Treasurer Pieciak Returns Unclaimed Property to Kingdom Trails
To Over 31,000 Vermonters in Fiscal Year 2025
$24 million in new unclaimed property was also turned over to the State—an all-time high.
Vermont Business Magazine Fiscal year 2025 was a record-breaking year for the Unclaimed Property Division of the Vermont State Treasurer’s Office. The Treasurer’s Office returned a record $9.9 million in unclaimed property to Vermonters, processing a record 31,593 individual claims. It was the second consecutive year that the office paid a record number of claims, up significantly from 19,010 in fiscal year 2024.
Over $24 million in unclaimed property was also turned over to the State—the most ever received in a fiscal year.
“When our office returns unclaimed property, that’s money back in Vermonters’ pockets and our economy,” said Treasurer Pieciak. “As affordability continues to be an issue in our state, returning these funds is a high priority. I want to recognize the tireless efforts of our Unclaimed Property Division to reunite Vermonters with their hard-earned money.”
Unclaimed property includes uncashed checks, forgotten security deposits, investments, and other financial property. Financial institutions and other entities annually report forgotten assets and turn them over to the state. The Treasurer's Office safeguards them until claimed by rightful owners or their heirs. Unclaimed property can belong to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, government entities, and more.
The Treasurer’s Office typically spreads awareness about unclaimed property through paid advertising campaigns and outreach events. Last summer, Treasurer Pieciak held a two-day road tour to return over $150,000 in unclaimed property to local businesses and non-profits in each of Vermont’s 14 counties.
Earlier this year, on a visit to the Northeast Kingdom, Treasurer Pieciak returned unclaimed property to Kingdom Trails in East Burke. "Learning that Kingdom Trails had unclaimed property was a welcome surprise," said Abby Long, Executive Director of the Kingdom Trail Association. "As NEK organizations like ours are experiencing fewer Canadian visitors, the reclaimed funds helped support our mission—ensuring people can continue to enjoy our trails and Northeast Kingdom communities."
The State has also taken a proactive approach to reunite Vermonters with their missing money. Last December, Governor Scott and Treasurer Pieciak launched the MoneyBack program—returning unclaimed property ranging from $100 to $500 to Vermonters whose identity and address were verified via Tax Department data. The initiative returned nearly $1.3 million to over 5,000 Vermonters before the 2024 holiday season. Treasurer Pieciak intends to make the MoneyBack program an annually recurring program.
Despite returning more money than ever, the total amount of unclaimed property held by the State continues to rise. After receiving a record $24 million in additional properties in fiscal year 2025, the Treasurer’s Office now holds over $150 million in unclaimed property. Pieciak says this demonstrates the ongoing challenge of reuniting Vermonters with their forgotten assets.
"The money we’ve returned has helped Vermonters keep their housing, supported veterans who served our country, and helped small businesses keep their doors open,” continued Pieciak. “Every day, we reunite Vermonters with funds that make a meaningful difference in their lives. I hope Vermonters will take a moment to search missingmoney.com to see if they have unclaimed property waiting for them."
To improve efficiency, the Unclaimed Property Division recently implemented a new software that enables claims under $250, where the original owner files the claim, to be filed entirely online—a process that Vermonters have described as quick and easy.
All Vermonters are encouraged to visit missingmoney.com to search for unclaimed property. For inquiries regarding a claim or assistance with the claims process, contact the Treasurer’s Office Unclaimed Property Division at (802) 828-2407 or [email protected].
7.15.2025. Montpelier, VT – Treasurer
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