By Sentinel Staff
At this taxing time, a bit of relief may be at hand for you.
Just look into the Alaska Department of Revenue’s trove of unclaimed property, see if any of it is yours, then ask to have it returned to you.
It’s very easy to do, a local tax expert says, and it’s free.
All you have to do is go to unclaimedproperty.alaska.gov, fill in your name and hit “search.” If you do have money due to you, up will pop a list of entities and the amount you’re owed, ranging from $25 or so to “over $100.”
Using the website, you follow simple instructions, file a claim, verify your identity, and wait for the money.
It may be a long wait while your claim is reviewed, since the staff is small, but our tax expert, who asked not to be named, told of one claim that was filed on a Monday and arrived on Thursday.
The unclaimed property is any amount owed or held by an organization that remains unpaid, uncashed or has no evidence of positive owner activity for an extended period of time – most property is considered abandoned after three years, and turned over to the Alaska Department of Revenue.
The property includes such items as bank accounts, contents of safe deposit boxes, wages, insurance benefits, security deposits, stock dividends and other funds. Sources, which are throughout the United States, include associations, banks, churches, clubs, communities, corporations, credit unions, insurance companies, financial institutions, governmental entities, restaurants, retailers, utilities – you get the idea.
Our tax expert encouraged everyone to check out the site. The state WANTS to get the money returned to you, he insisted – no foolin’.
