You can search for unclaimed money through myIR or our website, using the name of a person or organisation.
If you're claiming for yourself, myIR is the quickest and easiest way.
Before you start
When you submit a claim, you need to provide information that helps confirm who the owner of the money is. You can also attach evidence to your claim. For example:
- past contact information such as addresses you lived at when you had your account relating to the money
- a copy of an old statement or other correspondence showing your connection with the organisation or person who passed the money to us
- for an estate, providing a copy of the will.
Search in myIR for unclaimed money
You can use this option to search for yourself using the name shown in myIR and associated with your IRD number. It is not available for organisations, trusts or estates.
As we know who you are, you do not have to supply identifying details. You just need to give us additional information about the connection you have with the money.
- After you log in to myIR, go to 'I want to...'
- Go to 'Registration, application and enrolment'.
- Select 'Apply for unclaimed money'. The form allows you to search for unclaimed money and apply for any that matches your details.
Search our website for unclaimed money
Use this option if you are searching:
- on behalf of an organisation, trust or estate
- for an individual person other than yourself
- for yourself as an individual under another name
- for yourself and you do not have a myIR account.
To submit a claim for money you believe is yours, select the relevant search results and give us additional information about yourself and the connection you have with the money.
If you are acting on behalf of someone else, you need to provide evidence that you have the authority to act for them.
If you do not have a myIR account, you can still search for and claim unclaimed money here.
Go to this toolYou can also make a claim by writing to us. Post your details and evidence to:
Inland Revenue
PO Box 39010
Wellington Mail Centre
Lower Hutt 5045
New Zealand
What happens next
We take a minimum of 12 weeks to process claims from when we receive them. During periods of high demand, we may take longer than this.
To help our team process your claim, please attach as much evidence as possible with your submission. If you do not, your claim may be delayed.
When we receive your claim, we will check the information you have sent against the records we hold. We will contact you if we need any more information.
Once we have processed your claim we will let you know the outcome. If your claim is successful, we will pay you the money into the bank account you have supplied. Or, if you request it, we can transfer the money to a tax debt you may have.