New York State Comptroller’s Office to Launch Modernized Unclaimed Property Platform in 2025

Albany, NY — The Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF) within the New York State Comptroller’s Office will transition to the Kelmar Abandoned Property System (KAPS) in 2025. The upgrade is designed to improve speed, reliability, and accessibility for both claimants and reporting organizations, and to align New York with national technical standards.

What’s changing—and when

Key dates

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• July 1, 2025: New York will accept only NAUPA-standard files for unclaimed property reports. Legacy state-specific formats—Excel, NYCD, and HDT—will no longer be supported.
  
  
• August 3, 2025 (maintenance window): Online document submission for claims will be temporarily unavailable.
  
  
• August 11, 2025: Public-facing system enhancements go live, with a redesigned experience for locating and claiming funds.
  
  

Why NAUPA?

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Adopting the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) file standard brings New York into alignment with how most states exchange and validate unclaimed property data. For holders, that means:

• One common specification for outbound reporting,
  
  
• Consistent validations and error handling,
  
  
• Faster acceptance and fewer re-files due to formatting issues.
  
  

What KAPS means for reporting organizations (holders)

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Immediate action items

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• Convert to NAUPA format for all reports due on or after July 1, 2025.
  
  
• Map state-specific fields formerly captured in Excel/NYCD/HDT to appropriate NAUPA fields and property codes.
  
  
• Validate files prior to submission using the latest NAUPA schema to reduce exceptions.
  
  

Transitional best practices

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• Parallel test early: Generate a NAUPA file from your current data and test it against a validation tool before the deadline.
  
  
• Update internal procedures: Refresh SOPs, calendar reminders, and checklists so teams don’t rely on retired formats.
  
  
• Coordinate with your software vendors: Confirm your systems export NAUPA-compliant files and support KAPS-related changes.
  
  

Common pitfalls to avoid

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• Incorrect property type codes or missing owner address details.
  
  
• Unmapped state-specific fields (e.g., legacy identifiers) that need proper NAUPA equivalents.
  
  
• Submitting mixed-format files or attaching spreadsheets as “support”—use NAUPA records and prescribed documentation channels only.
  
  

Getting help

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For technical or process questions, use the Comptroller’s Contact Us form, select “Reporter Question,” and include “NAUPA Conversion” in your message so it routes to the right team.

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What KAPS means for claimants (the public)

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A simpler path to your money

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Beginning August 11, 2025, OUF will introduce a refreshed public experience intended to:

• Streamline searching for your name and prior addresses,
  
  
• Clarify required steps to submit a complete claim, and
  
  
• Improve status visibility during review and payment.
  
  

Note: During a brief maintenance period that includes August 3, 2025, online document uploads will be unavailable. Plan submissions accordingly.

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Who issues payment?

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As before, payments are issued directly by the State of New York after a claim is approved. The system upgrade doesn’t change eligibility rules; it improves the process that gets legitimate claims through review and paid.

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Program context

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New York currently safeguards over $19 billion in unclaimed funds. Standardizing on NAUPA and moving to KAPS is expected to:

• Reduce reporting friction for businesses and institutions,
  
  
• Lower error rates caused by inconsistent formats, and
  
  
• Accelerate reunions between owners and their money through cleaner data and improved workflows.
  
  

Quick reference for holders (checklist)

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• Confirm NAUPA export capability in your reporting system.
  
  
• Map retired Excel/NYCD/HDT fields to NAUPA equivalents.
  
  
• Validate a test file before the July 1, 2025 deadline.
  
  
• Update SOPs, calendars, and training materials.
  
  
• Use the Comptroller’s Contact Us → Reporter Question with “NAUPA Conversion” for support.
  
  

Quick reference for claimants

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• Search for your name and prior addresses using the Comptroller’s official website.
  
  
• Submit documents through the online system (outside of the Aug 3 maintenance window).
  
  
• If approved, payment is issued by the State of New York.
  
  
• Watch for the enhanced public experience launching August 11, 2025.
  
  

Sources

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• Office of the New York State Comptroller — What’s New
  
  
• Office of the New York State Comptroller — Electronic Reporting
  
  
• Unclaimed Property Professionals Organization (UPPO) — New York Announces Move to KAPS & NAUPA File Format