Victoria
Search Victoria
unclaimed money.
Search all official registers and databases to find money that may be owed to you.
Searching official registers is free. Previous names and addresses may assist your search.
Lived in more than one state? Build a search planHow to claim unclaimed money in Victoria
The State Revenue Office holds Victoria's unclaimed money register. It is free to search and free to claim, and most claims are processed within about four weeks. What trips Victorians up is the three category identity check and the certification rule for larger amounts.
- 1
Search the Victorian register
Search by your name or business name and last known address, then note the reference number shown next to the amount. Only the net amount is displayed, so an entry can appear as less than the amount originally lodged.
- 2
Complete the application
Click claim next to the amount and enter your name, address, contact and payment details. The name on the bank account must match the name on the register. You can claim several amounts on one form with a cover letter listing each reference number, and joint amounts need every owner to sign.
- 3
Gather one document from each of the three categories
Victoria wants one current document from category one (birth certificate, passport or citizenship certificate), one from category two (driver licence, passport or immigration card), and one from category three (Medicare, Centrelink or DVA card, marriage or change of name certificate, and similar).
- 4
Add proof you are connected to the address
A rates notice, utility bill, bank statement, licence or insurance policy tied to the address on the register. Stale cheques, share certificates, debentures or receipts also work, as does a letter from the business that lodged the money.
- 5
Lodge it
Print and sign the form, then email it to ucm@sro.vic.gov.au or post it to Unclaimed Money, State Revenue Office, GPO Box 1641, Melbourne VIC 3001. The SRO contacts you if anything is missing.
What you need to prove
- One current document from each of the SRO's three identity categories
- One document linking you to the address recorded on the register
- Claims over $10,000: original or certified copies, certified within six months
- Claims under $10,000: plain copies are accepted, except probate, letters of administration, powers of attorney, death certificates, wills and overseas ID, which must still be certified
- Agent or lawyer acting for you: a signed letter from you naming the total or itemised amounts they may claim
- Company: a copy of the certificate of registration or incorporation, or the company seal on the form, plus ID for the signing director or secretary
Fees and timing
- Cost to search or claim
- Free. The SRO states plainly that it is free to search and free to claim.
- Processing time
- Usually within four weeks. Missing details or documents are the main reason a Victorian claim takes longer.
- How much has to be owed
- The register includes amounts with a gross value of at least $20, though only the net amount is shown, so some entries display as less. Gaming winnings and prizes must be lodged whatever the amount.
- When money reaches the register
- Businesses lodge money that has been unpaid for 12 months or more as at 1 March, with registers prepared by 31 March and lodged with payment by 31 May, so recent money can take a year or more to appear.
Claiming in less common situations
A deceased relative
The executor named in probate or letters of administration signs, with a certified copy of that document and their own ID. Without a grant, the executor named in the will or the next of kin signs, with certified copies of the death certificate and will. Overseas grants must carry the seal of an Australian Supreme Court.
A company
A current director or company secretary applies, attaching the certificate of registration or incorporation, or applying the company seal to the form, plus their own identification.
Power of attorney
The attorney completes the form and supplies a certified copy of the fully executed power of attorney plus identification for both the attorney and the person they act for.
Money not held by Victoria
A state register only covers money handed to that state. Some of the most common types of lost money are held nationally instead, so check these separately:
- Lost and unclaimed super: held by super funds or the ATO. See how to find lost super.
- Dormant bank accounts, shares and life insurance: generally transferred to ASIC. See national searches.
- Money from another state: if you have lived or worked elsewhere, search that state too. Use the Search Plan to list them.
Searching with old addresses
- Write down every address you have had, including share houses and student housing.
- Search by name first, then use the suburb or postcode shown in a result to decide if it could be yours.
- Try maiden names, previous surnames, initials and common misspellings.
- Old bills, bank statements, tax records or tenancy papers can help prove you lived at a listed address.
- Only enter details on the official government website, never on a site asking for fees to search.
About Victoria unclaimed money
In Victoria, the State Revenue Office maintains the unclaimed money register. It holds money from Victorian businesses, trusts, agents, solicitors and dissolved companies that could not be returned to owners.
Victorians should also search the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority for rental bonds, ASIC MoneySmart for bank accounts and shares, the ATO for lost super, and Fair Work for unpaid wages. Every state you have lived in should be checked separately.
Quick facts
- The State Revenue Office is the main state register for Victorians.
- Rental bonds are held separately by the RTBA.
- Search by every name and address you have used in Victoria.
The official searches linked on this page do not charge a search fee. Check the responsible agency's current claim instructions before providing documents or paying for outside help.
Check everywhere
Search all key places where money can be held.
State Revenue Office Victoria
Unclaimed money, uncashed cheques, refunds, dividends, trust money and more.
MoneySmart (ASIC)
Search for unclaimed bank accounts, shares, investments and life insurance.
ATO Lost Super
Find your lost or forgotten superannuation and unclaimed super.
Fair Work Ombudsman
Search for unpaid wages owed to you by employers that is being held in trust.
AFSA Unclaimed Money
Find unclaimed money from bankruptcy, debt agreements and wind-ups.
Rental Bonds
Find or claim your Victorian rental bond (RTBA).
Before you search
Having these details on hand makes it easier to recognise a match on the official register.
How it works
Search
Search the official registers.
Match
If a match is found, the official register will show you the available details.
Claim
Follow the instructions to claim your money.
Frequently asked questions
Need help?
We’re here to help you every step of the way.
What to search next
Money goes missing in more than one place. These are the next things worth checking.
- Lost superSuper left behind at old jobs, plus super the ATO is holding for you.
- National registersMoneySmart, the ATO, Fair Work and AFSA cover every state.
- Step-by-step guidesHow each type of unclaimed money works and how to claim it.
- Other states you have lived inEach state keeps a separate register, so search them all.
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.