(AUSTIN) Many Texans had more money in their pockets after Texas Comptroller Susan Combs returned a record $147 million in unclaimed property to its owners in fiscal 2009 a 19 percent increase compared to fiscal 2008.
Combs has expanded her agencys efforts to locate unclaimed property owners producing an 18 percent increase in the number of claims filed in fiscal 2009 compared to the previous year. Nearly 49000 owners reclaimed $100 $500; about 15000 owners reclaimed $500 $1000; and 17385 claimed more than $1000.
During the Texas State Fair open through Oct. 18 in Dallas hundreds more unclaimed property owners will discover forgotten funds by searching the unclaimed property list at the Comptrollers annual exhibit in the Grand Place Building near the giant figure of Big Tex.
The current balance in the states unclaimed property fund is $2 billion and that is far too much unclaimed money" Combs said. That money belongs to Texans and I know reclaiming it would make a difference to many people in these tough times. Were making every effort to let folks know about their unclaimed property and help them claim it."
Those efforts include searching the unclaimed property list at conventions festivals sporting events and other venues that attract large crowds in addition to the longstanding exhibit at the State Fair. The Comptroller has added temporary staff to process simple claims from original owners of unclaimed property freeing veteran staff to handle complex claims. An average of 2000 simple claims are processed each week.
Not all unclaimed property belongs to individuals and businesses. City and county governments owned $1.6 million of the money reclaimed in fiscal 2009. The Comptrollers Unclaimed Property and Local Government Assistance teams have begun a collaborative outreach effort to inform local officials about potential revenue from the unclaimed property fund.
Local governments are facing financial challenges" Combs said. When we receive money that clearly belongs to a city or county we contact them immediately and encourage them to claim it."
In fiscal 2009 the Comptroller returned money to about 357 cities and 211 counties.
It is easy to search the unclaimed property database and reclaim forgotten funds at www.claimittexas.org
(AUSTIN) Many Texans had more money in their pockets after Texas Comptroller Susan Combs returned a record $147 million in unclaimed property to its owners in fiscal 2009 a 19 percent increase compared to fiscal 2008.
Combs has expanded her agencys efforts to locate unclaimed property owners producing an 18 percent increase in the number of claims filed in fiscal 2009 compared to the previous year. Nearly 49000 owners reclaimed $100 $500; about 15000 owners reclaimed $500 $1000; and 17385 claimed more than $1000.
During the Texas State Fair open through Oct. 18 in Dallas hundreds more unclaimed property owners will discover forgotten funds by searching the unclaimed property list at the Comptrollers annual exhibit in the Grand Place Building near the giant figure of Big Tex.
The current balance in the states unclaimed property fund is $2 billion and that is far too much unclaimed money" Combs said. That money belongs to Texans and I know reclaiming it would make a difference to many people in these tough times. Were making every effort to let folks know about their unclaimed property and help them claim it."
Those efforts include searching the unclaimed property list at conventions festivals sporting events and other venues that attract large crowds in addition to the longstanding exhibit at the State Fair. The Comptroller has added temporary staff to process simple claims from original owners of unclaimed property freeing veteran staff to handle complex claims. An average of 2000 simple claims are processed each week.
Not all unclaimed property belongs to individuals and businesses. City and county governments owned $1.6 million of the money reclaimed in fiscal 2009. The Comptrollers Unclaimed Property and Local Government Assistance teams have begun a collaborative outreach effort to inform local officials about potential revenue from the unclaimed property fund.
Local governments are facing financial challenges" Combs said. When we receive money that clearly belongs to a city or county we contact them immediately and encourage them to claim it."
In fiscal 2009 the Comptroller returned money to about 357 cities and 211 counties.
It is easy to search the unclaimed property database and reclaim forgotten funds at www.claimittexas.org
