Citizenship Declaration required for unclaimed money returns

Mississippi Treasurer becomes first in the nation to prioritize American citizenship

July 14, 2025 – State Treasurer David McRae has announced that the State Treasury will be requiring a Citizenship Declaration to file an unclaimed money return. McRae is the first in the nation to prioritize American citizenship for unclaimed money returns.

“Liberal open border policies have made every state a border state, pushing illegals into the heart of our country, including here in Mississippi,” said McRae. “But Mississippi taxpayers pay for my team and I to serve them – the citizens of Mississippi. As such, claims made by American citizens will take precedent over any claim by a foreign agent.”

To validate claimant identities, the Treasury uses Social Security numbers, addresses, drivers’ licenses, and other forms of identification often tied to American citizenship and verified by cross-referencing domestic databases. If a claimant is not an American citizen, they will be required to provide identifying information tied to their foreign citizenship. In this move, Treasurer McRae has made servicing the claims of American citizens and Mississippi constituents a priority. Claims of American citizens will take precedent over any claim requiring more extensive validation through non-domestic means.

Since becoming State Treasurer in 2020, Treasurer McRae has returned nearly $150 million to Mississippians, more than any Treasurer in state history. This includes several state “firsts,” including Mississippi’s first e-claims system and the first proactive “money match” initiative, which identifies owners and returns their money before they even file a claim.

State Treasurer’s Office news release