Ohio Rev. Code Ch. 169 · Ohio Department of Commerce — Division of Unclaimed Funds

Ohio Tier 1 Broad B2B Exemption, Mandatory Negative Reports & Certified Mail Rules

Ohio offers one of the most valuable statutory B2B exemptions in the country—yet still enforces mandatory zero/negative reporting for registered corporations and strict $1,000 certified mail rules.

Deadline: November 1 Cutoff: June 30 Tier 1 — Broad B2B Exempt Zero Report: Mandatory

Ohio Statutory Dormancy & Compliance Schedule

NAUPA Property Stream	Statutory Dormancy	Compliance Rule
Uncashed AP Vendor Checks (CK13)	3 yrs	Ohio Rev. Code § 169.01(B)(2)(d) exempts both AP vendor checks and AR credit balances between business associations in the ordinary course of business (note: wages and equity remain reportable).
Payroll, Wages & Commissions (MS01)	1 yr	Never B2B exempt; applies to employee final & bonus checks.
AR Credit Balances & Overpayments (MS09)	3 yrs	Write-offs to income do not extinguish reporting obligation.
Customer Refunds (MS05)	3 yrs	Due diligence window: 30–120 days prior to November 1.
Gift Cards & Stored Value (GC / MS12)	Exempt (most open-loop/no-exp)	Unaddressed cards route to corporate domicile under 2nd Priority.
Securities & Dividends (SC01 / SC08)	3 yrs	First-class mail ($50–$999.99); Certified Mail (Return Receipt) >= $1,000
Virtual Currency / Digital Assets (VC)	3 yrs	Verify liquidation vs. native custodial transfer mandate.

Key Ohio Compliance Traps & Enforcement Risks

Over-Remitting Exempt B2B Vendor Checks ERP default unclaimed property modules frequently sweep Ohio-addressed vendor checks into NAUPA files even though ORC § 169.01(B)(2)(d) exempts qualifying ordinary-course B2B obligations.

Mandatory Negative Report Despite $0 Liability Even if 100% of an Ohio company's AP/AR balances qualify as B2B-exempt, Ohio still requires an annual negative report by November 1.

Ohio Division of Unclaimed Funds VDA

Proactive VDA covers non-exempt streams (payroll, consumer refunds, individual checks) while preserving full Tier 1 B2B exemption.

Statutory Interest & Penalties: Interest + civil penalties ($100/day failure to file). Negative Report Policy: Mandatory negative report for all active entities registered to do business in Ohio—even when all B2B balances are exempt!

Statutory Questions & Answers

Does Ohio's B2B exemption cover uncashed employee paychecks?

No. Wages (MS01) are owed to individuals, never business associations, and carry a strict 1-year dormancy period in Ohio.

When is certified mail required in Ohio?

Any reportable non-exempt item valued at $1,000 or more requires certified mail with return receipt requested.