Unpaid Dividends Australia 2025: Investor Guide & New Rules

Dividends are often seen as the ultimate reward for share investors—a tangible return on the companies they back. But what happens when those payments go missing? For thousands of Australians, unpaid dividends are more common than you might think, resulting in millions of dollars sitting unclaimed each year. In 2025, with regulatory tweaks and new digital tracing tools, it’s time to get across how unpaid dividends work and what you can do if you’re owed money.

What Are Unpaid Dividends?

An unpaid dividend is a dividend that has been declared by a company but not successfully paid to a shareholder. This can occur for several reasons:

• Outdated or incorrect bank account details
• Shares held in a deceased estate with unresolved ownership
• Dividend cheques lost in the mail (still surprisingly common!)
• Unclaimed dividends from small parcels of shares forgotten in a portfolio

While companies are required by law to pay dividends to shareholders, sometimes the money simply doesn’t reach its intended recipient. If left unclaimed, these funds don’t just vanish—they’re transferred to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) after a holding period, becoming part of a massive pool of unclaimed money.

2025 Policy Updates: What’s Changed?

This year, the Australian government has introduced several new measures to streamline the process around unclaimed dividends and make it easier for investors to track down their money:

• Shorter Dormancy Period: As of July 2025, companies must transfer unclaimed dividends to ASIC after three years of inactivity (down from five years previously).
• Digital Claims Portal: ASIC’s new online system allows investors to lodge and track claims electronically, with integrated ID verification using MyGovID.
• Mandatory Shareholder Notifications: Listed companies now must notify shareholders by email or SMS before transferring unclaimed dividends to ASIC, provided contact details are available.

These changes are designed to minimise the number of Australians missing out on their rightful returns, and to reduce the administrative burden for both companies and investors.

How to Recover Your Unpaid Dividends

If you suspect you’re owed a dividend—or you’ve just rediscovered some ancient share certificates in a drawer—here’s how to get started:

1. Check With the Share Registry: The first step is to contact the relevant share registry (e.g., Computershare, Link Market Services, Boardroom) to see if any unpaid dividends are held in your name. Have your shareholder reference number (SRN/HIN) handy.
2. Search the ASIC Unclaimed Money Database: Use the ASIC unclaimed money search tool for dividends already transferred to the regulator.
3. Submit a Claim Online: For 2025, claims can be lodged digitally via ASIC’s portal, streamlining the process. You’ll need to provide ID and supporting documents (such as proof of share ownership).
4. Keep Your Details Up To Date: To prevent future unpaid dividends, always notify the share registry of changes to your address, email, or banking details.

Example: In 2024, a Sydney retiree discovered $8,000 in unpaid dividends from a long-forgotten shareholding in a major bank. Using ASIC’s online portal, she submitted her claim and received the funds within four weeks—plus accrued interest.

Tips to Avoid Missing Out

• Register for electronic dividend payments rather than cheques.
• Consolidate your holdings with one registry where possible.
• Review your portfolio annually, especially if you’ve changed jobs or moved house recently.
• Set up email alerts with share registries to be notified of upcoming payments.

For those managing deceased estates, ensure you notify all relevant registries and update the shareholder details to prevent dividends going astray.

The Bottom Line

Unpaid dividends are a hidden issue for many Australians, but with new 2025 policies and digital tools, it’s easier than ever to claim what you’re owed. Staying proactive with your share registry details and checking ASIC’s database regularly can ensure your investment returns end up where they belong—back in your pocket.