Are you reporting unclaimed property for the first time or perhaps you just need some guidance on one aspect of the process? You have come to the right place. We have compiled this information to help you through the reporting process. If you have any suggestions for how we can improve or add to this information, please let us know.

Step 1: Determine if you have unclaimed property to report. To qualify as unclaimed property, an asset (generally money in an account or owed to an individual or business, stock, or safe deposit box contents) must have been unclaimed or uncashed for a certain number of years. For most types of property (including those for which no time frame is specified in the law) the time frame is 5 years using an "as of" date of June 30 of the current year, with some exceptions listed here. You also must have lost contact with the owner for an asset to be considered unclaimed. For example, if you have returned mail (this is a requirement before bank accounts can be considered unclaimed property) or no contact or interest in the property by the owner, it can be considered unclaimed. The basis for an indication of interest in the property by the owner is detailed starting in KSA 58-3935, paragraph d. If you are reporting for the first time, and have questions regarding penalties or interest, please read this.

Step 1a: Determine if you have property to report with last known addresses other than Kansas. If your organization is not located in Kansas, you should file a separate report with each state in which you have properties with last known addresses. As a convenience, if you are a holder located in the state of Kansas, you may file one Unclaimed Property Report with Kansas Unclaimed Property even if you are holding property of owners who live in other states. Our Department will forward the names of out-of-state owners to the appropriate states.

Important: You still need to follow each state's laws on dormancy periods even if you report via Kansas. For example, California requires that most property be reported after 3 years. Some states may require you to report to them directly and we suggest you notify each state that you are filing your report with Kansas. The State of Kansas will not be responsible for any penalties or fees assessed by other states for non-compliance with their Unclaimed Property Laws.

Step 2: Send due diligence mailing(s) if needed. For amounts of $100 or more, a due diligence mailing to the owner should be sent at least 60 days and no more than 120 days before the report and remittance are delivered to the state. The letter should describe the property, state the amount due, give an address, phone number, and a contact person for your company and give the owner a date by which they must reply. Since the report is due on November 1, this mailing should typically be done between July 1 and September 1, allowing the claimants a 60 day response. Mailings are not required for amounts under $100; these amounts may simply be reported and remitted on November 1.

Step 3: Send the report & remittance to the state. You should send one check for the total dollar amount of the report and make it payable to Kansas State Treasurer or Kansas Unclaimed Property Division and mail it to:
Kansas Unclaimed Property
Attn:Holder Services
900 SW Jackson Ste 201
Topeka Ks 66612

All property, whether it is money, stocks, or safe deposit boxes, is to be sent with the report by November 1(or May 1 for life insurance companies). You can fill out our forms, (available on our website or can be mailed upon request) submit a hard copy spreadsheet or you can report to us electronically. Listed below are your options for submitting information electronically.

A. You can submit a diskette or CD containing a spreadsheet or a NAUPA text file [pdf]. CD's must be labeled with an actual CD label or written on with a soft marker. CD's submitted with any other type of label will be returned to the holder for proper labeling.
***Labels not intended for use on CD's can cause serious damage to a CD drive.***

B. You can enter your information manually into or import a NAUPA text file into our online reporting system; there are some additional advantages to this method- you can view past reports and see which properties have been paid out by our office and you can request reimbursement for properties you have opted to pay out to claimants that have contacted you. To access the system, you must first apply for a User ID and password here.

C. We cannot accept files submitted by email or on 9-track magnetic tape or cartridge tape.

Extension of Reporting Date

If, for some reason, you are not able to have your report sent in by November 1, you should ask for an extension; the request should state how long of an extension is desired and the reason for the extension. This is typically done by mail, email, or fax; our fax number is (785) 291-3172; 30 days is typically approved with no problem. Requests for longer periods are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Voluntary Compliance/Amnesty

The national voluntary compliance/amnesty program ended in October 2000. However, we will treat new holders reporting for the first time as if they are reporting under voluntary compliance if we receive a letter in advance advising us of the name of the holder and when the report will be delivered; if this is done, all fees and penalties that might otherwise apply will be waived. However, this does not preclude the State Treasurer's office from initiating an audit if it is felt that there is additional property to be reported- per KSA 58-3963.

Dormancy Periods

You should use a 5-year dormancy period for all types of property, except:

Dividends and mineral interest payments are examples of this. Ref: KSA 58-3935 (b).