, a lot of people simply leave unclaimed amounts of money sitting in old bank accounts that they forget about when they move their cash into different banks or accounts. This money could be made up of old wages or tax refunds and insurance payments. Either way, it is legally owed to you, and you should be able to claim it back if you can track down the various old accounts that are held in your name.