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$5m just waiting to be collected
By RYAN BRIDGE -
The Dominion Post
05:00 31/05/2010

More than $5 million of the public's money is languishing in Inland Revenue's bank account, waiting to be claimed.

Thousands of Kiwis are owed a share of the $5m, none of whom know it is theirs. Most of the unclaimed money comes from wages, cheques, bank deposits, and insurance proceeds dating back to 1973.

All unclaimed monies are transferred from banks and financial institutions to the IRD after six years. Figures obtained by The Dominion Post confirm $5.1m in unclaimed money is owed to businesses and individuals for the financial year ending March 2010. The IRD stresses that the money is not tax refunds – it is just held until an owner is found.

The amount up for grabs in 2010 is up 39 per cent from $3.7m the previous year, to March 2009.

IRD senior media adviser Catherine Delore said the unclaimed amount fluctuated from year to year depending on how much was received and how much claimed.

A list of people owed money, and the amount, is available on the IRD website. Unless claimed, the money is held indefinitely.

Find Your Name

To see whether you're owed money visit www.ird.govt.nz/unclaimed-money.

If your name is on the list, write to Inland Revenue or email unclaimed.monies@ird.govt.nz.

You must include your name, address, IRD number and proof of identity.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3756166/5m-just-waiting-to-be-collected

There is nobody with my current surname on the list :(

There are a couple of names under a differently spelled form of my maiden name that could be uncles or a cousin but then it is a more common name so maybe not.

but it's fun searching, isn't it. Hope springs eternal.. :D

It would appear I am absent from the list.