El Dorado County Unclaimed Property

El Dorado County unclaimed money sits in two main places. The county auditor holds property tax refunds that went unclaimed for years. These come from reduced assessments, overpayments, and duplicate payments. The California State Controller also holds billions in lost property for El Dorado County residents. You may have funds in both systems. Residents of Placerville, South Lake Tahoe, and other El Dorado County communities should search the county auditor records first. Then check the state database. Many people find money they forgot about in old bank accounts or paychecks. The county program and state program work differently, so you need to know where your funds are. Both systems let you file claims for free without hiring a company.

El Dorado County Unclaimed Property Tax Refunds

The El Dorado County Auditor-Controller manages a program for unclaimed property tax refunds. These refunds come from several sources. Some result from reduced property assessments that lower what you owe. Others come from overpayments where someone paid more than the actual tax bill. Duplicate payments also happen when two checks get sent for the same bill. All of these create refunds that sit unclaimed for years.

You can contact the Auditor Property Tax Division at (530) 621-5470, extension 4 to inquire about unclaimed refunds. The office is in Placerville, the county seat. Staff can check if you have a refund waiting. You need to provide your name and property address or parcel number. If the county finds a refund in your name, they will tell you how to claim it. The process is simple for most refunds. You just fill out a form and prove you are the property owner or authorized representative.

El Dorado County follows state law for local unclaimed property. Under Government Code sections 50050 through 50057, local agencies must hold unclaimed money for three years. After that time, if no one claims it, the funds can escheat to the county general fund. This gives you a window to file a claim before the money becomes county property. Check with the auditor regularly if you think you may have a refund coming.

Property tax refunds are common in El Dorado County. Assessment appeals succeed fairly often in this county. When the assessor reduces your property value, you get a refund for taxes you already paid. But if you moved or the notice went to an old address, you may never get the refund check. That money sits with the county waiting for you to claim it. Search county records if you ever filed an assessment appeal or had a property value reduced.

California State Controller Unclaimed Money

Most lost money in El Dorado County ends up with the California State Controller. This includes bank accounts, paychecks, stock dividends, insurance payouts, and more. The state holds over $11 billion in unclaimed property for millions of Californians. El Dorado County residents make up thousands of those claims. You can search the state database for free at the property search portal.

The search takes just a few minutes. Enter your name or business name to see results. The database shows what type of property is being held, which business reported it, and how much it is worth. If you find something that belongs to you, you can start a claim right from the search results. Many claims can be filed online which speeds things up a lot.

California law requires businesses to turn over unclaimed property after set dormancy periods. Bank accounts go to the state after three years of no owner contact. Wages must be reported after one year. These rules are in Code of Civil Procedure section 1513. Once the state has your property, there is no deadline for filing a claim. Property turned in decades ago can still be claimed if you prove you own it.

El Dorado County has a mix of full-time residents and vacation property owners. This creates unique unclaimed property situations. Vacation home owners may have utility deposits that never got refunded. Seasonal workers in the Lake Tahoe area may have final paychecks that went unclaimed. Retirees who moved to El Dorado County from other parts of California may have old accounts they forgot about. All of these situations can lead to unclaimed money sitting with the state controller.

Filing a Claim for Unclaimed Money

The claim process depends on who holds your property. For El Dorado County property tax refunds, call the auditor at (530) 621-5470, extension 4. They will walk you through the steps and tell you what documents to provide. Most property tax refund claims are straightforward. You show proof of property ownership and your identity. Then the county issues a check.

For state controller claims, start at the main unclaimed property page. Search for your property first. When you find it, the site will tell you if you can file online or need to mail in a paper claim. Online claims are faster and easier. You upload documents through the website instead of mailing them. The controller reviews your claim and sends a check if it gets approved.

You need to prove ownership of the property. Small claims under $1,000 may only need basic info like your name, address, and Social Security number. Larger claims require notarization. Claims over $1,000 must be notarized to prevent fraud. If you are claiming money that belonged to someone who died, you need a death certificate. You also need proof you are the legal heir, such as a will or court order appointing you as executor or administrator.

Forms you may need include:

• Claim Affirmation Form from the state controller website
• Declaration Under Probate Code 13101 for small estates
• Table of Heirship if claiming as an heir
• Business documents like articles of incorporation for business claims

Mail paper claims to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. You can also visit the public counter at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. The controller processes simple claims in 30 to 60 days. More complex claims involving heirs or businesses can take up to 180 days or longer. The state does not pay interest on claims, so the amount you get is the same as what was turned in.

Note: Never pay someone to file a claim for you unless you want to. The state and county both process claims for free.

Common Types of Unclaimed Property

Bank accounts are the most common type of unclaimed property. Checking and savings accounts become unclaimed when there is no activity for three years and the bank cannot reach you. El Dorado County residents may have old accounts from banks that merged or closed. You might have opened an account years ago and forgot about it when you moved. Even small balances get turned over to the state.

Paychecks go unclaimed more often than you might think. Final paychecks from old jobs often get lost. Employers must report unclaimed wages after one year. If you worked in South Lake Tahoe for a seasonal job and never picked up your last check, it may be with the state now. Vacation property owners who hire local contractors may also have refunds or deposits that became unclaimed.

Insurance proceeds make up a large portion of unclaimed property. Life insurance policies pay when someone dies, but the beneficiaries may not know the policy exists. Health insurance overpayments and property insurance refunds also go unclaimed. Homeowners in El Dorado County who switched insurance companies may have refunds they never received. These funds sit with the state controller waiting to be claimed.

Other types include:

• Stock dividends and mutual fund distributions
• Utility deposits from PG&E or water districts
• Escrow refunds from real estate transactions
• Court deposits and legal settlements
• Safe deposit box contents
• Royalties from mineral rights

Property tax refunds are specific to El Dorado County. When the assessor lowers your property value after an appeal, the county owes you money for taxes you overpaid. But if the refund check goes to an old address, you never get it. The county holds that money until you claim it. These refunds can be substantial, especially if the assessment was reduced by a large amount or covered multiple tax years.

California Unclaimed Money Laws

State law governs most unclaimed property in California. The main statute is Code of Civil Procedure sections 1500 through 1582. This law defines what property must be turned over to the state and when. It applies to banks, insurance companies, employers, and other businesses across California including those in El Dorado County.

Businesses must file annual reports with the state controller. Most businesses file by November 1 each year. Life insurance companies have until May 1. Before turning property over, businesses must try to contact the owner. Section 1530 requires written notice to the owner's last known address at least six months before filing a report. If the property is worth $50 or more and the business has an address, it must send a notice. Many people receive these notices and claim their property before it goes to the state.

The state controller reviews and approves claims. According to section 1540, the controller has 180 days to decide a claim after receiving all required documents. The state does not pay interest on claims. This means old unclaimed money does not grow in value. Inflation erodes the purchasing power of funds held for many years.

Penalties exist for businesses that fail to comply. Willful violations can be charged as misdemeanors under sections 1576 and 1577. Late delivery of property results in a 12 percent annual interest penalty. These rules encourage businesses to follow the law and protect property owners in El Dorado County and throughout California.

County-held property follows different rules. Government Code sections 50050 through 50057 apply to local agencies. Counties must publish annual notices of unclaimed money. After three years, if no one claims it, the money can become county property. This differs from state-held property which never escheats. El Dorado County can absorb unclaimed county funds into its general fund after the three year period expires.

Contact Information for Filing Claims

For El Dorado County property tax refunds, contact the Auditor-Controller Property Tax Division at (530) 621-5470, extension 4. The office is in Placerville. You can also visit the county website at eldoradocounty.ca.gov for more information about county services and unclaimed property programs.

For California State Controller unclaimed property, call (800) 992-4647 toll-free. This number works from anywhere in the United States. If calling from outside the US, dial (916) 323-2827. The call center can answer questions about searching for property and filing claims. You can also contact the controller through an online contact form.

Mail state claims to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. For in-person visits or overnight delivery, use the physical address at 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. The public counter is open during regular business hours and staff can help with claim questions and forms.

Other Sources of Unclaimed Money

Several other agencies hold unclaimed funds for El Dorado County residents. CalPERS manages retirement benefits for public employees. If you worked for a California government agency, you may have unclaimed pension funds. Call (888) 225-7377 to search for CalPERS benefits.

CalSTRS holds money for teachers and school employees. Many El Dorado County teachers have worked in the county school system. If you left teaching and never claimed your retirement account, CalSTRS may be holding it. Call (800) 228-5453 for CalSTRS inquiries.

The California Department of Insurance provides access to a national life insurance policy locator. This service helps you find life insurance policies when you do not know which company issued the policy. The consumer hotline is (800) 927-4357.

Check the California Franchise Tax Board for old tax refunds. Refund checks expire after six months. If your check is older than that, you need to request a new one. Call (800) 852-5711 for help with unclaimed tax refunds.

The California Employment Development Department handles unclaimed unemployment and disability benefits. Use form DE 903SD to claim these funds. There is no fee. Call (800) 300-5616 for unemployment insurance or (800) 480-3287 for disability insurance. Each of these programs is separate from the state controller, so check all of them if you think you have unclaimed money in El Dorado County or elsewhere in California.

Nearby Counties

These counties border El Dorado County. If you lived or worked in multiple counties, search for unclaimed money in each one. The state controller database covers all California, but county programs are separate.