Money owed to your business that you may not know about
Updated
Every business tracks what customers owe it. Fewer track what suppliers, banks, insurers and landlords owe it. That second list is where forgotten money hides.
Six places to look
- Supplier credits. Duplicate payments and unapplied credits on your accounts with suppliers.
- Deposits. Utility, lease and equipment deposits for locations you have left.
- Refunds. Insurance premium refunds after a policy change; refunds from cancelled orders.
- Uncashed checks. Payments to you that went to an old address or an old name.
- Old accounts. A bank account or CD opened for a project and forgotten.
- Shares and dividends. Securities received in a deal or held at a transfer agent.
When it is with the state
If the holder could not reach you, the money may already be with the California State Controller. For business-type owners owed $10,000 or more, the largest kinds are:
| Kind of property | Owners with some | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bank accounts and CDs | 3,525 | $129.8M |
| Vendor checks and payables | 2,917 | $64.3M |
| Credits and refunds | 2,530 | $53.8M |
| Utility and security deposits | 418 | $10.1M |
| Securities | 4,615 | $179.2M |
How to check
Search every name and address your company has used, or send them to us and we will search for you. If we file the claim, our fee is 10% of what the state pays, after payment.