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It has been several years since California changed its unclaimed property reporting process, yet many holders are still unsure how to remain compliant. This is because California’s reporting cycle includes two different reports. Below are the steps to submitting those reports and remaining compliant in California: Step 1: Holder Notice Report The first report is […]
Full compliance when it comes to unclaimed property requirements can be difficult to determine. For many businesses, it isn’t until they are audited and fined that they find out they made a mistake. Below are the most common mistakes businesses make when complying with unclaimed property requirements. 1. Reporting is mandatory Reporting unclaimed property is […]
Nice job on getting your fall filing done! You deserve a reward! Take the rest of the day off and make yourself a drink I like to call ‘Good Escheat.’ 1-part orange pop, 1-part lemonade, 1-part rainbow sherbet. Mix it together and enjoy! And remember, just as it takes multiple different items that alone might […]
Recently, a landmark ruling in New York shed light on a nationwide trend in the world of unclaimed property compliance. State governments across the U.S. and Canada are cracking down on businesses that fail to report their unclaimed property accurately and on time. And, as proven by the case in New York, no business, no […]
Unclaimed property results from the everyday functions of a company’s operations. As state budget deficits continue to grow, companies should expect unclaimed property compliance and related audits to continue and possibly increase. So, who is responsible for handling the process of Unclaimed Property management and escheatment to the state and keeping their company compliant? Tax […]
If you have ever had a child wait until the night before an assignment is due to ask for help, or had a client push a deadline as far back as possible to start, you know the frustration of rushed and ineffective project completion. With your unclaimed property reporting process, you can reduce this last-minute […]
Managing an organization’s unclaimed property can be a full-time job. With the complexities of regulatory requirements, the numerous due diligence and dormancy tracking rules by property type and state, along with due diligence requirements, also varying by state, record retention needs in case of an audit, as well as reporting to multiple states, the process […]
“We have less than $1,000 to submit, we’ll just do it ourselves.” Does this thought process sound familiar? The thought is if it’s a small amount, it doesn’t matter nearly as much. It’s totally understandable for one to think along these lines. Unfortunately, the states may disagree with you. Regardless of the dollar amount or […]
Many companies ask me about filing to Alberta. There is some confusion about which companies really need to file to Alberta. If your company is located or has a branch in Alberta you should file with them. If you are a company incorporated or domiciled in the United States, Canadian property records should be treated like […]
We get this question almost every day through our support line. Nearly every state requires relationship code values on the records you are reporting. I’ll explain what they are, how to find them, and how to use them. NAUPA has a list of standard relationship code values. They can be found here on page 23. States have […]
What is unclaimed property? Companies that don’t know could be putting themselves at risk for costly audits and financial penalties. Danielle Herring, compliance manager for unclaimed property reporting at Sovos, explains what unclaimed property is and how companies should manage it. Sovos: Unclaimed property seems like a misunderstood or maybe completely unfamiliar concept for a […]
In these modern times, security of sensitive data is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Clients, vendors, and employees should be able to trust that their sensitive data such as social security numbers and account numbers are safe in your hands. You most likely have protocols in place within your company to maintain data security. […]
Almost every state has moved away from paper reporting in favor of electronic reporting, welcoming the unclaimed property reporting process into the digital age. Many of the slow-moving processes can be easily streamlined and brought up to date with simple, intuitive technology. First, let’s describe the difference between the two types of filings as many […]
Have you ever been confused about which property code to use for a certain type of property? We have all been there. NAUPA, the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, has a list of standard codes that you can view here starting at the bottom of page 17. Property Types There are many types […]
Due Diligence is the act of sending letters to lost owners or publishing their names in newspapers. Almost every state and every jurisdiction within a state requires companies to perform due diligence. Benefits Due diligence not only benefits owners of unclaimed property, it can also benefit your business. Many of your lost owners are customers […]
Many times in my twelve years of providing customer support, I’ve heard, “This is my first time reporting and I don’t know what to do. Can you help me?” My heart goes out to those people because I know how daunting it can be to figure out how to get a report to the state. […]
Finding the best way to manage unclaimed property risk is very challenging, especially if you are filing for the first time and not under state audit. If you find your company is in an initial compliance situation you need to immediately initiate an outreach program and make every effort to contact the owners of the […]
Many people hear about the exemptions that states allow for unclaimed property reporting, and they get very excited. Free money, right? What could go wrong? I will share what I know about exemptions and let you decide. Let’s start with a simple kind of exemption. Some states exempt reporting of gift cards or gift […]