MEDIA ADVISORY - State safe deposit box auction viewing and media availability

OLYMPIA, WASH. – June 13, 2018 – The Department of Revenue and James G. Murphy Co. representatives are available next week for interviews about the upcoming unclaimed safe deposit box auction. Preview days for all auction items are June 18 and 19. The auction follows on June 20 and 21.

Items are available to film and photograph during media availability.

WHAT
Unclaimed safe deposit box auction preview and media availability

WHO
Department of Revenue and James G. Murphy Co.

WHEN and WHERE
Tuesday, June 19

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
James G. Murphy Co.
18226 68th Ave. NE
Kenmore, WA 98028

BACKGROUND

Safe deposit box contents are reported and turned over to the state of Washington five years after an owner stops paying rent on the box. If the rightful owner does not come forward to claim the contents, the state must sell them at public auction within five years.

The last auction was in November 2014. More than 1,700 lots were sold for a total of $584,000. Owners can come forward at any time to claim the money held by the department.

Items for sale usually include collectible coins, currency, jewelry, watches, stamps, silver bars, sports cards, and other collectibles. Land, vehicles, or other tangible property are not included in this auction.

The Department of Revenue is Washington state’s primary tax agency, nationally recognized for innovation and quality customer service. Revenue is the custodian for unclaimed property and administers an unclaimed property program to seek the rightful owners.

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Editor’s Note: More information about the auction is available at dor.wa.gov/UCPAuction.

The Department of Revenue is Washington state’s primary tax agency, nationally recognized as a trusted leader in tax administration and customer service. Revenue administers nearly 60 categories of taxes that help fund vital public services. It also oversees programs that return money to the public, including the Working Families Tax Credit and Unclaimed Property.