Table of contents

Found property that might belong to you?

Submit a claim if you found property at missingmoney.com that might belong to you or someone you know.

Important notice

Changes to the report completed by property holders were implemented on November 19, 2022. See the Unclaimed Property Holder Reporting Quick Guide or watch the How to submit an unclaimed property report video.

Overview

The Alberta government maintains a central registry of property that is unclaimed and has been presumed abandoned by its owner. A person or entity that holds or maintains unclaimed property is required to report and transfer the abandoned property or its cash equivalent to Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, Tax and Revenue Administration (TRA). Once transferred, the owner or their legal representative, or a creditor, can make a claim for that property.

As of March 31, 2022, there were approximately 326,770 unclaimed items in the unclaimed property repository, with an estimated value of $135 million.

Find your property

Search for missing property on the official websites at no charge. Try searching using your first initial, nickname, or any other name you have previously used.

System downtime notice

Search for Lost Property and Money will not be available on:

  • Thursdays from 11 pm to midnight MT
  • Sundays from 7 am to 10 am MT
  • the first working day of each month from 5:30 pm to midnight MT

Locator assistance

If you use the assistance of a person or agency to locate your property, make sure you have the arrangement in writing. The locator fee in Alberta cannot be greater than 10% of the value of the property.

Submit a claim

There is no charge to submit a claim; however, you may be required to pay a fee for the administration costs of the property (e.g., storage costs, holder fees).

Step 1: Search for and select the property

Step 2: Complete the online claim form

  • Enter the information requested to complete the form.

Step 3: Submit your claim

  • Submit your claim and print the confirmation page to keep for your records.
  • Claims must be submitted within 10 years from the date the property was received by TRA.

Step 4: Submit documents in respect of your existing claim

After submitting a claim, you must provide supporting documents as proof of ownership. You will need the confirmation number that was provided when you submitted your claim.

  • Online: Upload or email your supporting documents to TRA.
  • Paper: Mail or fax your supporting documents to TRA.

Step 5: After you submit your claim

  • All claims are reviewed within 120 days of receipt of the claim. If other documentation is required, additional time may be needed to review the claim.
  • If your claim is approved, the property will be returned within 30 days if there are no amounts owing.
  • The claimant is responsible for any delivery charges incurred for returning the property.
  • If your claim is not approved or if you disagree with a decision made by TRA regarding your claim, you may submit Form AT4954 – Notice of Objection.

Property holders

Definition of a holder

A holder is a person or entity that is or becomes obligated to hold property (both tangible and intangible) for an owner. A holder includes an individual, business, government, personal representative, securities intermediary or issuer of a security.

  • Tangible property is any physical property other than land, such as artwork or jewellery. Tangible property must have an aggregate net value of $1,000 or more for the unclaimed property program to apply.
  • Intangible property is an interest held, issued or owing by a business or government, such as money, interest, dividends, unpaid salary or refunds. Intangible property must have an aggregate net value of $250 or more for the unclaimed property program to apply.

Responsibilities of a property holder

  • Determine when property is unclaimed. For information on when property is presumed to be abandoned, refer to section 6 of the General Regulation (the Regulation) or Appendix A of Information Circular UP-2 – Information for Property Holders.
  • Notify property owners between 3 and 8 months prior to transferring the property to TRA.
  • Within 120 days of the end of the reporting year:
    • submit to TRA a list of all unclaimed property you were holding as of December 31 that was presumed to be abandoned during the year; and
    • pay, transfer or deliver the property (or its cash equivalent) to TRA
  • Retain records for 10 years from the date of submission

Abandonment periods

Each property has a defined abandonment period, which determines when property is required to be paid, transferred or delivered to TRA. Depending on the type, property must be dormant for 1 to 15 years before it can be declared unclaimed. For information on when property is presumed to be abandoned, refer to section 6 of the Regulation or Appendix A to Information Circular UP-2 – Information for Property Holders.

Table 1. Abandonment periods

Property type Abandonment period (years)
Traveler’s cheque 15
Money order 7
Security or any other equity interest in a business organization 7
Street certificate 5
Demand deposit, certificate of deposit, guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) or confirmation, or other deposit made for a fixed period 5
Savings or other deposit without a fixed period or does not mature 5
All other personal property not otherwise specified 5
Debt of a business or organization accruing interest 5
Amount owed by insurer on a life or endowment policy or an annuity 3
Personal property in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) or other tax deferral plan or account 3
Money paid out of a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), excluding money within the fund 3
Personal property of a dissolved corporation, society, or cooperative 1
Wages or other compensation for personal services 1
Personal property held by a court as proceeds of a class action 1
Deposit or refund owed to a utility subscriber 1
Personal property of a company owing to a missing creditor upon dissolution 1
Personal property held by a court or governmental organization 1

Submit property

For information on how to submit property to TRA, refer to the Unclaimed Property Holder Reporting Quick Guide or watch the How to submit an unclaimed property report video.

Property holders must pay, transfer or deliver the property or its cash equivalent to TRA within 120 days from December 31 of the respective reporting year.

System downtime notice

The Submit property web page will not be available on the first working day of each month from 5:30 pm to midnight MST.

How to pay

For cash value transfers, payment must be made for each submission. Do not combine your payment for multiple submissions.

Online through your financial institution

  • Tax Payment and Filing Service is available at most financial institutions.
  • Select ‘Alberta Finance – Unclaimed Property Program – ABUPP’ as the Payee.
  • Include your Submission Number.

By cheque

  • Include your Legal Name and Submission Number.
  • Mail TRA cheques payable to the Government of Alberta.

By wire

Publications and forms

Video

Information Circulars

Special Notices

Forms for claimants

Forms and other resources for property holders

Legislation

Contact

Connect with Tax and Revenue Administration:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-3044
Fax: 780-422-5284
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

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