Resources · Updated June 2026

How to Find Unclaimed Money in Australia (Free Government Search)

There’s a genuine chance some money out there belongs to you — a forgotten bank account, an unpaid share dividend, an old super fund, a bond you never got back. ASIC alone holds around $2.6 billion in lost bank accounts, shares and life insurance, and there are billions more in lost super. Here’s exactly how to find and claim it, for free, from the official sources.

Search Moneysmart (free) →See the steps

What ‘Unclaimed Money’ Actually Is

Unclaimed money is money that belongs to you but has been transferred to a government body for safekeeping after the holder lost contact with you or a set period passed. ASIC holds lost bank accounts, life insurance and shares; the ATO holds lost super; and state revenue offices hold bonds, estates, wages and refunds. It’s held indefinitely and can be claimed at any time, for free.

Money typically becomes unclaimed when:

Bank accounts have been inactive — no deposits or withdrawals — for seven years.

Life insurance policies mature and stay unclaimed for seven years.

Shares or managed investments can’t be paid because a company can’t contact the holder for six years or more.

Deregistered companies leave behind money or property that passes to ASIC.

Crucially, becoming ‘unclaimed’ doesn’t mean you’ve lost it. The money is held indefinitely and can be claimed at any time by the rightful owner.

1. Search ASIC’s Moneysmart (Bank Accounts, Life Insurance, Shares)

The first stop is ASIC’s free unclaimed money search on Moneysmart. It covers the money ASIC holds — lost bank accounts, matured life insurance, and share or investment proceeds. There’s around $2.6 billion sitting in this category waiting to be claimed, and the search is open to anyone: you can look up your own name, a family member’s, or a deceased relative’s estate.

Each record carries a unique Original Transaction Number (OTN) — write it down, because you’ll need it to lodge a claim. ASIC pays interest on amounts it has held since 1 July 2013, so a long-lost balance may be worth more than the original sum. Start at the Moneysmart unclaimed money search.

2. Find Lost Superannuation Through the ATO

Super is where most Australians have money they’ve forgotten about. Every time you change jobs without consolidating, you can leave a super account behind; if an account becomes inactive or has a low balance, the fund may transfer it to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The result is billions of dollars in lost and ATO-held super.

The quickest way to find it is to log in to myGov linked to ATO online services, where you can see all your super accounts — including anything the ATO holds — and consolidate them into one fund in a few clicks. You can also call the ATO on 13 28 65. There’s no charge to find or consolidate your super.

3. Search Your State or Territory Revenue Office

ASIC and the ATO don’t hold everything. States and territories keep their own registers for other kinds of unclaimed money — deceased estates, rental bonds, unpaid wages and salaries, share dividends, proceeds of sale, utility credits and overpayments to government bodies. Because each jurisdiction runs its own register, you should check every state or territory you’ve lived or worked in.

State / Territory	Where to search
New South Wales	Revenue NSW — find and claim lost money (via Service NSW)
Victoria	State Revenue Office Victoria — unclaimed money
Queensland	Queensland Treasury / Public Trustee Queensland — unclaimed money
South Australia	Department of Treasury and Finance SA — unclaimed money
Western Australia	RevenueWA / Department of Treasury WA — unclaimed money
Tasmania	Tasmanian Department of Treasury and Finance — unclaimed money
Australian Capital Territory	ACT Public Trustee and Guardian — unclaimed money
Northern Territory	NT Department of Treasury and Finance — unclaimed money

Official links change from time to time. The simplest starting point is the Moneysmart unclaimed money page, which links to the current state registers, or search ‘[your state] unclaimed money’ on the relevant government (.gov.au) website.

Step by Step: How to Search and Claim

Claiming on behalf of someone else or a deceased estate

You can search and claim for family members and deceased relatives where you’re entitled to the money — for example as the executor or a beneficiary of an estate. You’ll need to prove your own identity and your entitlement, which may include estate documents such as a grant of probate or letters of administration. It’s worth checking under a deceased relative’s former names and addresses too.

Tips to find more of what’s yours

Search every name variation — maiden names, hyphenated names, misspellings and nicknames.

Search every state you’ve lived in, not just your current one.

Check relatives, especially older family members and deceased estates.

Use identifying details (suburb, former address) to confirm a match if your name is common.

Re-check periodically — new amounts are transferred to the registers regularly.

Does Unclaimed Money Affect Your Credit or Tax?

Recovering unclaimed money has no effect on your credit file or credit score — it’s money owed to you, not credit you’ve used, and the two systems are entirely separate. Tax treatment depends on the type of money (for example, recovered amounts versus investment earnings), so for a large or unclear claim it’s worth a quick word with a registered tax agent.

While you’re tidying up your finances, it’s also worth checking your credit file for listings that shouldn’t be there. See how to get your free credit report, credit freeze & identity theft, and how to protect yourself from scams.

Reviewed by Elisa Rothschild, BA/LLB

Principal Solicitor & Director, Australian Credit Solutions (ASIC ACL 532003). This guide points to free, official government sources for finding unclaimed money; Australian Credit Solutions does not search for or recover unclaimed money on your behalf. It is general information, not legal, financial or tax advice.

FAQs

Unclaimed Money Questions

Is searching for unclaimed money in Australia free?

Yes. Searching and claiming through ASIC's Moneysmart, the ATO and state revenue offices is completely free. You never need to pay a service to find or claim money that is yours.

Is there a time limit to claim unclaimed money?

No. Money held by ASIC can be claimed at any time by the rightful owner, and interest is paid on amounts ASIC has held since 1 July 2013.

Where is unclaimed money held in Australia?

ASIC holds unclaimed money from bank accounts, life insurance and shares; the ATO holds lost and unclaimed superannuation; and state and territory revenue offices hold other types such as deceased estates, rental bonds, wages and refunds.

How long before money becomes unclaimed?

A bank account is generally treated as unclaimed after seven years of inactivity, a life insurance policy seven years after it matures unclaimed, and shares or managed-investment amounts after a company cannot contact the holder for six years or more.

How do I find lost superannuation?

Log in to myGov linked to ATO online services to see all your super, including any the ATO holds, or call the ATO on 13 28 65. The ATO can also help consolidate multiple accounts.

Do I earn interest on unclaimed money?

Yes. ASIC pays interest on unclaimed money it has held since 1 July 2013, calculated according to the relevant rules.

Can I claim a deceased relative's unclaimed money?

Yes, where you are entitled to it — for example as executor or beneficiary. You will need to prove your identity and your entitlement to the estate or the funds.

What is an OTN?

An Original Transaction Number is a unique reference attached to each unclaimed money record in ASIC's register. You need it to lodge a claim, so record it when you find a match.

Does unclaimed money affect my credit score?

No. Unclaimed money is money owed to you and is entirely separate from your credit file. It has no effect on your credit score.

Should I pay a 'money finder' service?

You don't need to. The official searches are free and take minutes. Paid finder services charge a percentage to recover money you can claim yourself at no cost.

What identification do I need to claim?

You generally need to prove your identity and your connection to the money, such as a former address, the account or policy details, or estate documents for a deceased person's funds.

How long does a claim take?

Timeframes vary by the holder and the type of money. Straightforward bank or insurance claims are often resolved within a few weeks once you provide the required proof.

My name is common — can I still search?

Yes. Use identifying details such as a suburb or former address to narrow results before submitting a claim.

Does the ATO charge to release lost super?

No. Finding and consolidating your super through myGov or the ATO is free.

What if the institution still holds the money?

If money hasn't yet been transferred to ASIC, contact the bank, insurer or fund directly — they remain the first point of contact and can lodge a claim to ASIC on your behalf.

While You’re Tracking Down Lost Money…

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Solicitor-LedNo Win No Fee OptionsASIC Licensed ACL 532003

Australian Credit Solutions Pty Ltd holds Australian Credit Licence ACL 532003. This guide points to free, official government sources for finding unclaimed money; Australian Credit Solutions does not search for or recover unclaimed money on your behalf. It does not constitute legal, financial or tax advice. Details and official links may change — always confirm with the relevant government body.

Last updated: 14 June 2026 · Reviewed by Elisa Rothschild BA/LLB · ASIC ACL 532003