IRD releases list of $11m in unclaimed money

The Inland Revenue Department has published a list of owners of $11 million of unclaimed money on its website.

Most of the unclaimed money comes from deposits left in banks and other financial institutions, and includes insurance proceeds, cheques or wages.

Under the Unclaimed Monies Act 1971, funds left untouched for more than six years are required to be paid to the Inland Revenue Department. Unclaimed money does not include tax refunds.

The Inland Revenue Department has records detailing more than 100,000 cases of unclaimed money, totalling more than $40 million, dating back to 1973. The online records are for the period 2005/07.

The online list of 12,000 names of owners of unclaimed money and can be found right here.

Anyone who believes they may be entitled to unclaimed money should email or write to: Unclaimed Monies, Inland Revenue, PO Box 38222, Wellington Mail Centre.

People who wish to claim the money must forward their name, address, IRD number, and proof of identity (such as a copy of a birth certificate, drivers' licence or passport) to the Inland Revenue Department postal address above.