Key takeaways
- Prepare your names and addresses before you start - it doubles your hit rate.
- Search every state you have lived in, not just your current one.
- Every register on this list is free to search, and every claim is lodged directly with the authority holding the money.
Step 1: Prepare your details
- Every surname you have used, including maiden and previous married names.
- Given name variations and common misspellings.
- Every suburb and state you have lived in, with rough dates.
- Your date of birth and tax file number for superannuation searches.
- Names of deceased relatives whose estate you may be entitled to.
Step 2: Search the national registers
- 1ASIC MoneySmart - inactive bank accounts, share dividends and life insurance proceeds.
- 2The ATO through myGov - lost and ATO-held superannuation.
- 3Fair Work Ombudsman - wages recovered but never delivered.
- 4AFSA - unclaimed monies from bankruptcies and liquidations.
Step 3: Search each state you have lived in
State registers hold refunds, deposits, trust balances and proceeds from businesses operating in that state. Search each one where you have lived or worked, not only your current address.
| State or territory | Register held by |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Revenue NSW |
| Victoria | State Revenue Office Victoria |
| Queensland | Queensland Treasury (Public Trustee for some funds) |
| South Australia | Department of Treasury and Finance |
| Western Australia | Department of Treasury |
| Tasmania | Department of Treasury and Finance |
| Australian Capital Territory | ACT Revenue Office |
| Northern Territory | NT Treasury |
Step 4: Check bond authorities
Rental-bond arrangements differ between states and territories, so they need to be checked separately. If you have ever rented, check the arrangements for every state or territory you rented in.
Step 5: Claim what you find
- 1Note the listing reference and the organisation that lodged the money.
- 2Gather photo identification, proof of the address at the time, and any name change certificates.
- 3Lodge the claim directly with the agency named on the listing.
- 4Expect processing to take several weeks, and follow up in writing if it stalls.
Ready to search?
Not sure which registers apply to you? Our free search guide turns six quick answers into a personalised checklist of official searches. Every register it links to is a government service and free to use.
Official sources checked
- Researched and reviewed by
- Find Lost Money Australia
- Information last verified
- 1 August 2026 (first published August 2026)
Find Lost Money Australia is an independent information service, not a government agency. Our review checks the responsible agency's current page, search location and claim instructions. Agencies can change their rules, so confirm details on the official site before you act.
More reading
Continue your lost-money search
Work through the full set rather than stopping at the first result.
- Every official registerEvery official register we have verified, filterable by state and type of money.
- Bank accounts, shares and dividendsASIC holds bank money inactive for seven years, plus unclaimed dividends and share proceeds.
- Lost superSuper from old jobs, plus balances the ATO is holding in your name.
- Your state or territory registerEach state holds unclaimed refunds, deposits and trust money from businesses in that state.
Searching is free. Every register we link to lets you search at no cost, and you can lodge a claim yourself. Be cautious of any business that asks for an upfront fee simply to search a public register on your behalf. Find Lost Money Australia is an independent information service. We are not a government agency and we do not hold or search unclaimed money databases.