York County Unclaimed Funds
York County is one of the few Pennsylvania counties that maintains its own dedicated unclaimed money list at the county level, separate from the statewide PA Treasury database. If you live or have lived in York County, two distinct places hold funds that may belong to you. The Pennsylvania Treasury holds over $5 billion in abandoned property statewide, and the York County Controller's Office maintains a county-level list updated through August 2025. Both searches are free, both may turn up money from different sources, and there is no deadline to file a claim with either.
York County Unclaimed Money Facts
York County Unclaimed Money List
York County stands apart from almost every other Pennsylvania county because the Controller's Office maintains its own unclaimed money list. This is not a duplicate of the state database. It covers county-level funds that have gone uncollected and have not yet been transferred to the Pennsylvania Treasury. The list was last updated on August 31, 2025, and is available directly through the county's official website.
To search the York County list or inquire about a claim, contact the Controller's Office at BReiber@yorkcountypa.gov or call (717) 771-9616. The official resource is at yorkcountypa.gov/977/Unclaimed-Money. That page provides access to the downloadable list and explains the steps needed to claim any funds you identify. Checking this county-level resource in addition to the statewide PA Treasury database gives York County residents a more complete picture of every possible source of money owed to them.
County-issued payments that were never picked up, vendor refunds that expired, and reimbursements from county transactions can all appear on the York County list. Anyone who has done business with York County government, received a county check, or held a contract with a county department should check the list.
Note: The York County Controller's list and the PA Treasury database are separate systems. Appearing in one does not mean you appear in the other. Check both every time you search.
York County Unclaimed Money Controller Resources
The York County unclaimed money page at yorkcountypa.gov/977/Unclaimed-Money is maintained by the Controller's Office and is the official source for county-held abandoned funds.
York County residents can use this page to download the current unclaimed funds list, find contact information for the Controller's Office, and learn what documentation is needed to claim any funds identified in the county records.
PA Treasury Unclaimed Property for York County
The Pennsylvania Treasury holds more than $5 billion in abandoned property from residents and former residents across all 67 Pennsylvania counties. York County, as one of the state's larger and more economically active counties, contributes a significant share of that total each year. Dormant bank accounts, uncashed insurance settlements, stock dividends, utility deposit refunds, and forgotten retirement balances all flow into the Treasury after the required dormancy period expires.
The free search portal at unclaimedproperty.patreasury.gov returns results instantly. York County residents should search their full legal name, any former or maiden names, and every address they have held in the county, including addresses in York City and surrounding communities. Former residents who moved away from York County years ago may find property still waiting. No account or password is required.
The Treasury can be reached by phone at 1-800-222-2046, Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff assist callers in identifying matching records, understanding required documentation, and tracking pending claims. All services through the PA Treasury unclaimed property program are completely free.
York County Tax Claim Bureau and Delinquent Funds
The York County Tax Claim Bureau handles all delinquent real estate taxes in the county. The office is at 28 East Market Street, York, PA 17401, and can be reached at (717) 771-9205. The bureau handles only prior-year delinquent accounts. Current-year taxes are paid to the local tax collector for your municipality, not to the Tax Claim Bureau. Full details are available at the Assessment and Tax Claim Office page.
Tax certifications cost $15 per parcel and require a written request along with a check payable to York County Tax Claim Bureau. Certifications are not issued until payment is received. Delinquent tax payments must be made in certified funds only, including money orders, cashier's checks, and certified checks. Online payments are available through PayGOV with a processing fee applied. Interest on delinquent accounts accrues monthly, so earlier resolution typically results in lower total costs.
Note: The delinquent tax list maintained by the York County Tax Claim Bureau is updated each business day by 9 AM and is available on the county website for public reference.
York City Treasurer and Local Unclaimed Money
York City residents deal with a distinct layer of local tax administration through the York City Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer collects approximately $110.5 million in annual city revenue each year. That total includes more than $30 million in real estate taxes collected on behalf of the York City School District. Two contacts handle different types of inquiries at the Treasurer's office: Maribel Otto handles Permits and Licenses at (717) 849-2268, and Brisa Dean handles Real Estate Taxes at (717) 849-2281.
The York City Treasurer is not authorized to collect delinquent real estate taxes. Any delinquent account must go to the York County Tax Claim Bureau at (717) 771-9205. City-issued vendor payments, refunds, and benefit checks that go uncashed pass through the dormancy period and eventually flow into the state unclaimed property system. Former York City employees who moved away may have uncashed final paychecks or benefit balances on record at the Treasury. Anyone who worked for York City government at any time should run a name search at the PA Treasury portal.
York County Property Assessment and Tax Records
The York County Assessment Office maintains assessed values for all properties in the county. Current assessments are based on 100% of market value as of July 1, 2004, with the most recent countywide reassessment effective January 1, 2006. As of July 2025, the Common Level Ratio for York County stands at 50.46. That ratio reflects the relationship between assessed values and current market values across the county.
Assessment records are relevant to unclaimed property searches in one specific way: property tax overpayments or credits that were never refunded to the owner can appear as unclaimed money in the county or state databases. If you believe a tax overpayment was never returned, check both the York County unclaimed money list and the PA Treasury portal before contacting the Assessment Office at 28 East Market Street.
Pennsylvania Bulletin York County Listings
The Pennsylvania Bulletin publishes official unclaimed property notices on a regular basis. York County zip codes appear frequently in published notices, including 17313, 17315, 17331, 17401, 17402, 17403, 17404, and additional codes covering communities throughout the county. The Bulletin archive at pacodeandbulletin.gov contains notices from many years back. Each listing names the last known owner and address along with the type of unclaimed asset that was reported to the state.
Finding your name or a former York County address in the Bulletin confirms that a holder transferred your property to the Treasury. You can immediately use that information to initiate a claim at the PA Treasury portal. Older notices represent funds that are still available, because the Treasury holds all York County unclaimed property indefinitely.
Note: A single address can appear in multiple bulletin notices from different holders over different years. Check all matching entries, not just the most recent one.
New Laws That Make York County Claims Easier
Pennsylvania has made recovering unclaimed funds more accessible for York County residents in recent years. Act 81 of 2024 established the Money Match program. Under Money Match, eligible residents with verified state tax records may receive automatic payments of up to $500 without filing a formal claim. Qualifying York County residents are notified directly and do not need to take any additional steps to receive a payment.
Act 50 of 2025 significantly expanded options for heirs. Starting May 25, 2026, an heir of a deceased York County resident can claim up to $20,000 from an estate without going through traditional probate. The new Relationship Affidavit process was designed to help families recovering smaller estates. York County families who previously found probate too costly or complicated for modest amounts now have a direct path to recovery. For amounts above $20,000, standard estate claim procedures still apply through the PA Treasury portal.
These changes apply to all York County residents, including those in York City, Hanover, Red Lion, and throughout the surrounding townships and boroughs. Call 1-800-222-2046 for personalized guidance on any York County estate claim.
Multi-State Unclaimed Property Search for York County
York County sits in south-central Pennsylvania and shares a border with Maryland to the south. That geography matters when searching for unclaimed funds. York County residents who have lived or worked in Maryland may find property held by the Maryland Comptroller's unclaimed property office. Any time you have had a bank account, insurance policy, or employer in another state, that state may be holding funds in your name.
The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators offers a free multi-state search at unclaimed.org that checks multiple state databases simultaneously. York County residents with ties to Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, or any other state should run a multi-state search in addition to the Pennsylvania Treasury and York County Controller's list. Property is held by the state where the last known address on the holder's records was located, so funds from a former Maryland employer or bank would be held by Maryland, not Pennsylvania.
Nearby Counties
York County borders four Pennsylvania counties to the north and east and shares a boundary with Maryland to the south. If you have lived or worked across any of these county lines, searching neighboring county records separately is a worthwhile step.