Business lodgement obligations and guide

Know your obligations

All Victorian businesses and trustees must lodge unclaimed money each year to the Victorian Unclaimed Money Register.

If your business holds money that belongs to someone else and you have not been able to return it, you may need to lodge it with us. This includes:

• share dividends
• salaries and wages
• rent and bonds
• debentures and interest
• proceeds from a sale
• unpresented cheques
• trust money.

Money is considered unclaimed if:

• it is legally payable to an owner
• it has remained unpaid for at least 12 months as at 1 March of the current year
• the gross amount is $20 or more (you can combine smaller amounts for the same owner totalling $20)
• there is no reason to believe the owner wants the money held longer (e.g. trust arrangements).

We have the authority to issue an assessment if a business fails to lodge or pay unclaimed money. Late lodgement or payment may result in interest and penalties.

You must keep a copy of your register and supporting records for at least 5 years after lodgement.

Step 1: Create a register by 31 March

By 31 March, you must create a register using the general register template.

The register must contain the following details for all unclaimed money as of 1 March:

• name of owner
• address 
• town
• state
• postcode
• country
• date of birth
• ACN/ABN
• business reference
• description of the payment
• gross amount (before any deductions)
• reasonable expenses (limited to bank fees, postage and stationery)
• date the money became payable.

Only lodge amounts with a gross value of $20 or more. If reasonable expenses reduce the amount to zero, exclude it from your register. Do not claim staff wages or time spent preparing your register as reasonable expenses.

You must also provide supporting documents that match the details in your register. These may include internal records, payment history or correspondence showing attempts to contact the owner.

If reasonable expenses are deducted, they must be allocated against the legal owner in the column of the same name.

Download the template

Step 2: Lodge and pay by 31 May

A business with unclaimed money must complete these steps by 31 May each year:

1. Complete the online statement of compliance form and attach your completed register and supporting documents. After submitting the form, you will receive a submission reference number and can download a lodgement receipt.
2. Pay the net amount of all unclaimed money (total amounts, less reasonable expenses). Payment must be made by electronic funds transfer to:
   • Account name: State Revenue Office Victoria
   • BSB: 033-222
   • Account number: 170364
   • Reference: your submission receipt number
3. Send a confirmation email to unclaimed.money@sro.vic.gov.au and include:
   • the submission reference number or lodgement receipt
   • payment details
   • business name.

Video guide

View transcript.