Gift Card Expiration and Fee Laws by State (2026)
Each state's rules on gift card expiration dates and fees.
| State | Gift cards |
|---|---|
| Arizona | A gift card may not be subject to fees for nonuse or inactivity, and the money on it may not expire. The card itself (or its code) may have an expiration date only if it clearly discloses that the funds do not expire and that the consumer can contact the issuer for a replacement. The rules do not apply to promotional or loyalty cards given for free, cards sold below face value to or donated to charities for fundraising, prepaid phone cards, or general bank-issued prepaid cards not marketed as gift cards. A.R.S. §§ 44-7401, 44-7402 |
| Arkansas | Under the Arkansas Fair Gift Card Act, a gift certificate, store gift card or general-use prepaid card may not expire earlier than two years from its sale or issue, and dormancy, inactivity or service fees may not be charged before two years. After that, expiration dates and fees are allowed only if clearly printed on the card (amount, when charged, how often, and whether triggered by inactivity). Promotional or loyalty cards given for free and certain cards sold below face value to employers or charities are exempt. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 4-88-703, 4-88-704 |
| California | It is unlawful to sell a gift certificate or gift card with an expiration date or service fees, including dormancy fees, except a limited dormancy fee (no more than $1 a month) on cards with $5 or less remaining after 24 months of no activity, if disclosed on the card. A gift card with a cash value under $15 can be redeemed for cash. Promotional or loyalty cards given for free, certain cards sold below face value to employers or charities, and cards for perishable food may have expiration dates if printed in capital letters on the front. Gift cards usable at multiple unaffiliated sellers are generally excluded. Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1749.45, 1749.5 |
| Colorado | It is unlawful to sell a gift card that carries a service, dormancy, inactivity, maintenance or any other fee. If $5 or less remains on a gift card, the issuer must redeem it for cash on request. The law does not cover paper-only gift certificates, cards usable at multiple unaffiliated sellers, government-issued cards, prepaid phone cards, or promotional and loyalty cards given for free. C.R.S. § 6-1-722 |
| Connecticut | No one may sell or issue a gift certificate (including gift cards) that is subject to an expiration date, or include language suggesting one may apply. Sellers must give a paper or electronic proof-of-purchase or gift receipt. If a gift card's balance is under $5 after a purchase, the holder can ask for the remaining balance in cash. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-460, 42-461 |
| Delaware | Anyone selling third-party gift cards must post a conspicuous notice where the cards are displayed or sold, warning buyers about prepaid card scams and telling them what to do if they suspect they are a scam target. 6 Del. C. § 2501L |
| Florida | A gift certificate or gift card purchased in Florida (and a store credit memo issued for returned merchandise) may not have an expiration date or any post-sale fee, such as service, dormancy, account-maintenance or cash-out fees. Exceptions allow disclosed expiration dates of at least 3 years for charitable-contribution certificates, at least 1 year for employee-incentive certificates, and expiration for free promotional or loyalty certificates and certain event packages. The rule does not apply to cards issued by financial institutions or money services businesses that work at multiple unaffiliated merchants. Fla. Stat. § 501.95 |
| Georgia | Under Georgia's Gift Card Integrity Act of 2005, sellers of gift cards and gift certificates in Georgia must include the card's terms in the packaging and make them available on request, honor the card according to those terms, and conspicuously print any expiration date and any dormancy or nonuse fee on the card or an attached sticker. Violations are unfair or deceptive practices. Federal rules also generally keep gift card funds from expiring for at least five years and limit inactivity fees. Georgia Attorney General, Gift Cards |
| Hawaii | A retailer or restaurant that sells gift certificates (including gift cards) may not charge service fees, including dormancy or inactivity fees, and any activation fee may not exceed the lesser of 10 percent of face value or $5. The issue date and expiration date must be clearly shown on the certificate (or on the receipt for electronic cards). Expiration must be at least five years after issuance (two years for paper-only certificates); without an expiration date, the certificate never expires. A balance under $5 must be redeemed in cash. Free promotional, loyalty and charity certificates are exempt if any expiration date is shown. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 481B-13 |
| Illinois | Gift certificates and gift cards (including store credit slips for returns) sold on or after January 1, 2008 may not expire earlier than 5 years after issuance and may not carry post-purchase fees; their value may not be reduced and holders may not be penalized for non-use or late redemption. Prepaid phone and technology cards and cards usable at multiple sellers are excluded. 815 ILCS 505/2SS |
| Kansas | Gift certificates and gift cards sold on or after January 1, 2007 may not have an expiration date less than five years from purchase; without an expiration date they are valid until redeemed. No fees may be charged against the balance within 12 months of issuance. Merchants are not required to give cash for a gift card. Free promotional cards and cards sold below face value to employers or charities are exempt if the expiration date is on the front. Prepaid bank cards usable at multiple merchants are not covered. K.S.A. 50-6,108 |
| Kentucky | A merchant may not sell a gift card with an expiration date less than one year after the date it is issued. No service charges or fees (including dormancy, latency or administrative fees) that reduce the card's value may be charged until the expiration date has passed. A gift card sold without a printed expiration date is valid until redeemed or replaced. Certain cards sold at a discount to employers or charities, sold by charities for fundraising, or given by employers to employees may expire sooner, but not less than 120 days after issue. The law does not cover prepaid phone cards, bank-issued general-use prepaid cards, or free promotional cards. A merchant that charges a prohibited fee is liable to the cardholder for the lost value, court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. KRS 367.890 |
| Louisiana | It is unlawful to sell a gift certificate or gift card that expires less than five years from the date it is issued; the expiration date must appear in capital letters in at least 10-point type. Service fees, including dormancy fees, are not allowed, except a one-time handling fee of no more than $1 per certificate. A gift certificate sold without an expiration date is valid until redeemed or replaced. The rules do not apply to free loyalty or promotional certificates, certificates sold below face value or donated to nonprofits for fundraising, or bank-issued general-use prepaid cards. A violation is an unfair trade practice. La. R.S. 51:1423 |
| Maine | A gift obligation (gift card or certificate) may not have a time limit on the owner's right to redeem it. No fees or charges may be imposed, except a transaction fee at initial issuance that is disclosed in a separate writing before issuance or referenced on the card. If a gift card worth more than $5 when issued is redeemed in person and less than $5 remains, the merchant must pay the balance in cash at the consumer's request. Unused gift obligations are presumed abandoned two years after the end of the year of issuance or last use, but for obligations issued or last used in 2022 or later, the amount that must be reported as unclaimed is 0%. Gift obligations from an issuer that sold no more than $250,000 in face value in the past calendar year are not presumed abandoned. 33 M.R.S. § 2067 |
| Maryland | A gift certificate or gift card (including store credit for returned goods) may not expire or carry any fee or charge of any kind within 4 years after the date of purchase. Any expiration or fee terms that take effect after 4 years must be printed clearly in at least 10-point type on the card, a permanently attached sticker or the envelope, and cannot be changed after purchase unless the change benefits the consumer. A card sold in violation of these rules stays valid with no expiration or fees. The rules do not cover prepaid phone, technical support or Internet cards, discount coupons, free promotional or loyalty cards, or network-branded cards usable at many unaffiliated sellers. Violations are unfair or deceptive trade practices. Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1319 |
| Massachusetts | Gift certificates (including stored-value gift cards) sold in Massachusetts must be valid for at least 7 years after issuance, and the issue and expiration dates must be clearly shown (for electronic cards, they may be on the receipt or available online or by toll-free phone). A certificate without a clearly available expiration date is redeemable forever. For non-reloadable cards, once 90% or more of the value has been used, and for reloadable cards once $5 or less remains, the holder may choose to take the balance in cash. Selling a certificate with a redemption period under 7 years, or refusing to redeem one before it expires, can bring a fine of up to $300. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, § 5D; ch. 266, § 75C |
| Michigan | A retailer may not sell a consumer a gift certificate or gift card that expires in less than 5 years. Retailers may not charge an inactivity fee or other service fee for holding or using a gift certificate; a fee paid at purchase is allowed only if it is not deducted from the card's value. Any terms and conditions must be disclosed to the buyer. These rules do not cover bank-issued general-use prepaid cards. Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 445.903e, 445.903f, 445.903g |
| Minnesota | It is illegal to sell a gift certificate or gift card that has an expiration date or any service fee, including a dormancy fee. Exceptions include free promotional or loyalty cards, cards sold at a discount for fundraising, employer-issued cards, prepaid calling cards, and bank-issued multi-store cards that disclose their expiration date and fees. Minn. Stat. § 325G.53 |
| Montana | A gift certificate is valid until redeemed and does not expire. It may not be reduced in value by any fee, including a dormancy fee. The value belongs to the person holding it, and the issuer may redeem it for someone whose name does not match the certificate. If the original value was more than $5 and the remaining value is less than $5, the holder may ask for the remainder in cash. A gift certificate is treated as the holder's trust property if the issuer goes bankrupt. Mont. Code Ann. § 30-14-108 |
| Nebraska | Nebraska does not ban gift card expiration dates or fees outright, but requires disclosure. A gift certificate or gift card subject to a fee must clearly state on the card whether there is a fee, the amount, how often it applies, that it is triggered by inactivity, and when it is assessed. A card with an expiration date must clearly state that date on the card. These statements must be visible to the buyer before purchase. A card with no fees and no expiration date is not presumed abandoned; one with an expiration date or fees that goes unredeemed for three years from issuance is presumed abandoned (unclaimed property). The rules do not apply to general-use prepaid cards. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 69-1305.03 |
| Nevada | A business may sell a gift certificate or gift card that expires only if the expiration date (or a toll-free number to get the balance and expiration date) is printed plainly on the card in at least 10-point type, visible before purchase. Service fees must be disclosed on the card (amount, triggering event, frequency, and, for inactivity fees, the period of non-use, which must be at least 3 continuous years). Regardless of disclosure, a business may not charge service fees totaling more than $1 per month, or any service fee within the first 12 months after issuance. The rules do not apply to promotional or reward cards given without payment, certain discounted cards sold to employers or charities, cards issued by licensed gaming establishments, or multi-store cards with a printed expiration date. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 598.0921 |
| New Hampshire | Selling gift certificates with a face value of $250 or less that have expiration dates is an unfair or deceptive practice. Gift certificates over $250 expire only when turned over to the state as abandoned property. Dormancy fees, latency fees and other administrative fees or service charges that reduce the amount the holder can redeem are prohibited. The rule does not apply to season passes. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 358-A:2, XIII |
| New Jersey | Underlying funds on a gift certificate or gift card may not expire within 24 months after the date of sale. No dormancy fee may be charged within 24 months after the sale or within 24 months after the most recent use, and any permitted dormancy fee may not exceed $2.00 per month. Any expiration date or dormancy fee, and a phone number for information, must be disclosed in at least 10-point type on the card, receipt or package. For stored value cards treated as gift cards, if a balance of less than $5 remains after a purchase, the merchant must refund it in cash at the owner's request. N.J.S.A. 56:8-110 |
| New York | Gift certificates and gift cards may not expire earlier than nine years after issuance (promotional cards excepted). Sellers may not charge dormancy, service, latency, redemption, renewal or similar fees, and a card's value may not decline because of time passing or non-use; the only exception is an initial activation or issuance fee on an open-loop card, capped at $9. Terms, including any expiration date, fees and replacement procedure, must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed, and stores and ads must carry a notice that terms and conditions apply. A card (other than an open-loop or promotional card) with less than $5 remaining may be cashed out on request. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 396-i |
| North Carolina | A business may not charge any maintenance fee (including a service or inactivity fee) on a gift card for one calendar year after the card is purchased. Any maintenance fees must be conspicuously disclosed at the time of purchase and must be visible on the gift card itself. This rule does not apply to gift cards issued by a financial institution that can be used at multiple unaffiliated sellers. A violation is an unfair trade practice. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-67.5 |
| North Dakota | Gift certificates and gift cards for use at a specific store or service may not expire, or have a redemption deadline, sooner than six years after purchase, and monthly or annual service or maintenance fees may not be charged. The law does not cover general-use prepaid cards (such as Visa or Mastercard gift cards) usable at many unaffiliated merchants, or promotional cards given away without payment (though restrictions on those must be disclosed in writing). A violation is treated as a violation of the consumer fraud law. N.D. Cent. Code §§ 51-29-01 to 51-29-03 |
| Ohio | A gift card sold in Ohio may not have an expiration date less than two years after it is issued, and no dormancy, latency, administrative or other fees that reduce its value may be charged within two years after issue. A gift card sold without an expiration date is valid until redeemed or replaced. Exceptions include promotional or loyalty cards given without payment, cards sold by charities for fundraising, certain employer-issued cards, and cards usable with multiple unaffiliated sellers (such as bank-network cards). A seller that charges a prohibited fee is liable to the cardholder for the lost value, court costs and attorney's fees. Ohio Rev. Code § 1349.61 |
| Oklahoma | A gift certificate or gift card may not be sold with an expiration date less than 60 months (five years) from the date of purchase, and generally may not carry service or dormancy fees. A card sold without an expiration date is valid until redeemed or replaced. A limited dormancy fee of up to $1 per month is allowed only if the card has $5 or less left, has had no activity for 24 consecutive months, can be reloaded, and the fee is disclosed on the card. Promotional or loyalty cards given without payment, discounted cards sold for fundraising, and cards for food products are exempt if the expiration date is printed in capital letters on the front. Okla. Stat. tit. 15, § 797 |
| Oregon | A gift card generally may not be sold with an expiration date, a value that declines over time or with non-use, or any fee (such as inactivity, maintenance or service fees). Once a card has been used at least once and its balance falls below $5, the cardholder must be allowed to redeem it for cash, with exceptions for donated or promotional cards, telecommunications-provider cards and cards redeemed to an online account. A card may carry an expiration date only if it is sold below face value, the expiration date is printed on it, and it does not expire until at least 30 days after sale. Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 646A.276, 646A.278 |
| Rhode Island | Sellers may not put an expiration date on a gift certificate or gift card, limit the time to redeem it, or charge surcharges or monthly or annual service or maintenance fees. When a card is partly used, the remaining balance must be reissued, or paid in cash if under $1. Sellers must keep records of gift certificate sales and give a numbered receipt for certificates over $50. Promotional or loyalty cards given without payment are exempt, but their restrictions must be disclosed. R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13-12 |
| South Carolina | A store gift certificate or gift card may not expire before the first anniversary of its issue or sale unless the earlier expiration date is printed on the front in capital letters in at least 10-point type; a nonconforming expiration date is treated as one year from sale. Any condition that reduces the card's value over time or charges a fee against the balance must be clearly stated on the card, its envelope or the receipt; otherwise the card can be redeemed at any time for its original value minus what the consumer has spent. S.C. Code Ann. § 39-1-55 |
| South Dakota | The Division of Consumer Protection's guidance on gift cards describes federal rules: dormancy fees cannot be charged unless the card has been unused for at least 12 months, only one such fee may be charged per month, and the issuer's dormancy-fee policy must be clearly disclosed. It notes that network-branded and reloadable prepaid cards may be covered by different rules, and that balance-checking fees should be listed in the card's terms. South Dakota Attorney General, Division of Consumer Protection, Fast Facts: Gift Cards & Gift Certificates |
| Tennessee | A gift certificate may not be sold with an expiration date less than two years after it is issued, and no fee may be charged for issuing it. During the first two years after issue, no service charges or fees (including dormancy, latency or administrative fees) that reduce its value may be charged. A gift certificate or covered prepaid card sold without an expiration date is valid until redeemed or replaced. These limits do not apply to certificates given free through award, loyalty or promotional programs; certificates sold below face value to employers or to nonprofits for fundraising; certificates sold by nonprofits for fundraising; and certain certificates given by employers to employees. Prepaid calling cards and prepaid cards usable at multiple unaffiliated merchants or at ATMs are not gift certificates under this law. Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-127 |
| Virginia | A gift certificate or gift card issued by a Virginia merchant may not carry dormancy, inactivity or service fees unless it was given through an award, loyalty or promotional program with no money exchanged. If a certificate has an expiration date, it must show the date or a phone number or website where the holder can find it; if it loses value over time, it must show a phone number or website explaining that. This information must be clearly and permanently printed on the certificate. The definition of gift certificate includes general-use prepaid cards. Violations are enforced under the Consumer Protection Act. Va. Code §§ 59.1-530 to 59.1-532 |
| Washington | It is unlawful to issue, or enforce, a gift certificate or gift card that has an expiration date, any fee (including service fees) or a dormancy or inactivity charge. A gift certificate is valid until redeemed or replaced. If a purchase uses less than the full value, the remaining value must be given back in cash or as a gift certificate, and if the remaining balance is under $5 it must be redeemed in cash on request. Expiration dates are allowed only for certificates issued through awards or loyalty programs or donated to charities for charitable use, and must be clearly disclosed. RCW 19.240.020, 19.240.030 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.