Significant developments in unclaimed property laws have turned settled expectations upside down in a variety of areas. While states continue to press forward on audits, new legislation, new regulation and litigation across the country are shifting the rules in this already uncertain area. Companies under audit face difficult choices ahead, and those not (yet) under

There’s never a dull moment in Delaware when it comes to unclaimed property. The latest salvo comes by way of a lawsuit filed by the Delaware Department of Finance against Blackhawk Engagement Solutions (DE), Inc. (formerly known as Parago, Inc.), a provider of rebate, reward and incentive programs to retailers and other client companies. As

We are pleased to announce that Amy F. Nogid has joined Sutherland’s State and Local Tax (SALT) practice as counsel in New York. Prior to joining Sutherland, Amy was of counsel at Morrison & Foerster LLP.

Amy represents clients in all aspects of state and local taxation matters at the administrative, trial and appellate levels

Proposed revisions to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act were under debate this past week in Washington, DC as the Uniform Law Commission Committee to Revise the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act continued the process of crafting a new Uniform Act. The Drafting Committee focused on seven priority issues, including (1) the definition of address; (2) gift

By Kathryn Pittman and Jack Trachtenberg

On April 17, 2013, Select Medical Corporation (Select Medical) filed suit in federal district court seeking to enjoin Delaware from enforcing an unclaimed property assessment issued for years that had been resolved already through the state’s voluntary disclosure program. In 2006, Select Medical entered into Delaware’s voluntary disclosure program

New Jersey amended its escheatment laws on June 29, 2012. Some of the notable amendments include:

  1. Extending the period for which no activity is deemed to be considered abandoned from two years to five years;
  2. If a balance of less than $5 remains on a gift card, issuers are required to refund the balance in

North Carolina

North Carolina H.B. 692 contains several important, and somewhat disconcerting, changes for unclaimed property holders. The bill provides that for amounts due to the apparent owners of intangible property valued at $50,000 or more, holders must report the following information with respect to the owner: “full name, last known address, SSN or TIN

Indiana just launched a new unclaimed property compliance enforcement effort that is bringing unwelcome news to some holders. In early April, Indiana sent out formal notices to holders indicating that fines could apply for failure to timely report and remit unclaimed property. In some cases, not only did holders receive the warning notice, but also an actual assessment and invoice reflecting the threatened fines. The letters accompanying these assessments indicated that the holder has 60 days to pay the assessment, including the fine, or demonstrate to the Indiana unclaimed property authorities that the assessment was incorrect. Adding salt to the wound, the letters indicated that failure to comply may subject the company to an audit.

Idaho, on the other hand, recently passed a law that eases the compliance burden associated with reporting unclaimed corporate securities and related distributions. HB 174 (effective July 1, 2011). Idaho’s new law makes two major changes to corporate securities reporting: (1) a requirement that the owner is actually “lost” before the dormancy period commences, and (2) clarification of the requirements for reporting unclaimed dividends paid pursuant to dividend reinvestment program accounts (DRIP accounts).Continue Reading The “I’s” Have It: Indiana and Idaho Unclaimed Property Developments

Sin City, Lost Wages, Glitter Gulch, or just plain old Las Vegas. What immediately comes to mind? Probably not unclaimed property. But the state of Nevada has finally discovered a way to add insult to injury by requiring unclaimed property holders (e.g., casinos) to remit uncashed “wagering instruments.”

On March 1, 2011, the Nevada Legislature introduced Assembly Bill No. 219. This bill, if passed, would add the following property type and dormancy period to the state’s unclaimed property law reporting and remittance requirements: Any wagering instrument, one year after the wager is placed, unless the Nevada Gaming Commission specifies by regulation a different period in which the wagering instrument must be redeemed is presumed abandoned.Continue Reading Unclaimed Property…Nevada is Betting on a Sure Thing