(Photo courtesy of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond)
The county Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office announced Thursday that it has more than a million dollars in unclaimed funds it wants to return to the rightful owners.
Otherwise the money – nearly $1.14 million – will be rolled into the general fund.
Some possible returns reach thousands of dollars. According to the county, the current largest unclaimed amount is $33,261.
The smallest? Just $15.
See if your name is on the county’s list online. Residents who believe they are owed money should follow instructions on the website to file a refund claim by Oct. 5
Copies of the list are available at the County Administration Building, 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 162, and at Treasurer-Tax Collector branch office locations in Chula Vista, 590 Third Ave.; Santee, 10144 Mission Gorge Road, and San Marcos, 141 E. Carmel St.
People also can email a claim to refunds@sdcounty.ca.gov or call 1-877-829-4732 for more information. They also may sign up to receive emails about new unclaimed money lists.
Every year, the Treasurer-Tax Collector and other county departments “have thousands of dollars owed to taxpayers,” officials said in a statement. “This usually results from warrants/checks that are undeliverable by the postal service.”
The funds can accumulate in various ways, such as overpaid taxes, or in situations involving people and organizations doing business with the county or receiving county services, officials said.
If no claim is made after several years, the funds revert to the county. Officials said while the county works to return the money, some refunds are never claimed.