Each year millions of dollars worth of unclaimed cash sit in reserves at the IRS.  This money remains unclaimed in the form of income tax refunds, unclaimed savings bonds, lost life insurance policies, failed accounts in places such as credit unions and banks, misplaced pensions, lost 401k(s) and forgotten retirement money. Each year, this figure increases.

In total, the American government figures there is approximately $32 billion of unclaimed money waiting for rightful owners to make their claim. Some possible reasons for the unclaimed cash could be disabilities, demise or just plain forgetfulness.  Either way the government will only lend a small hand in helping people reclaim their cash. The onus of getting your money is up to you.

To do this, it is a good idea to always keep records of investments and any financial institutions you have put money into. If you are wondering if a piece of this pie belongs to you, check your name against the database at the IRS. To do this you must use your full name. If you see that you are owed money, the IRS provides instructions on how to claim that cash.

Be wary of sites that offer to do searches on your behalf. To do this they will need a lot of your personal information. It is never a good idea to divulge this information to a complete stranger. Try doing a search for yourself. If successful, you will need to fill out Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. This form will define the size of the return. This form can be easily downloaded from the IRS site.

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