Property type
Uncashed paychecks and wages
Final paychecks, bonuses and payroll checks — how they become unclaimed and how to find them.
A final paycheck mailed to an old address, a small bonus check that was never deposited, or a payroll direct deposit that bounced from a closed account can all become unclaimed property. Employers that cannot reach a former employee must report the wages to the state.
Wages often have a shorter dormancy period than bank accounts — in many states about one year rather than several. That means a job you left only a year or two ago can already have something on file.
Who should check
- Anyone who left a job without updating their mailing address.
- Seasonal and temporary workers, and anyone paid through a staffing agency.
- People who moved shortly after leaving a job.
Where to search
The employer reports to the state tied to your last known address in its payroll records. Search the state you lived in while you worked there, and the state where the employer is based if different.