Malaysians have a whopping RM5.6b in unclaimed moneys at the end of last year and is currently sitting in trust in the AG (Accountant-General’s) Department. Do you have unclaimed moneys? Claim it back!
What are Unclaimed Moneys?
1. Money Unpaid One Year
Moneys which are legally payable to the owner but have remained unpaid for a period of not less than one year.
- Salaries, wages, bonuses, commissions, and other payments due to employees
- Dividends/profits declared for distributions\
- Insurance claims which have been approved for payment
- Bank draft, cashier’s order, and other documents of similar nature which validity period have lapsed
- Fixed deposits (without automatic renewal instructions) which have matured
- Tender deposits for which the intended purpose has been fulfilled
- Sundry creditors or sundry debtors with credit balance
2. Money Idle 7 Years
Moneys standing to the credit of an account that has not been operated in whatever manner by the owner for a period of not less than seven years.
- Saving account
- Current account
- Fixed deposit (even those with automatic renewal instructions!)
3. Moneys Dormant Trade Account 2 Years
Moneys to the credit of a trade account that has remained dormant for a period of not less than two years.
- Trade creditors account
- Trade debtors account with credit balance
Why are there Unclaimed Moneys?
Some key factors that cause such moneys turned over to the Registrar of Unclaimed Moneys are:
- Change of address without notifying business contacts
- Forgetting small deposits of money in bank
- Owner dies and legal heirs are unaware of the moneys
- Leaving an account with low balance instead of closing it
- Bank mergers resulting in name changes and branch closings and owner is unsure of which bank holds an account to which he or she has entitlement
How to Claim Unclaimed Moneys
Submit completed Borang Permohonan Bayaran Balik WTD [ UMA-7 ].
Supporting documents:
- Malaysians: photocopy of the identity card of the claimant
- Copy of first page of bankbook or bank statement (for refund bank in)
- Original document showing ownership of the sum of money to be claimed (e.g. Bank book/FD certificate/statement)
- Non-Malaysians: photocopy of passport of the claimant (showing passport number, country of issue, name, photograph and validity)
Additional Supporting Documents for Deceased/New Legal Owner:
At least one of the following:
- Letter of Administration
- Grant of Probate
- Power of Attorne
- Forms E/F under the Small Estates (Distributions) Act 1955
- Court Order
Additional Supporting Documents for Companies:
- Business registration document
- Affix company stamp/seal
- Authorization letter given by company to individual making the claim on behalf
- Details of bank account number and address for refund cheque to be issued
Unclaimed Moneys Process
Submit application for refund of unclaimed moneys to Registrar of Unclaimed Moneys in person or by post.
- Deadline to Make Claims: none
- Processing Charges: none
- Refund Mode: cheque or bank account
- Refund Payment Period: within six (6) weeks
Jabatan Akautan Negara Malaysia (JANM)
Office Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Fri: Closed 12:15pm – 2:40pm
Closed: Weekends and public holidays
Full list of locations: www.anm.gov.my/index.php/en/hubungi/lokasi-janm
FAQ
Moneys in credit of a particular account that is not managed by the owners within the time period of not less than seven years is interpreted as Unclaimed Moneys. Issuance of a standing instruction by account holder is considered managed by its owner. However, action upon the said standing instruction by the financial institution is not considered managed by its owner.
Source: https://mypf.my/2017/08/02/how-to-claim-unclaimed-moneys/