2009 media releases
Thousands of people eligible for unclaimed millions
1 May 2009
Thousands of people may be in for an unexpected bonus following publication of the latest list of owners of unclaimed money on Inland Revenue's website.
There are 15,200 names on the list, who are owed a total of $14,427,789.
"The sums involved can range from just over $100 to several thousand dollars. However, one person has unclaimed funds of $230,000," said Heather Daly, Group Manager, Customer Operations.
Under the Unclaimed Monies Act 1971, funds left untouched for more than six years are required to be paid to Inland Revenue.
Most unclaimed money is from deposits left in banks and other financial institutions. It includes insurance proceeds, cheques or wages, but is not tax refund money.
"The institution that holds the funds is responsible for making every effort to find the owner, but this can be difficult because of the way people move around. Ultimately the money must be handed over to Inland Revenue."
Ms Daly said it was important to note the money was not tax refunds, nor was it related to tax refunds in any way.
Inland Revenue has records detailing more than 84,000 cases of unclaimed money totalling more than $51 million dating back to 1973. The online records are from October 2005 to February 2009, and were last updated in October 2007.
The online list of names can be found at: http://www.ird.govt.nz/unclaimed-money/
Anyone who believes they may be entitled to unclaimed money, should email unclaimed.monies@ird.govt.nz or write to
Unclaimed Monies
Inland Revenue
P O 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, driver's licence or passport) to the Inland Revenue postal address.
For further information:
Catherine Delore
(04) 890 1743
(029) 890 1743
catherine.delore@ird.govt.nz
Other media releases this year
- Structured finance cases settled
- Inland Revenue warns of party plan pitfalls
- Tax fraudster breached worker trust
- High wealth individuals pay an extra $81 million
- Residential rental property and depreciable items
- Lower Hutt man sentenced for tax evasion
- Two jailed for multi-million dollar tax fraud
- High Court ruling on Westpac case
- Christchurch man jailed for GST fraud
- Tsunami donations tax credits
- Former Queenstown man jailed on tax evasion charges
- Jail for $5 million tax fraud
- Tiler jailed for $1.6 million tax evasion
- Online service makes tax refunds easier
- Inland Revenue welcomes High Court decision
- Auckland property consultant jailed for tax fraud
- Te Kuiti accountant jailed for 12 months for tax evasion
- Property developer sentenced for GST fraud
- Wellington man sentenced for tax fraud
- Man jailed for GST fraud
- Helping you get it right
- Last day for tax returns fast approaching
- Auckland man sentenced on GST fraud charges
- GST fraudster convicted again
- New Plymouth woman jailed for fraud
- Christchurch man sentenced on tax offences
- Extradited tax fraudster sentenced to home detention
- Jail for multimillion dollar tax fraud
- Inland Revenue appeals High Court decision
- Inland Revenue considers voluntary redundancies
- Talk to us, says Commissioner of Inland Revenue
- Apply now for the provisional tax ratio option
- Keep IRD numbers confidential
- Wellington accountant sentenced on tax fraud charges
- Avoid unexpected GST bills on apartment sales
- Nelson man jailed for tax evasion
- Stay informed about KiwiSaver changes
- Tax payment date fast approaching
- Former tax agent employee sentenced for fraud
Corporate Affairs
Inland Revenue
To make a media query:
Phone 04 890 1698 or email mediaqueries@ird.govt.nz
Please note, the email address is only for enquiries from the news media. It is monitored during normal business hours 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
P O Box 2198
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Date published: 01 May 2009
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