Washington State is currently holding an impressive $2.2 billion in unclaimed property, and some of it could belong to you. According to a recent report from the Department of Revenue, the state’s unclaimed property program received a record amount of funds last year, which it retains until rightful owners come forward to claim it.
Unclaimed property often includes assets that are considered lost, forgotten, or abandoned. From July 2023 to June 2024, Washington’s program recorded an unprecedented $365 million in unclaimed property, originating from approximately 12.4 million individual items.
Fortunately, Washington is proactive in its efforts to return this money to its rightful owners. Last year marked a significant achievement for the program, which successfully returned about 42% of the funds it received—totaling $154 million. This represents nearly an 11% increase compared to the previous year.
A key factor in the increased returns was the implementation of the Money Match program, which became law in 2022. This initiative utilizes LexisNexis data to verify ownership, allowing property to be returned automatically without requiring action from the owners.
Despite the record-breaking returns, approximately $2.2 billion remains available for claim. It’s important to note that the state program primarily manages cash and does not deal with most physical property, such as real estate or vehicles.
To check if you have unclaimed property waiting for you, visit the Department of Revenue’s Unclaimed Property page. By entering your details, you can find out if you have any property in the program. If you do, you will be prompted to complete a claim form and provide identification documents.
