Shasta County Unclaimed Funds

Shasta County unclaimed money exists in county and state systems. The Shasta County Tax Collector maintains programs for unclaimed property tax funds. The California State Controller operates the primary database for property from businesses across the county. Banks in Redding, employers throughout Shasta County, and insurance companies all report unclaimed property to the state each year. The county tax collector handles property tax-related funds that went unclaimed. You should search both systems because they operate independently. The state database includes billions in property from all over California. The county program focuses on tax funds and related payments. Former residents of Redding and other Shasta County communities often discover property when they search both databases. Current property owners may find tax refunds they did not know existed.

Shasta County Property Tax Programs

Shasta County operates unclaimed property tax funds programs through the Tax Collector. These programs hold money from property tax overpayments, reduced assessments, and other tax-related refunds. When the county issues a tax refund check and the property owner does not cash it, the funds become unclaimed.

Property tax refunds can occur for several reasons. Assessment appeals may lower your tax bill and create a refund. Supplemental tax bills sometimes get paid twice. Escrow accounts may overpay taxes. All of these situations generate refunds that are mailed to property owners. If the check is not cashed within a certain time, it becomes unclaimed.

Contact the Shasta County Tax Collector at (530) 225-5504 to check for unclaimed property tax funds. The office can search by your name or property address. You will need to prove ownership of the property or show that you were the taxpayer at the time of the refund. Bring identification and property tax records if available.

This program is different from the state controller database. The county tax collector handles only property tax funds. The state controller manages all other types of unclaimed property. Check both systems to find all money that belongs to you.

Note: Property tax refunds may require documentation showing your ownership of the property at the time the refund was issued.

State Controller Property Database

Most Shasta County unclaimed property goes to the California State Controller. Banks in Redding and other county cities report dormant accounts. Local employers turn over uncashed paychecks. Insurance companies send policy proceeds when beneficiaries cannot be located. All of this sits in the state database until claimed.

Search for free at the state controller property search database. Enter your name or a business name. The system displays the property type and estimated value. Click on any property that belongs to you to start a claim. Many claims can be completed entirely online.

Shasta County has a diverse economy with healthcare, retail, and tourism. People move in and out of the area for work and retirement. When they move, they sometimes forget about bank accounts or final paychecks. Employers must report uncashed wages after one year. Banks report dormant accounts after three years.

Different property types have different dormancy periods under Code of Civil Procedure section 1513. Bank deposits become reportable after three years. Wages after one year. Money orders after seven years. Once property reaches the state, there is no deadline for claiming it. Property reported decades ago is still available.

Call (800) 992-4647 with questions about state-held property. The state controller processes all claims for free. Do not pay an asset locator or heir finder. They can charge up to 10 percent. You do not need them. File directly at no cost.

How to File a Claim

Start by searching at the California State Controller unclaimed property page. Enter your name or the name of a deceased relative. If you find property, follow the instructions on screen. Some claims are approved instantly. Others require mailed documents.

You must prove ownership. For claims under $1,000, you may only need your name, address, and Social Security number. Claims of $1,000 or more require notarization. If claiming for a deceased person, you need a death certificate and proof of heirship. Business claims require incorporation documents or tax ID verification.

The Claim Affirmation Form is generated from your search results. Additional forms are available at the state controller claim filing page. Heirs claiming a small estate may use a Declaration Under Probate Code 13101. Multiple heirs use a Table of Heirship form to divide the property.

Mail completed forms 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 during business hours. Most claims are decided within 180 days. Simple cash claims may be approved in 30 to 60 days.

For Shasta County property tax funds, contact the Tax Collector at (530) 225-5504. The county has its own claim process separate from the state. Do not mail county tax fund claims to the state controller.

Types of Unclaimed Property

Bank accounts are the most common form of unclaimed property. Checking accounts, savings accounts, and credit union deposits become dormant after three years of no activity. Shasta County has local banks and credit unions. Thousands of accounts sit dormant each year. The bank tries to contact the owner. If they cannot, the account goes to the state.

Uncashed paychecks make up a large portion of unclaimed wages. Shasta County has healthcare facilities, retail businesses, and other major employers. When employees leave a job and move, final paychecks may go unclaimed. Employers must report unpaid wages after one year. This includes regular pay, bonuses, and commissions.

Life insurance policies often generate unclaimed property. The policyholder dies and beneficiaries do not know about the policy. The insurance company tries to locate them but fails. After a period of dormancy, the proceeds go to the state. Shasta County residents should search for life insurance if a relative died.

Other common types include:

• Stock dividends and mutual fund distributions
• Utility deposits from PG&E or local providers
• Escrow funds from real estate transactions
• Court deposits and legal settlements
• Royalties from mineral rights or creative works
• Safe deposit box contents
• Matured savings bonds and CDs

Shasta County also holds property tax funds for unclaimed refunds. These result from overpayments or reduced assessments. Search the county tax collector for tax funds and the state controller for all other property types.

California Unclaimed Property Law

The California Unclaimed Property Law is found in Code of Civil Procedure sections 1500 through 1582. This statute governs how businesses handle dormant property and unclaimed funds. It applies statewide including in Shasta County.

Holders of unclaimed property must file annual reports with the state controller. Most businesses file by November 1. Life insurance companies file by May 1. Before turning property over to the state, holders must try to contact the owner. Section 1530 requires written notice to the owner's last known address at least six months before reporting.

The state controller decides claims under section 1540. Most claims are decided within 180 days. No interest is paid on unclaimed property. If the state held your money for ten years, you receive the original amount only.

Businesses that fail to comply face penalties. Willful violations are misdemeanors under sections 1576 and 1577. Late delivery of property triggers a 12 percent annual interest penalty. These rules encourage Shasta County businesses to report property on time.

County-held funds operate under Government Code sections 50050 through 50057. These sections cover unclaimed money held by cities, counties, and local agencies. Shasta County maintains programs for property tax funds separate from the state system.

Contact Information

For California State Controller unclaimed property, call (800) 992-4647. This toll-free number operates during business hours. From outside the United States, call (916) 323-2827. You can submit questions through the state controller online contact form.

Mail claims to Chief, Unclaimed Property Division, P.O. Box 942850, Sacramento, CA 94250-5873. For in-person visits or overnight mail, use 10600 White Rock Road, Suite 141, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670. The public counter is open during normal business hours.

For Shasta County property tax funds, contact the Tax Collector at (530) 225-5504. The office is located in Redding. Visit during regular hours to ask questions or file a claim for county-held property tax funds.

Other Unclaimed Money Programs

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

CalSTRS holds unclaimed property for teachers. Shasta County has several school districts. Former teachers may have retirement accounts waiting. Call (800) 228-5453 for assistance.

The California Department of Insurance offers a Life Insurance Policy Locator service. This helps find policies when you do not know the insurance company. The consumer hotline is (800) 927-4357.

For unclaimed state tax refunds, contact the California Franchise Tax Board at (800) 852-5711. Refund checks are valid for six months. After that, you must request a replacement.

The California Employment Development Department holds unclaimed unemployment and disability benefits. File a claim using form DE 903SD. Call (800) 300-5616 for unemployment or (800) 480-3287 for disability insurance.

The Department of Industrial Relations operates an Unpaid Wage Fund for workers owed money by employers. Call (833) 526-4636 to check. All of these programs are separate from the state controller and county tax collector.

Cities in Shasta County

Shasta County includes Redding, the largest city and county seat. Residents of Redding and other Shasta County cities can have unclaimed property held by the state or county. The state controller database covers all California cities. The county tax collector program handles property tax funds countywide. No Shasta County cities besides Redding have populations over 100,000.

Other cities in Shasta County include Anderson and Shasta Lake. All residents of these cities should search for unclaimed property at both the state and county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Shasta County. If you lived or worked in multiple counties, search for unclaimed money in each location. The state controller database covers all of California, but county programs are local and require separate searches.