Check the card, its remaining funds and the applicable rules before throwing an old gift card away.
Do gift cards expire? Some can, but many do not. For covered gift cards in the United States, federal law generally protects the underlying money for at least five years. State law or an issuer’s own policy may provide more time. A date printed on the plastic can also differ from the expiration of the money itself.
The answer depends on the product, when it was issued or loaded and which protections apply. A purchased gift card and a free promotional reward may follow different rules. This guide explains those distinctions and the steps to take when an old card stops working.
The short answer: identify what actually expired
| What you have | What to check | Useful next step |
|---|---|---|
| Purchased store gift card | Issuer policy, funds expiration and applicable state law | Check the balance through the official merchant |
| Network-branded gift card | Printed card date, underlying funds and disclosed fees | Contact the issuer about continued access or replacement |
| Promotional or bonus card | Promotion-specific deadline and restrictions | Read the reward terms separately from any purchased card |
| Electronic gift card | Whether it is a purchased gift or promotional code | Save the original message and identify the issuer |
| General reloadable prepaid account | Its own agreement and applicable protections | Do not assume gift-card rules apply because someone gave it to you |
A declined transaction does not establish expiration. The card might require activation, lack sufficient funds for the purchase, face a merchant restriction or have a security problem. Ask for the actual reason before accepting that the balance is gone.
What is the federal five-year rule?
The federal gift-card statute generally prohibits covered gift cards from carrying an expiration earlier than five years after issuance or, for applicable reloadable cards, the last loading of funds. Required expiration terms must be disclosed.
That is a minimum protection, not a requirement that every gift card expire after five years. An issuer may promise that its cards never expire, and state law may impose stronger restrictions. Do not count five years and assume the money automatically disappears.
Keep the original issue or loading information where possible. Receiving a card at Christmas does not necessarily establish when it was purchased, activated or last funded. The relevant dates may need to come from the receipt or the issuer’s records.
Card expiration and money expiration are different
A plastic gift card can have a printed date even when its underlying funds remain available. The CFPB’s gift-card regulation and commentary explain that an expired card may need replacement so its holder can access unexpired funds.
Under the applicable replacement rule, the issuer cannot charge for replacing an expired covered card or otherwise making the unexpired balance available. Losing a card or having it stolen is different: the same rule does not guarantee replacement in those situations.
For example, a card found in a drawer might be rejected because its payment credential is out of date while the balance is still valid. Contact the issuer using verified information, ask whether the money remains available and request the appropriate access method. Keep the card until the issue is resolved.
Can fees reduce a gift card’s balance?
Expiration is only one concern. A permitted inactivity fee can reduce a balance before the money expires. The Federal Reserve’s presentation of the gift-card rules describes the conditions for dormancy, inactivity or service fees.
For covered cards, these fees generally require at least one year without activity, clear disclosure of applicable terms and no more than one such fee in a calendar month. This does not mean every issuer charges after a year or that every type of charge follows identical rules.
Review purchase or activation charges separately and check stronger state restrictions. If a balance looks smaller than expected, request transaction and fee details. Do not assume the missing amount represents expiration or a purchase you forgot.
Promotional cards and prepaid accounts need separate checks
A holiday offer might provide a purchased $50 gift card plus a free $10 promotional bonus. The bonus can have different use dates and restrictions. Treating both pieces as the same product can cause you to miss a shorter promotional deadline.
The 2026 published gift-card regulation lists exclusions, including qualifying loyalty, award and promotional cards. Other excluded categories include certain reloadable products not marketed as gift cards and some paper-only certificates. The precise product and disclosures matter.
Electronic delivery alone does not establish an exception. A purchased digital gift card and a promotional email code can represent different products. Look at why it was issued and what its terms say, not simply whether you received plastic or an email.
A reloadable prepaid spending account is not automatically governed by gift-card expiration rules. The CFPB’s prepaid-card expiration explanation distinguishes prepaid accounts from gift cards. Our prepaid card versus debit card guide provides additional background on features and fees.
State law may provide more protection
Check the consumer protection agency or attorney general for the state law relevant to your card and transaction. Avoid assuming that one state’s rule applies nationwide or that an old online summary reflects current law.
For example, the New York Department of State’s consumer alert explains stronger protections for gift cards and certificates purchased on or after December 10, 2022, including a nine-year minimum and limits on fees. Older purchases can fall under earlier rules.
New York’s gift-certificate statute also permits cash redemption on request for certain remaining balances below $5, with exceptions including open-loop and promotional certificates. Card type matters even within one state.
Cash redemption is not a universal right to exchange every gift card for its full face value. Verify the applicable threshold, exceptions and process. Keep a copy of the policy or official guidance supporting your request.
Some popular store cards do not expire
Issuer terms can be more generous than the legal minimum. As checked on October 30, 2026, Target’s GiftCard help page says Target GiftCards do not expire or lose value over time. This concerns Target GiftCards, not every third-party card sold in a Target store.
Starbucks’ gift-card guidance similarly says its gift cards and their value do not expire. Confirm the terms for your country and product, especially when a promotion or separate rewards program is involved.
These examples illustrate issuer policies rather than rank the best gifts. A card that never expires can still be inconvenient if the recipient cannot use the merchant, loses the delivery email or needs cash for another purpose.
What to do when an old gift card will not work
- Identify the issuer. Use the name and contact information on the card or the merchant’s verified website.
- Check the official balance. Avoid unfamiliar balance-check sites asking for the full card number and PIN.
- Find the purchase or activation record. Save receipts, emails and any loading history available.
- Ask why it failed. Separate expiration, activation problems, restrictions, fees and suspicious transactions.
- Request the appropriate remedy. This might be a replacement card, corrected balance or explanation of the policy.
- Keep the case details. Record dates, reference numbers and responses before escalating to the relevant consumer agency.
The OCC’s gift-card purchasing guidance recommends reviewing fees, permitted uses, lost-card procedures and how to claim unused amounts. Those are also useful questions when resolving an older card.
If a customer-service representative says the card expired, ask whether they mean the physical card, a promotional deadline or the underlying funds. That specific question can help identify the relevant rule without turning a routine balance inquiry into a dispute.
What if the retailer closes?
A no-expiration policy does not guarantee redemption if the business shuts down. North Carolina’s guidance on business closures warns that consumers can lose gift-card value when a seller closes.
Check the retailer’s official notices promptly. Ask whether cards are still accepted and whether a deadline or claims process applies. Bankruptcy recovery is not guaranteed. Expiration rights and a company’s ability to honor its obligations are separate issues.
Use holiday gift cards without overspending
Record each card’s balance, restrictions and location, then use it toward purchases you already planned. A $25 card is less helpful if it persuades you to buy an unnecessary $100 item. Include any amount you pay beyond the card balance in your budget.
Our holiday savings guide can help you plan seasonal purchases, while our explanation of wants and needs can help you evaluate an unplanned purchase. Set reminders for promotional deadlines and keep receipts until the card has been used successfully.
When giving a card, include the receipt if appropriate and explain any restrictions. Keep a secure record of the purchase, but do not post a usable card number or PIN in a shared photograph. Choose a merchant the recipient actually uses rather than a bonus offer that requires extra spending.
Frequently asked questions
Do e-gift cards expire?
Some do and some do not. Purchased digital cards can qualify for gift-card protections; promotional codes may follow different rules. Read the issuer’s terms and save the original message.
Does an expired date mean I should discard the card?
No. Check whether the underlying money remains available and ask about replacement before throwing it away. A printed date and an unusable balance are not always the same thing.
What if the balance is zero unexpectedly?
Ask the issuer for transaction history and report unauthorized use promptly. The FTC’s gift-card tampering alert explains how stolen card details can drain a newly funded card. A zero balance is not always an expiration issue.
Before giving up on an old card: identify the product, check the official balance and distinguish the card’s date from the money’s availability. The applicable law and issuer policy determine the next step.