Does Maryland Owe You Money In 2021: How To Check

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Money that belongs to Marylanders could be sitting in government accounts, but it's up to you to claim your property. The state of Maryland just published its annual list of more than $59.3 million in assets under state control until it is claimed by the owner or that person's heirs.

Many people who have unclaimed cash don't realize it, whether it's money owed from pension funds, business refunds or other sources.

This year’s 140-page unclaimed property insert ran in more than 25 newspapers for a total of 400,000 copies distributed throughout the state. It lists 69,310 accounts worth millions. Individuals and businesses can also search the online Unclaimed Property database.

In total, the agency has more than 1.1 million accounts with a value of more than $1.9 billion in unclaimed property, according to a news release from the comptroller's office.

The unclaimed property the state monitors includes stocks, bonds, savings accounts, security deposits, contents of safe deposit boxes, insurance proceeds and other valuables which are reported to the state as unclaimed by banks and other financial institutions after three years.

The 2021 Maryland Unclaimed Property insert hit publications statewide on May 30 and continues through mid-June.

“Unclaimed property is all about reuniting Marylanders with money or belongings that have, for various reasons, ended up in the state’s custody,” Comptroller Peter Franchot said in a news release. “There may be stocks, rings of gold that were once your mother’s, and other items of quality. Being on the list may seem like a fantasy, but matching owners with their rightful property is truly a family effort in our agency.”

Anyone who locates their name or that of a family member on the list should contact the comptroller's office at 410-767-1700 (Central Maryland) or toll-free at 1-800-782-7383 or by email at unclaim@marylandtaxes.gov to find out how to reclaim their lost property.

In fiscal year 2020, the comptroller’s office honored 34,746 claims totaling more than $56 million. Since 2007, the agency has returned more than $909 million in unclaimed property to its rightful owners.

Real property is not included on the unclaimed list, according to the comptroller's website.

The owners or their heirs can claim the money at any time; there is no statute of limitations.

Simply search on the Maryland comptroller's website with your first and last name. If you find the name you are searching for, print the claim form ST-912. Complete the form, be sure to indicate the claim number that appears with the account, include copies of any documentation, and submit everything to the Comptroller's Office at the address shown on the form.

Unclaimed property staff will have tables at several county fairs and other major events, contingent on COVID-19 case counts remaining low.

The U.S. government lacks a central website to find unclaimed funds. To search for unclaimed money that may be lying in a different state's treasury, check this list of treasurer's offices.

If you don't have money lying in the state treasury, the government also suggests checking for unclaimed funds from bank failures or unclaimed deposits from credit union closures. You could also check for unclaimed or undelivered tax refunds or a refund from an FHA-insured mortgage.

Finally, you can check for unclaimed back wages, pension money or life insurance funds. Here is how to find out how to search for these unclaimed funds.