Holder Information: Reporting Unclaimed Property

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Filing Deadlines and Extensions

All holder reports and payments are due July 1 of every year. The cut-off date for reviewing your records is March 1. The state does not have the statutory authority to grant extensions on the payment of your report.

We are not mailing a Holder Report and Payment Form 53-119 to holders this year. The 2013 Update Notice (PDF, 355KB). summarizes the information you need to complete your report.

Abandonment Periods

Payroll: 1 year
Bank accounts, certificates of deposit: 3 years
Safe deposit box contents: 5 years
Money orders: 3 years
Traveler's checks: 15 years
All other property types: 3 years

Changes to the Texas Property Code

The 2011 Regular Session of the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 257, making changes to the dormancy period for certain property types and changing the state’s reporting timeline. Effective for the 2012 reporting cycle, dormancy periods will change for checking and savings accounts, matured CDs, money orders and utility deposits. Effective January 1, 2013, the filing deadline will change to July 1, with a cut-off date of March 1.

Due Diligence Requirements

Holders are required to mail a notice by May 1 to all owners of property over $250 that are due to be included in their July 2013 report. View a sample due diligence letter (PDF, 422KB) that can be modified to describe the specific type of unclaimed property you are holding. A sample letter for financial institutions (PDF, 421KB) can be used for bank accounts, safe deposit box contents and certificates of deposit.

The requirement does not apply to holders that have already mailed letters.
The notice is not required if the holder does not have a record of an address.
Holders may charge the cost of postage as a service charge against each property.

Reporting Materials

View Unclaimed Property forms, guides and software.

Reporting Methods

Paper reports are no longer acceptable. Your file(s) may be submitted using any of the methods below.

Unclaimed Property Secure Holder Reporting (Secure File Transfer)
Online Express Reporting
Diskette
CD Rom

The preferred methods are our Online Express Reporting system or by secure file transfer using Unclaimed Property Secure Holder Reporting.

Texas uses the reporting format developed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). Files must be prepared in the NAUPA 2 record layout, regardless of the delivery method used

Aggregating Instructions

Individual owner records of less than $50 may be reported in the aggregate. You may combine any amounts under $50 by property type and report a single total for each property type. While aggregation of property items under $50 is still allowed by law, it is discouraged; the more detail reported, the more property is potentially returnable.

Exceptions: Mineral interests should never be aggregated.

The Property Type Code used on an aggregate record should always end in "99" (e.g., AC99, IN99).

Negative Reports

Negative reports that are required by many states are no longer required in Texas. No report should be filed when you have no unclaimed property.

Retention of Records

All holders are required to retain records of unclaimed property for 10 years after the property has been reported.

Delivery of Report

Electronic Delivery

The preferred method is electronic delivery using our Online Express Reporting system or by secure file transfer using Unclaimed Property Secure Holder Reporting.

Postal Delivery

Diskette and CD-ROM reports should be mailed to:

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Unclaimed Property Holder Reporting Section
P.O. Box 12019
Austin, Texas 78711-2019

Delivery of Payment

Texas law requires holders who paid $100,000 or more during the previous state fiscal year (September through August) to make subsequent payments by electronic fund transfer. Holders who have reported less than $100,000 can also submit payment electronically. Automated Clearing House (ACH) (TEXNET) is the preferred electronic fund transfer medium. If you are submitting an electronic payment and filing your report via the Internet, please include the report Internet confirmation number with your payment.

ACH (TEXNET) Instructions for Texas Unclaimed Property Payments

Enrollment in the TEXNET Program is required prior to sending ACH payments. This should be completed before May 31 to meet the July 1st deadline. The enrollment process takes between 7 and 14 working days and may be initiated by completing a TEXNET Enrollment for Unclaimed Property Holders form. A completed form should be mailed or faxed to:

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Treasury Operations
Cash Management Programs
P.O. Box 12608
Austin, Texas 78711-2608
Fax: 512-463-1364
Phone: 1-800-531-5441, ext. 3-3010

Upon receipt and processing of the form, you will be provided an access code and instructions for communicating with the TEXNET System if you have chosen the ACH debit or credit option. Go to the TEXNET site where you may initiate your payment. Your remittance can be scheduled up to 30 days before your payment is due. The information is warehoused and your funds are not transferred until the date designated by you. Your payment can also be initiated on your telephone.

Wiring Instructions for Texas Unclaimed Property Payments:

Financial Institution (Short Name): TX COMP AUSTIN
Routing Number: 114900164
Account Name: COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS - TREASURY OPERATIONS
Account Number to Credit: 463600002
Reference: (i.e., HOLDER NAME AND CONFIRMATION NUMBER)
For Further Credit Information: UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

Electronic Delivery of Securities

Read the instructions for delivering securities via the Depository Trust Company (DTC) or Federal Reserve Bank.

Mailing Instructions for Texas Unclaimed Property Remittance Checks and Physical Securities

All checks should be made payable to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts - Unclaimed Property. Securities should be registered to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, Federal Tax Identification Number 74-6000089. Mail remittance checks and securities to: