Escheatment in California: the money owed back to businesses

Updated November 8, 2026

Businesses usually meet escheatment as a compliance chore: reporting their own uncashed checks. The other side gets less attention: the escheated money that other holders have reported for them.

The owner's side, in numbers

In California's file of November 4, 2026: 20,456 business-type owners with California addresses each owed $10,000 or more, $691.4 million in total. 1,053 of them are owed $100,000 or more.

Who reported it

Records come from about 5,889 different holders for these owners alone: banks, brokerages, insurers, and the customers, suppliers and partners businesses deal with every day.

Escheatment and your books

If your company wrote off an old receivable, closed a deposit account or never received a refund, the money may have escheated. Comparing old credits and refunds in your records against the Controller's records can find it.

Reclaiming escheated funds

Prove authority, the FEIN and the address on the record, sign the claim form in wet ink (notarized at $1,000+ in cash or for securities), and file by mail, courier or in person. The Controller decides within 180 days of a complete package.