177.0201 When property presumed abandoned. Subject to s. 177.0210, the following property is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner during the period specified below:

(1) A traveler's check, 15 years after issuance.

(2) A money order or similar instrument, 5 years after issuance.

(3) A state or municipal bond, bearer bond, or original-issue-discount bond, 3 years after the earliest of the date the bond matures or is called or the obligation to pay the principal of the bond arises.

(4) A debt of a business association owed to an individual, 3 years after the obligation to pay arises.

(5) A payroll card or demand, savings, or time deposit, including a deposit that is automatically renewable, 5 years after the later of maturity or the date of the last indication of interest in the property by the apparent owner, except a deposit that is automatically renewable is deemed matured on its initial date of maturity unless the apparent owner consented in a record on file with the holder to renewal at or about the time of the renewal.

(6) Money or a credit owed to a customer as a result of a retail business transaction, other than in-store credit for returned merchandise, 5 years after the obligation arises.

(7) An amount owed by an insurance company on a life or endowment insurance policy or an annuity contract that has matured or terminated, 3 years after the obligation to pay arises under the terms of the policy or contract or, if a policy or contract for which an amount is owed on proof of death has not matured by proof of the death of the insured or annuitant, as follows:

(a) With respect to an amount owed on a life or endowment insurance policy, 3 years after the earliest of the date on which the insurance company has knowledge of the death of the insured or the date on which the insured attained, or would have attained if living, the limiting age under the mortality table that forms the basis of the reserve for the policy.

(b) With respect to an amount owed on an annuity contract, 3 years after the date on which the insurance company has knowledge of the death of the annuitant.

(8) Property that may distributed by a business association in the course of dissolution, one year after the property may be distributed.

(9) Except as provided in ss. 800.095 (8), 852.01 (3), 863.37 (2), and 863.39, property held by a court, including property received as proceeds of a class action, one year after the property may be distributed.

(10) Except as provided in ss. 40.08 (8), 852.01 (3), 863.37 (2), and 863.39, property held by a government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, including municipal bond interest and unredeemed principal under the administration of a paying agent or indenture trustee, 5 years after the property may be distributed.

(11) Wages, commissions, bonuses, or reimbursements to which an employee is entitled, or other compensation for personal services, other than amounts held in a payroll card, one year after the amount becomes payable.

(12) A deposit or refund owed to a subscriber by a utility, one year after the deposit or refund becomes payable.

(13) Property not specified in this section or ss. 177.0202 to 177.0209, the earlier of 5 years after the owner first has a right to demand the property or the date on which the obligation to pay or distribute the property arises.

177.0202 When tax-deferred retirement account presumed abandoned. (1) Subject to s. 177.0210, property held in a pension account or retirement account that qualifies for federal income tax deferral under the U.S. income tax laws is presumed abandoned if it is unclaimed by the apparent owner 3 years after the later of:

(a) The following dates:

1. The date on which a 2nd consecutive communication sent by the holder by 1st class mail to the apparent owner is returned to the holder by the U.S. postal service as undeliverable.

2. If the 2nd communication is sent later than 30 days after the date on which the first communication is returned to the holder by the U.S. postal service as undeliverable, the date on which the first communication was returned as undeliverable.

(b) The earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which the apparent owner reaches the minimum required distribution age, as specified under the Internal Revenue Code or by federal regulation, if that can be determined by the holder.

2. If distribution to avoid a tax penalty is required under the Internal Revenue Code, 2 years after the following:

a. The date on which the holder receives confirmation of the death of the apparent owner in the ordinary course of the holder's business.

b. The date on which the holder confirms the death of the apparent owner under sub. (2).

(2) If a holder in the ordinary course of its business receives notice or an indication of the death of an apparent owner and sub. (1) (b) applies, the holder shall attempt not later than 90 days after receipt of the notice or indication to confirm whether the apparent owner is deceased.

(3) If the holder does not send communications to the apparent owner of an account described in sub. (1) by 1st class mail, the holder shall attempt to confirm the apparent owner's interest in the property by sending the apparent owner e-mail not later than 2 years after the apparent owner's last indication of interest in the property, except that the holder shall promptly attempt to contact the apparent owner by 1st class mail if any of the following applies: