Free services available
- You can use free government services to find unclaimed money.
- There are services called "money finding agents" that can help you claim, but they follow the same process as if you claim yourself. They may also charge you a fee.
- If you do choose to use a claim service, make sure the person you work with is a registered professional, such as a lawyer, accountant or financial adviser.
Before you engage a claim service visit the MoneySmart website.
What is unclaimed money?
In Australia, unclaimed money is regulated by federal and state laws. These laws include:
- Banking Act 1959 No. 6, 1959 (Commonwealth)
- Unclaimed Money Act 1995 No 75 (NSW)
Revenue NSW, the agency responsible for the state's unclaimed money register, defines it as:
unclaimed money is money that you are legally entitled to that you did not receive.
Money typically becomes unclaimed when people forget to update their name or contact details with businesses, have lost paperwork, or when estates are unaware of funds belonging to deceased relatives.
Find out more about unclaimed money
How Revenue NSW can help
The unclaimed money register, managed by Revenue NSW, includes funds from overpayments, uncashed cheques, dividends, refunds, and other amounts owed to individuals.
You can use Revenue NSW free online service to find money owed to you and learn what you need to do to claim it.
Other government services
Australian Taxation Office – Check for lost super
ASIC's MoneySmart – Find unclaimed money
Fair Work Ombudsman – Check for unpaid wages
Unclaimed money held in other states
You may also want to check if another state, territory or Commonwealth agency is holding your unclaimed money.
- ACT Public Trustee and Guardian
- NT Department of Treasury and Finance
- Public Trustee of Queensland
- Tasmanian Department of Treasury and Finance
- State Revenue Office of Victoria
- WA Department of Treasury