Montana
Montana Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)
Montana's Department of Revenue has returned more than $111 million in unclaimed property to residents to date. Unlike most states, Montana now proactively matches and pays out some small claims automatically, without the owner ever filing anything. Here is how Montana's unclaimed property program works, including that automatic-payment program, and how to search for and claim what the state might be holding for you.
Information last verified on 2026-07-15. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
How Montana's Unclaimed Property Program Works
Montana's unclaimed property program is run by the Department of Revenue, not the State Treasurer's office as in many other states. When a bank, employer, insurer, or other business owes you money and cannot reach you for long enough, it must attempt to locate you and then report and turn the property over to the Department of Revenue rather than keep it. This transfer is called escheatment, and Montana's version is custodial: the Department of Revenue holds the property on your behalf, and you or your heirs can generally file a claim to get it back.
How to Search for Your Montana Unclaimed Property
Montana's official search and claim tool is the TransAction Portal, known as TAP, reachable at tap.dor.mt.gov and linked from the Department of Revenue's own unclaimed property page. The state's older branded address, mycash.mt.gov, now redirects to the same official portal. Montana's records are also searchable through the free multi-state tool MissingMoney.com, though the state's own TAP portal remains the authoritative source. Search under every name you have used, and check any other state where you have lived, worked, or banked, since property follows the address you had at the time it was reported. For a broader look at how unclaimed property works nationwide, see Unclaimed Money & Property by State.
Montana residents can run this search alongside open settlements and final-paycheck deadlines with the Am I Owed Money? checker, which links only to official sites and collects nothing.
How to File a Claim
Filing a claim through TAP is free, and the Department of Revenue is direct about it: "You do not need to pay a third-party to claim your property." Mont. Code Ann. 70-9-815 gives the department up to 90 days after a claim is filed to allow or deny it and to send written notice of the decision, and if the claim is allowed, up to 30 more days to deliver or pay the property. The department's own claims page frames the same window as having 90 days to complete your claim once all documentation is received from you, and claims are handled in the order they arrive. If the department requests additional documentation and you do not provide it within six months, the claim is denied, though you can reopen it or file again later. If you move while a claim is pending, provide proof of your new address, such as a lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill.
Montana's Dormancy Period, Explained
Montana generally sets its dormancy period, how long a business can hold your money before it must report and remit it to the state, at five years for checking accounts, savings accounts, and accounts payable. Uncashed payroll and wages have a shorter dormancy period of just one year, and gift certificates become reportable three years after December 31 of the year they were sold. Once the applicable period passes, the holder must turn the property over to the Department of Revenue.
House Bill 88: Montana Now Pays Some Small Claims Automatically
Montana stands out among states for a 2025 law, House Bill 88, that lets the Department of Revenue skip the claim-filing step entirely for smaller amounts. Under the law, the department can pay or deliver property directly to a person without requiring a claim if three things are true: the person is the apparent owner named on the original unclaimed property report, the department has reasonably validated that person's identity and address using state records such as tax filings, and the property is worth $1,000 or less.
In practice, this means the Department of Revenue can cross-reference its unclaimed property reports against Montana tax records, confirm a match, and simply mail a check, no search or claim form required on your part. If you receive a check from the Department of Revenue referencing unclaimed property, it is very likely this program at work rather than something you need to apply for after the fact. Montana is part of a small but growing group of states experimenting with this kind of proactive small-claim payment, though the $1,000 threshold and the tax-record matching method are specific to Montana's version of the idea.
Tip: Because the automatic-payment program under HB 88 relies on validating your identity and address against state records, keeping your address current with the Montana Department of Revenue, such as when you file your state tax return, improves the odds that a small unclaimed balance in your name gets matched and mailed to you without you having to do anything.
Avoiding Unclaimed Money Scams
The Department of Revenue is explicit that you never need to pay anyone to claim your own property through TAP. Be cautious of two different things. Paid "finder" or "asset recovery" services simply charge a fee to do the searching and filing for you. They are unnecessary in Montana, since the state's own process, including its automatic small-claim payments, already costs nothing.
Montana also regulates those agreements by statute. Under Mont. Code Ann. 70-9-825, an agreement whose primary purpose is locating or recovering unclaimed property is void and unenforceable if it was entered into during the period that begins on the date the property was presumed abandoned and runs until 24 months after the property is paid or delivered to the administrator. An agreement made outside that window still has to be in writing, signed by the owner, and has to disclose the property, the services to be performed, and the value of the property both before and after the fee. The owner or the administrator can also ask a court to strike compensation that is unconscionable, and the court may award attorney fees. If you have already signed with a finder, read that section before you pay anything.
The more serious concern is outright fraud. The Federal Trade Commission has warned about unsolicited calls, texts, and emails claiming you have unclaimed funds waiting and pressuring you to act fast, often by asking for an upfront "processing" or "release" fee, or for sensitive personal information out of the blue. No legitimate Montana agency will ask you to pay before it searches its own database or before it mails you money it already owes you. Report suspected scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Related articles
- Unclaimed Money & Property by State
- Montana Landlord-Tenant Laws
- Montana Divorce Laws
- Montana Power of Attorney Laws
Disclaimer
This article provides general information about how Montana's unclaimed property program works as of the verification date above. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Program rules, including the House Bill 88 automatic-payment threshold, change over time, so verify current information directly with the Montana Department of Revenue before relying on any figure here.
Last updated: 2026-07-15.
More Montana Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really free to search for and claim unclaimed property in Montana?
Yes. The Montana Department of Revenue states directly that you do not need to pay a third party to claim your property, and searching and filing through the TransAction Portal (TAP) is free.
What is House Bill 88 and does it affect me?
House Bill 88 lets the Department of Revenue automatically match and pay unclaimed property claims worth $1,000 or less using state tax records, without you having to file a claim. If you are owed a small amount and your identity and address can be validated, you may simply receive a check.
I got an unexpected check from the Montana Department of Revenue for unclaimed property. Do I need to file a claim first?
Generally no. This is most likely the House Bill 88 automatic-payment program, which mails checks for validated matches of $1,000 or less without requiring a claim form. If you have questions about a check you received, contact the department at 406-444-6900 or UnclaimedProperty@mt.gov.
What is Montana's dormancy period for unclaimed property?
It is generally five years for checking accounts, savings accounts, and accounts payable, but only one year for uncashed payroll and wages, after which a business must report the property to the state.
What happened to mycash.mt.gov?
It now redirects to the Department of Revenue's unclaimed property portal at revenue.mt.gov, where you can access the same TransAction Portal (TAP) search and claim tool.
How long does a standard Montana unclaimed property claim take?
Mont. Code Ann. 70-9-815 gives the Department of Revenue up to 90 days after a claim is filed to allow or deny it and to notify you in writing, and up to 30 more days after a claim is allowed to deliver or pay the property. Claims are processed in the order received, so a standard claim can run up to about four months from filing to payment.
Do I have to pay a finder who contacted me about Montana unclaimed property?
Maybe not. Mont. Code Ann. 70-9-825 makes an agreement to locate unclaimed property void and unenforceable if it was signed during the period running from the date the property was presumed abandoned until 24 months after the property was paid or delivered to the state administrator. Agreements made outside that window must be in writing, signed by you, and disclose the property, the services, and the value before and after the fee, and a court can strike compensation that is unconscionable.
Can I search for Montana unclaimed property on MissingMoney.com?
Yes, Montana's records are searchable through the free multi-state tool MissingMoney.com, though the state's own TransAction Portal remains the authoritative source for filing an actual claim.
Is it a scam if I'm asked to pay a fee to release my Montana unclaimed property?
Yes, that is a red flag. The Montana Department of Revenue does not charge a fee to search its database or to pay out a legitimate claim, including through the automatic House Bill 88 payment program.
Updates
Updated the total returned to Montanans to the current figure published on the Department of Revenue's portal, removed an amount-held figure we could no longer source, clarified that state law allows 90 days to decide a claim plus 30 days to pay it, and added Montana's statute voiding many paid finder agreements.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Montana Code Annotated, Title 70
§ 70-9-815Filing Claim With Administrator -- Handling Of Claims By Administrator -- ExceptionIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
70-9-815. Filing claim with administrator -- handling of claims by administrator -- exception. (1) Except as provided in subsection (5), a person, excluding another state, claiming property paid or delivered to the administrator may file a claim on a form prescribed by the administrator and verified by the claimant. (2) Within 90 days after a claim is filed, the administrator shall allow or deny the claim and give written notice of the decision to the claimant. If the claim is denied, the administrator shall inform the claimant of the reasons for the denial and specify what additional evidence is required before the claim will be allowed. The claimant may then file a new claim with the administrator or maintain an action under 70-9-816. (3) Within 30 days after a claim is allowed, the property or the net proceeds of a sale of the property must be delivered or paid by the administrator to the claimant, together with any dividend, interest, or other increment to which the claimant is entitled under 70-9-812.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-03 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mca.legmt.gov
Also relied on in: Montana Small Estate Affidavit: $100,000 Limit, Wait Time and Form
§ 70-9-808Report Of Abandoned PropertyIn force
70-9-808. Report of abandoned property. (1) A holder of property presumed abandoned shall make a report to the administrator concerning the property. (2) The report must be verified and must contain: (a) a description of the property; (b) except with respect to a traveler's check or money order, the name, if known, and last-known address, if any, and the social security number or taxpayer identification number, if readily ascertainable, of the apparent owner of property of the value of $50 or more; (c) an aggregated amount of items valued under $50 each; (d) in the case of an amount of $50 or more held or owing under an annuity or a life or endowment insurance policy, the full name and last-known address of the annuitant or insured and of the beneficiary; (e) in the case of property held in a safe deposit box or other safekeeping depository, an indication of the place where it is held and where it may be inspected by the administrator and any amounts owing to the holder; (f) the date, if any, on which the property became payable, demandable, or returnable and the date of the last transaction with the apparent owner with respect to the property; and (g) other information…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mca.legmt.gov
§ 70-9-825Agreement To Locate PropertyIn force
70-9-825. Agreement to locate property. (1) An agreement by an owner, the primary purpose of which is to locate, deliver, recover, or assist in the recovery of property that is presumed abandoned, is void and unenforceable if it was entered into during the period commencing on the date the property was presumed abandoned and extending to a time that is 24 months after the date the property is paid or delivered to the administrator. This subsection does not apply to an owner's agreement with an attorney to file a claim as to identified property or contest the administrator's denial of a claim. (2) An agreement by an owner, the primary purpose of which is to locate, deliver, recover, or assist in the recovery of property, is enforceable only if the agreement is in writing, clearly sets forth the nature of the property and the services to be rendered, is signed by the apparent owner, and states the value of the property before and after the fee or other compensation has been deducted.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at mca.legmt.gov
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Sources and References
- Montana Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Portal(revenue.mt.gov).gov
- Montana Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Claims(revenue.mt.gov).gov
- Montana Code Annotated, Title 70, Chapter 9, Part 8 (Uniform Unclaimed Property Act), Section 70-9-808(mca.legmt.gov).gov
- Montana Department of Revenue, Unclaimed Property Holder Guide (dormancy periods)(revenuefiles.mt.gov).gov
- FTC Consumer Advice, How to handle unexpected calls about unclaimed funds(consumer.ftc.gov).gov
- Mont. Code Ann. 70-9-815, Filing claim with administrator, handling of claims by administrator (90-day decision, 30-day payment)(mca.legmt.gov)
- Mont. Code Ann. 70-9-825, Agreement to locate property(mca.legmt.gov)