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When are unclaimed property reports due? This is a fairly common question asked by holders that are new to the escheat reporting process, or not as well versed in the intricacies of escheatment reporting. Fortunately, Sovos has provided answers to some of the most frequently asked escheat reporting questions to help your organization survive unclaimed […]

Most unclaimed property professionals are familiar with the story of Verus Analytics, LLC’s (“Verus”)[1] appearance on the contract audit “field of play” some ten years ago, as it cut a swath across the life insurance industry with audits focused on the industry’s failure to report and remit unclaimed life insurance proceeds based on the insurers […]

There has been an interesting development from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Office as they introduce a new wave of unclaimed property self-review invitations. Recipients of these self-review invitations have 30 days from the receipt of the letter to log into the state website to provide updated contact information. This timeline is shorter than […]

For the past 70 years, unclaimed property reporting requirements have been challenging for US businesses. Understanding the nuances of individual state statutes and how to comply effectively and efficiently has caused many sleepless nights for unclaimed property professionals. Well, that may be a bit extreme, however, state regulations are difficult to master. When the first […]

UPExpress, the free tool for companies to eFile unclaimed property reports directly to participating states, was discontinued at the end of 2020 because the current file formats no longer aligned with many of the state’s newly implemented technologies. You can still eFile unclaimed property reports to states that accept online reporting. However, if you plan […]

Understanding unclaimed property dormancy periods by state and executing the appropriate decisions can make or break your company’s unclaimed property program. This is due primarily to the fact that each state has varying dormancy periods. To complicate matters even further, each state has specific dormancy periods for each corresponding property type. As a result, determining […]

This blog was updated on July 13, 2022 The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrator’s (NAUPA) III format for unclaimed property has been in the works for a while now, and the first draft was scheduled to be published on July 5, 2022. Upon checking NAUPA’s website on July 5, 2022, the following message was […]

Did your company receive an invitation in February 2020 to join the Delaware Voluntary Disclosure Agreement Program (SOS VDA Program)? If so, you have extra time to enroll in the program. The Office of Unclaimed Property extended the enrollment deadline to July 18, 2020. How to enroll If you intend to enroll, send a completed […]

Unclaimed property compliance is a year-round job. Preparations must be made monthly in order to stay compliant. Below are the top 5 ways you can stay ahead of your unclaimed property obligations, before they turn into penalties. 1. Review procedures and document them: A lack of good audit trails and procedure documentation is commonplace in […]

Healthcare providers build up patient credit balances from collecting more coinsurance, copays, and deductibles than they earn. Unfortunately, because the fees are unearned, the healthcare provider has inadvertently accepted fiduciary responsibility for the funds. In addition to safeguarding the funds from potential loss, the healthcare provider is now facing penalties and interest from the states […]

According to Forrester Research, 65 percent of North American enterprises relied on public cloud platforms in 2019. This is five times the percentage that used cloud platforms 6 years ago. Leading businesses are flocking to cloud solutions because of the numerous benefits they provide. Below are the top 4 benefits of using a cloud-based unclaimed […]

Did your business receive a letter from the Delaware Secretary of State (SOS) Office? On February 20th, the Delaware SOS office sent “over 100 letters to various companies…that have been identified as likely being out of compliance with Delaware law, 12 Del. C. ch. 11, as it relates to reporting dormant, abandoned, or unclaimed property.” […]

Not all states have the same requirements for completing an unclaimed property state report. The state of New York requires that certain companies publish unclaimed property information in newspapers in the form of advertisements. It is important to note the advertising does not replace the need to send due diligence letters. Both advertising and due […]

Unclaimed property retention requirements vary based on each state’s rules and regulations. Depending upon the property type and state, record retention periods can take up to 10 years, not including the dormancy period. This means you could retain records for up to 20 years. To successfully keep track of all these records and avoid an […]

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 […]