Blog

California Begins Voluntary Compliance Program Rollout

The California Voluntary Compliance Program (VCP) is now available, according to an announcement from the California State Controller. For the first time, we are hearing from the State Controller’s Office (SCO) regarding the VCP authorized by the California legislature in September 2022. The announcement on the SCO’s website provides guidance concerning the upcoming program and […]

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How to Prepare for the Pending California Voluntary Compliance Program

In our recent blog, “California – One Step Closer to a Voluntary Disclosure Program,” Freda Pepper outlined everything we currently know about the program, including who will be eligible to participate, a requirement to complete an education program, timeline requirements and, most importantly, the benefits related to completing the program. While there’s a lot that […]

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What the Supreme Court’s MoneyGram Litigation Ruling Means

The Supreme Court has issued its decision in Delaware v. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and Arkansas v. Delaware (the MoneyGram litigation). It is the Court’s opinion that Agent Checks and Teller’s Checks (check instruments) issued by MoneyGram are similar to “money orders and other similar instruments” and should be escheated according to federal law. As a […]

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5 Things to Expect at the 2023 UPPO Annual Conference

The unclaimed property (UP) community will convene in Nashville starting Sunday, March 12 for the 2023 Unclaimed Property Professionals Organization (UPPO) annual conference. Approximately 600 people will descend upon the Nashville Renaissance Hotel for three and a half days of learning, networking and sharing of ideas. According to UPPO, the “conference integrates networking and premier […]

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Does ChatGPT Know About Outsourcing Unclaimed Property Obligations?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a new topic, but with the recent launch of ChatGPT – an AI chatbot – every day internet users now have access to the technology. This had us thinking: what would ChatGPT have to say about outsourcing unclaimed property obligations? We asked the chatbot, “What are the benefits of outsourcing […]

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California – One Step Closer to a Voluntary Disclosure Program

On September 13, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2280 into law, paving the way for the creation of a long-awaited Voluntary Compliance Program (VDA Program). However, before such a program can be implemented, two things must take place. First, the California legislature must approve funding for the program by way of an appropriation in […]

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How to Avoid 6 Common Unclaimed Property Myths

Unclaimed property is often misunderstood. Despite their best intentions, we find that many companies operate under factually inaccurate assumptions that could put their business at risk. We’ve outlined some of the top myths and misconceptions around unclaimed property to help you stay compliant. Unclaimed property reporting is optional Filing unclaimed property is not an option. […]

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Major Updates Included in NAUPA III Format Release

The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) has finally published its long-anticipated draft of the proposed NAUPA III file format after a delay of the anticipated July 5, 2022 release. The 62-page draft includes sweeping changes and represents a major update to the current NAUPA II format. According to NAUPA, “the new version has been […]

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What is the Unclaimed Property Compliance Hub?

States continue to enforce unclaimed property (UP) compliance. UP is broadly defined as any property held by companies in which the owner is lost and/or there has been no customer-generated activity for a statutorily mandated period of time, known as the dormancy period. Research conducted by Sovos found that there is nearly $77 billion in […]

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Top Tips for Unclaimed Property Audits

By: Laurie Andrews and Paola Narez  Picture this: you just completed a risk assessment on your unclaimed property processes, and you feel like you have this whole unclaimed property thing figured out. You enhanced your systems to make sure you are reviewing every property type and analyzing it the right way, but you have discovered a […]

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Crypto Tax & Unclaimed Property Compliance – A Year-Round Approach

This quarterly blog series focuses on tax information reporting (TIR) and unclaimed property (UP) issues impacting businesses facilitating transactions involving digital assets. Each quarter, Sovos experts will provide updates and reminders on tax and UP issues in advance of the next quarter – to help you have a line of sight into what to expect […]

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Tax and Unclaimed Property for Mergers and Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have always been inherent in the financial institution landscape but have recently increased at an unprecedented pace. A recent Fortune.com article indicated a whopping $2.4 trillion in M&A deals in 2021, up 158% from last year. In February 2022, the FDIC prioritized policy updates to the 25-year-old Bank Merger Act in […]

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Unclaimed Property: How to Stay Ahead of Compliance Challenges

Did you know that approximately one in 10 people have unclaimed property (UP) in their name? Research conducted by Sovos found that there is upwards of $77 billion in UP assets currently in the United States. As states crack down to close the estimated $600 billion tax gap, UP is a prime target for states […]

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The Latest RUUPA Updates

This blog was updated on January 25, 2023. On July 13, 2016 the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) approved its drafting committee’s final draft of the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (RUUPA). The approved RUUPA is now considered the latest version of a model law that will serve as reference for state legislatures in modifying and […]

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West Virginia Unclaimed Property Law Enacted

West Virginia’s governor signed WV HB 4511 into law on March 28, 2022. The newly enacted law includes significant changes to West Virginia’s unclaimed property. The provisions of this bill will become effective June 10, 2022, which is 90 days after its passage by the legislature. The changes are as follows: Electronic Mail: The definition […]

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Crypto Tax & Unclaimed Property Compliance – A Year-Round Approach

Despite the reputation of being a “once a year” thing, tax information reporting and withholding is a year-round organizational compliance process.  Add unclaimed property (UP) obligations to the monthly to-do list, and businesses have a lot of compliance obligations to prepare for – all throughout the year. This quarterly blog series will focus on tax […]

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California Introduces Unclaimed Property VDA Program

On February 16, 2022, California introduced AB 2280, allowing the California Controller to establish a California Voluntary Compliance Program (VDA Program). This is a significant development as California has long declined to provide a formal or informal unclaimed property voluntary disclosure agreement (VDA) program, despite automatically assessing 12% interest on late reported property. In the […]

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Insights on Developing State Compliance Efforts

As unclaimed property regulations continue to change and the methods that states implement to engage holders evolve, it is important for holders to gain from the lessons learned and make adjustments to remain compliant and effectively manage unclaimed property liabilities. The following information captures just a few of the insights and lessons Sovos learned throughout […]

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