The Public Trustee Act 1978 requires that an Accountable Person shall pay unclaimed moneys to the Public Trustee of Queensland.

In addition, other Queensland legislation requires Accountable Persons holding unclaimed moneys to pay it to the Public Trustee. This legislation includes:

• Trust Accounts Act 1973
• Local Government Act 1993
• Residential Tenancies Act 1994
• Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002
• Pawnbrokers Act 1984
• Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act 1967
• Storage Liens Act 1973

Follow these links for details about your responsibility and how to lodge unclaimed moneys:

• Download the unclaimed moneys file specifications and validation instructions for enterprises. 43KB

• Download the unclaimed moneys / unclaimed superannuation benefits validation software. 2MB zip file Updated 24/02/04
  

• Download an example template showing the specifications of the format required for the unclaimed money 19KB or unclaimed superannuation benefits 23KB.
  

• Download the blank Excel template for the lodgment of unclaimed moneys 17KB or unclaimed superannuation benefits. 19KB
  
  

• Provisions of the Public Trustee Act 1978 relating to unclaimed money and unclaimed superannuation benefits.
  • Definitions
  • Meaning of “unclaimed superannuation benefit”
  • Dividends not to be forfeited
  • Public Trustee’s register of unclaimed moneys
  • Accountable person’s register of unclaimed moneys
  • Statement about unclaimed superannuation benefits
  • Public Trustee may examine documents
  • Unclaimed moneys to be paid to public trustee
  • Public Trustee may refund certain amounts to accountable
    
    
• Money that must be lodged with The Public Trustee.
• What is not unclaimed money collected by the public trustee.
• Lodgment requirements.
• How to lodge your return.
• Penalties for non lodgment of unclaimed money to The Public Trustee.
  
  

• Companies
  Where dividends or other monies have been held for two years for shareholders who cannot be located, a company is required to maintain a Register of those unclaimed monies. Any money on the Register that is still unclaimed after a further year must be paid to The Public Trustee.

• Unclaimed Superannuation
  In instances where a Superannuation member reaches the eligibility age for a pension and the Superannuation Fund has been unable to locate such member or on the death of a member and benefits have not been claimed by an Executor or Administrator such benefits must be paid to The Public Trustee.

• Hospitals and Institutions
  Are required to deliver to The Public Trustee any property including jewellery and money that has remained unclaimed for three months or more.

• Deceased Estates
  If a beneficiary cannot be located or it cannot be established who is entitled to benefit, the estate (in part or in whole) is held as unclaimed.

• Trustees
  Any Solicitor, Public Accountant, Real Estate Agent, Auctioneer or Agent who operates a Trust Account in Queensland and who has in their possession money or property on behalf of a beneficiary:
  1. whose identity is not known
  2. whose whereabouts are unknown
  3. whether he or she is alive or dead is unknown
  4. if deceased and their executors or administrators are unknown
  are required after a certain time to pay the money to The Public Trustee.
  

• Local Authorities
  have the power to sell freehold property when rates and charges remain unpaid for three years. After deducting sale expenses and the rates owing, Local Authorities are required to pay any balance, which remains unclaimed for two years to The Public Trustee.

• Residential Tenancies
  If a tenancy agreement is terminated and goods or personal documents are left on the property it is necessary for the landlord to follow certain procedures and account to The Public Trustee.

• Pawnbrokers
  Are to forward the net proceeds of sale of unredeemed pledges.

• Uncollected Goods
  A trader may sell the goods pursuant to legislation and then pay excess funds to The Public Trustee

• Storage Lien – moneys owing
  A Storer may sell the item stored pursuant to legislation and then pay any excess funds to The Public Trustee.
  
  

• Money which has a legal restriction on the recovery of the money by its owner;
• If the enterprise holding the money also holds other money for the owner in other accounts; and
• The enterprise believes the owner of the money wants to retain the money in the account.
  

In addition, The Public Trustee does not receive the following unclaimed money-

• the owner’s full name
• the total amount due to the owner
• the year the money became payable to the owner
• the year the money became unclaimed
• a brief description of the money (dividend, interest, superannuation payment)
• the owner’s last known address.

• the fund’s tax file number
• the member’s tax file number
• the member’s date of birth
• other information to allow for the completion of an eligible termination payment summary

All Returns are to be lodged by disk or CD (ie. Not by email).

Returns specifications or excel spreadsheets templates can be downloaded from the top of this page.

When completed, the validation program is to be downloaded from the public trustee’s website and the lodgement file created is to be validated and all errors corrected.

The lodgement file is then to be saved to disc or CD as a “CSV” format file and forwarded together with the payment of the moneys to:

The Manager
Information Services
Public Trustee of Queensland
Box 1449 GPO
Brisbane QLD 4001

All enquiries are to be directed to the Unclaimed Moneys Officer on 32139368 or by email to unclaimedmoneys@pt.qld.gov.au