Sydney, January 6, 2026, 21:47 AEDT
- NSW says about A$300 million is sitting unclaimed in Revenue NSW’s register
- More than 800,000 payments are listed, ranging from small sums to millions
- Rule changes shorten how long businesses can hold unclaimed money before reporting it
New South Wales residents are being urged to check whether they are owed a share of about A$300 million sitting in Revenue NSW’s unclaimed money pool, the state government said. The register includes more than 800,000 items, with individual payments ranging from a few dollars to amounts in the millions.
The push comes as households reset their budgets after the holiday period and look for relief wherever they can find it. NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos said, “This is money that belongs to residents of New South Wales, and we want to get that money back to you.” She said more than A$21 million was returned to NSW households last year. ABC
Unclaimed money refers to payments that businesses could not deliver—often because people moved, changed names or an estate was unaware funds existed—before the money is transferred to Revenue NSW. The statutory period for holding unclaimed money has been cut to two years from six years, a change Revenue NSW says will apply to returns due on Oct. 31, 2026.
Sydney’s city and eastern suburbs account for more than A$91 million on the register, with western Sydney at about A$77 million and the Central Coast and Hunter region at about A$22 million, according to published figures. Revenue NSW also holds almost A$395 million in additional money for people registered at interstate addresses who have conducted business in NSW.
Revenue NSW says the quickest way to lodge a claim is through its online service, where applicants upload supporting documents and submit bank details for payment. Claimants must provide two identity documents—such as an Australian driver’s licence or passport—and one official document linking them to the address recorded against the money, and the agency says to allow up to 28 days for assessment. The portal also caters for claims involving companies, trusts and deceased estates, including applications by authorised representatives with documents such as probate or power of attorney.
The NSW register is one of several “lost money” databases that Australians may need to check. The federal government’s MoneySmart service says there is about A$2.6 billion in unclaimed shares, bank accounts and life insurance held on records managed by the corporate regulator ASIC, and it warns some claim services charge fees even though claiming is free. Moneysmart
There is a downside to the attention: scammers often follow publicised pools of money. Revenue NSW says it will never ask for passwords, credit card details or bank account information via email or SMS, and advises people to go directly to its website if a message looks suspicious.
Even when a name appears on the register, claims can bog down if paperwork is missing or details do not match, particularly for older records and estate-related applications. Applicants may need to provide extra evidence to prove entitlement and link themselves to the address held on file.
