Where should I search?
Where should I search for lost money?
Australia has no single unclaimed money search. Answer six quick questions and we will show you which official registers apply to your situation, what names to try on each, and what to do if nothing comes up.
Step 1 of 7: Where have you lived?
About 1 minute
Which states or territories have you lived, worked or rented in?
Choose every one. State registers only hold money connected to that state.
We never ask for names, account numbers, tax file numbers or ID details. Your answers stay in this browser and are not sent to us.
How this guide decides
Different types of money end up with different government bodies, and state registers only hold money connected to that state. This guide matches the type of money you describe to the body that holds it, adds the state registers for every place you have lived or worked, and layers in situations that change the process: previous names, deceased estates, acting for someone else, and recent money that may not have reached a register yet. Every link comes from our own checked list of official registers. We do not guess URLs.
Who holds each type of money
| Type of money | Who holds it | Where to search |
|---|---|---|
| Bank, credit union and building society accounts (7+ years inactive) | ASIC | MoneySmart unclaimed money search |
| Share dividends, sale proceeds, life insurance policies | ASIC | MoneySmart unclaimed money search |
| Superannuation, including ATO-held super | Australian Taxation Office | ATO online services through myGov |
| Wages and entitlements recovered by Fair Work | Fair Work Ombudsman | Search for unpaid wages |
| Wages owed by an employer that went broke | Dept of Employment and Workplace Relations | Fair Entitlements Guarantee |
| Dividends from bankruptcies and wind-ups | AFSA | AFSA unclaimed money |
| Rental bonds | Varies by state or territory | Bond arrangements for where you rented |
| Refunds, deposits, uncashed cheques, trust money | State revenue office or public trustee | State unclaimed money register |
| Estate money for beneficiaries who could not be found | State public trustee | Public trustee in that state |
Prefer to browse? See the full list of official registers or the national searches.
Common questions
Independent information service
Find Lost Money Australia is not a government agency. We do not hold, recover or process anyone's money, and we never need your bank details, tax file number or identity documents. This guide points you to the official registers; you search and claim directly with them, free of charge. Verify anything you are told about unclaimed money through the official government service before acting on it.
Official sources checked
- Researched and reviewed by
- Find Lost Money Australia
- Information last verified
- 1 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.
- ASIC MoneySmart: find unclaimed money (opens official site in a new tab)
- ATO: searching for lost super (opens official site in a new tab)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: search for unpaid wages (opens official site in a new tab)
- AFSA: claim unclaimed money (opens official site in a new tab)
- Scamwatch (opens official site in a new tab)