County refund list released

SAN DIEGO COUNTY – With increasing housing, gas and living costs, people are encouraged to find out if they have unclaimed monies they are entitled to. That’s why the San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office is doing all it can to reunite $1,056,186.10 in county refunds with its rightful owners. Residents can check to see if their name is on the list at https://www.sdttc.com/ - under Tax Collection, click on Unclaimed Money.

Each year, the Treasurer-Tax Collector and other county departments have thousands of dollars that are owed to taxpayers. Refunds-owed could be a result of overpaid taxes or from other instances in which individual and organizations are doing business with or receiving services from the county.

Unclaimed monies consist of warrants/checks that remain uncashed for a period of more than six months, usually resulting from warrants/checks that are returned as undeliverable by the postal service. The most common types of unclaimed monies include, but are not limited to, supplier payments for goods or services.

After several years of no claim being received the funds are escheated. While the county works to return these monies to the rightful owner, some refunds remain unclaimed. 

“With the cost of living what it is, and the holidays approaching, I’m sure people can use this money. My staff and I are working hard to return this money to the citizens of San Diego,” said Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister. “The average refund is $755, and that can go a long way for those who are the rightful owners and who need it.” 

Hard copies of the list are available at the Treasurer-Tax Collector office locations in San Marcos at 141 East Carmel Street.

Anyone owed money can follow the instructions on the unclaimed money page of the website to file a refund claim by Nov. 30, before the money is rolled into the county’s general fund.

Claims can be emailed to [email protected] or call 1-877-829-4732 for more information. Anyone can sign up to receive emails when new unclaimed money lists are posted.

The smallest refund amount available is $10, and the largest refund amount is $255,574.

Every year, the Treasurer-Tax Collector makes a strong effort to reunite San Diegans with money they have overpaid on taxes or fees. In the past five years, the office has refunded more than $383,300.

Current state law says countywide money that is unclaimed for three years and property tax refunds that are unclaimed for four years must be turned over to the county’s general fund.