Gift card expiration, fee and cash-redemption rules by state
State gift card / gift certificate consumer protections compared against the federal CARD Act floor (15 U.S.C. 1693l-1: no expiry under 5 years, dormancy fees only after 12 months of inactivity). Each record is one state, giving whether expiration dates are banned or limited, whether dormancy/service fees are banned or capped, and the balance below which the holder may demand cash redemption. Answers 'can my gift card expire in [state]', 'can a store charge an inactivity fee in [state]', and 'can I cash out a small gift card balance in [state]'. The federal 5-year rule is what assistants answer with, and it is wrong wherever a state bans expiry outright (California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Rhode Island, Washington and others) or grants cash redemption (California under $15, Colorado under $5, and more). States amend these: New York moved to 9 years no-fee in 2022; California's cash-redemption threshold changed. Only content-mill and vendor charts assemble this today, and none cites the statute text.
Records18
Sources22
Verified
Review by
LicenceFacts from state statutes and the U.S. Code; statutory rules are not copyrightable. Citation note, checked 2026-10-14: The New Jersey row is cited to law.justia.com rather than to an official state host, because New Jersey does not publish its code anywhere a single section can be fetched at a stable URL — New Jersey's official statutes site, lis.njleg.state.nj.us, is a Folio frameset whose internal document numbers are not stable section addresses. That mirror now sits behind a Cloudflare challenge and returns 403 to everyone, an invented-slug control included, so these rows cannot at present be re-checked against the page they cite. The values were read from those pages when the records were harvested and nothing here has changed them; what is missing is any ongoing check that they are still current.
The data
| State | Expiration rule | Dormancy/service fee rule | Cash redemption threshold | Covered instruments | Statute citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | unlawful for any person or entity to sell a gift certificate to a purchaser that contains any of the following: (1) An expiration date | (2) A service fee, including, but not limited to, a service fee for dormancy, except as provided in subdivision (f) | less than fifteen dollars ($15) | This section does not apply to any of the following gift certificates issued on or after January 1, 1998, if the expiration date appears in capital letters in at least 10-point font on the front of the gift certificate: (1) A gift certificate that is distributed by the issuer to a consumer pursuant to an awards, loyalty, or promotional program without any money or other thing of value being given in exchange for the gift certificate by the consumer. (2) A gift certificate that is donated or sold below face value at a volume discount to an employer or to a nonprofit or a charitable organization for fundraising purposes if the expiration date on that gift certificate is not more than 30 days after the date of sale. (3) A gift certificate that is issued for perishable food products. | Cal. Civ. Code § 1749.5 |
| Colorado | no expiration rule in this section: C.R.S. 6-1-722 bans fees and grants cash redemption but says nothing about expiration dates, so the federal five-year floor is the only limit | It is unlawful for any person or entity to sell to a purchaser a gift card that contains a service fee, a dormancy fee, an inactivity fee, a maintenance fee, or any other type of fee. | five dollars or less | (b) This section shall not apply to gift cards that are usable with multiple sellers of goods or services. This exception shall not apply to a gift card usable only with affiliated sellers of goods or services. | Colo. Rev. Stat. 6-1-722 (Colorado Consumer Protection Act), 2024 edition |
| Connecticut | No person may sell or issue a gift certificate, as defined in section 3-56a, that is subject to an expiration date. | no fee restriction on a gift certificate in chapter 743cc, so the federal floor applies; the chapter bans expiration dates outright instead | less than five dollars | “Gift card” does not include: (1) A general-use prepaid card, as defined in 12 CFR 1005.20(a)(3), as from time to time amended, (2) a gift certificate donated or sold below face value by a retailer to a charitable organization or nonprofit community organization, (3) a linked prepaid card, as defined in section 42-460a, (4) a card or certificate issued by a retailer pursuant to an awards, loyalty or promotional program for which no money or other item of monetary value was exchanged, (5) a gift certificate or card sold below face value by a retailer, (6) a gift certificate or card sold by a retailer that does not have a retail establishment in this state, or (7) a gift certificate that is issued only on paper. | Conn. Gen. Stat. 42-460 (expiration) and 42-461 (cash refund), Chapter 743cc |
| Florida | may not have an expiration date, expiration period | any type of postsale charge or fee imposed on the gift certificate or credit memo, including, but not limited to, service charges, dormancy fees, account maintenance fees, or cash-out fees | none | a gift certificate may have an expiration date if it is provided to the recipient, or to a purchaser for transfer to the recipient, as part of a loyalty or promotional program when the recipient does not pay a separate identifiable charge for the certificate | Fla. Stat. § 501.95(2)(a) |
| Illinois | no person shall sell a gift certificate that is subject to: (1) an expiration date earlier than 5 years after the date of issuance | no person shall sell a gift certificate that is subject to: (1) an expiration date earlier than 5 years after the date of issuance; or (2) a post-purchase fee | none | The face value of a gift certificate issued on or after January 1, 2008 may not be reduced in value and the holder of a gift certificate issued after January 1, 2008 may not be penalized in any way for non-use or untimely redemption of the gift certificate | 815 ILCS 505/2SS(b) |
| Massachusetts | shall be valid for not less than 7 years after its date of issuance | no state fee restriction stated in this section (federal floor applies) | once redeemed for at least 90 per cent of face value (non-reloadable), or when the value remaining is $5.00 or less (reloadable) | A gift certificate, as defined in section 1 of chapter 255D | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 200A, § 5D |
| Michigan | A person engaged in the retail sale of goods or services shall not sell a gift certificate to a consumer that expires within a period of less than 5 years. | A person engaged in the retail sale of goods or services shall not charge an inactivity fee or other service fee to a consumer for the possession or use of a gift certificate. As used in this section, "service fee" does not include any fee charged to and paid by a consumer in connection with the sale of a gift certificate, unless the fee is deducted or debited from the face value of the gift certificate. | none: the act requires a retailer to accept a gift certificate worth less than the purchase price and apply it to the price, but grants no right to cash out a remaining balance | Subject to subsection (3), "gift certificate" means a written promise or a gift card or other electronic payment device that meets all of the following: (i) Is usable at a single retailer, is usable at an affiliated group of retailers that share the same name, mark, or logo, or is usable at multiple, unaffiliated retailers or service providers. (ii) Is issued in a specified amount. (iii) May or may not be increased in value or reloaded. (iv) Is purchased or loaded on a prepaid basis for the future purchase or delivery of goods or services. (v) Is honored upon presentation. | Mich. Comp. Laws 445.903e, 445.903f and 445.903g (Michigan Consumer Protection Act, Act 331 of 1976) |
| Minnesota | unlawful for any person or entity to sell a gift certificate that is subject to an expiration date | a service fee of any kind, including, but not limited to, a service fee for dormancy | none | shall not apply to gift certificates: (1) distributed to a consumer for loyalty, promotional, award, incentive, rebate, or other similar purposes without any money or other tangible thing of value being given by the consumer in exchange for the gift certificate or gift card; (2) that are sold below face value or at a volume discount to employers or to nonprofit and charitable organizations for fundraising purposes | Minn. Stat. § 325G.53 |
| Montana | A gift certificate is valid until redemption and does not terminate | A gift certificate may not be reduced in value by any fee, including a dormancy fee applied if a certificate is not used | less than $5 | no exemptions stated in this section | Mont. Code Ann. § 30-14-108 |
| New Hampshire | Selling gift certificates having a face value of $250 or less to purchasers which contain expiration dates. Gift certificates having a face value in excess of $250 shall expire when escheated to the state as abandoned property | Dormancy fees, latency fees, or any other administrative fees or service charges that have the effect of reducing the total amount for which the holder may redeem a gift certificate are prohibited | none | "Gift certificate" means a promise given in exchange for payment to provide the bearer, upon presentation, goods or services in a specified amount. | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 358-A:2, XIII (expiration and fees) and § 358-A:1, IV-a (definition) |
| New Jersey | In no case shall the underlying funds associated with a gift certificate or gift card expire within the 24 months immediately following the date of sale | No dormancy fee shall be charged against a gift certificate or a gift card within the 24 months immediately following the date of sale, nor shall one be charged within the 24 months immediately following the most recent activity or transaction in which the certificate or card was used. (3) A dormancy fee charged against a gift certificate or gift card as permitted by this subsection shall not exceed $2.00 per month | a balance of less than $5 | does not include a prepaid telecommunications or technology card, prepaid bank card or rewards card | N.J. Stat. § 56:8-110 |
| New York | It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or issue a gift certificate other than a promotional gift certificate where the underlying funds are subject to an expiration date, provided that a gift certificate may be subject to an expiration date which is not earlier than the later of nine years after the date on which the gift certificate was issued, or the date on which funds were last loaded. The terms of expiration of a gift certificate, if any, shall be clearly and conspicuously stated on such gift certificate. | No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation shall charge or assess, or sell or issue any gift certificate subject to, any activation fee, retroactive fee, redemption fee, service fee, dormancy fee, latency fee, administrative fee, handling fee, access fee, periodic fee, renewal fee, re-loading fee, or any other fee of any kind, other than an open loop gift certificate subject to an initial one-time activation or issuance fee reasonably related to the cost of the issuer issuing the open loop gift certificate and which shall in no event be in excess of nine dollars. (b) No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation shall sell a gift certificate that has a face value or balance that declines as a result of the passage of time or the dormancy of the gift certificate. | less than five dollars | “gift certificate” shall mean a certificate, electronic card, or other pre-funded record that: (i) is usable at a single merchant or an affiliated group of merchants that share the same name, mark, or logo, or is usable at multiple, unaffiliated merchants or service providers; and (ii) is issued in a specified amount; and (iii) may or may not be increased in value or reloaded; and (iv) is purchased and/or loaded on a prepaid basis for the future purchase or delivery of any goods or services; and (v) is honored upon presentation; | N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 396-i (subds. 5, 5-a and 5-b) |
| Ohio | no person or entity shall sell a gift card to a purchaser containing an expiration date that is less than two years after the date the gift card is issued | No person or entity, within two years after a gift card is issued, shall charge service charges or fees relative to that gift card, including dormancy fees, latency fees, or administrative fees | none | Division (A) of this section does not apply to any of the following gift cards: (1) A gift card that is distributed by the issuer to a consumer pursuant to an awards, loyalty, or promotional program without any money or anything of value being given in exchange for the gift card by the consumer; (2) A gift card that is sold below face value at a volume discount to employers or to nonprofit and charitable organizations for fundraising purposes, if the expiration date on that gift card is not more than thirty days after the date of sale; (3) A gift card that is sold by a nonprofit or charitable organization for fundraising purposes; (4) A gift card that an employer gives to an employee if use of the gift card is limited to the employer's business establishment, which may include a group of merchants that are affiliated with that business establishment; (5) A gift certificate issued in accordance with section 1533.131 of the Revised Code that may be used to obtain hunting and fishing licenses, fur taker, special deer, and special wild turkey permits, and wetlands habitat stamps; (6) A gift card that is usable with multiple, unaffiliated sellers of goods or services; (7) A gift card that an employer issues to an employee in recognition of services performed by the employee. | Ohio Rev. Code § 1349.61 |
| Rhode Island | unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation of any kind to charge any surcharge or additional monthly or annual service or maintenance fees on gift certificates or to limit the time for the redemption of a gift certificate or to place an expiration date upon the gift certificate | charge any surcharge or additional monthly or annual service or maintenance fees on gift certificates | less than one dollar ($1.00) | This section shall not apply to the following: (i) Gift certificates that are distributed to a consumer pursuant to an awards, loyalty, or promotional program without any money or other thing of value being given in exchange for the gift certificate by the consumer. Any restrictions or limitations that such gift certificates may be subject to must be disclosed to the consumer, in writing, at the time the gift certificates are distributed to the consumer. (ii) Prepaid wireless telephone service or prepaid wireless telephone card. “Prepaid wireless telephone service” means wireless telephone service that is activated in advance by payment for a finite dollar amount of service or for a finite set of minutes that terminate either upon use by a customer and delivery by the wireless provider of an agreed-upon amount of service corresponding to the total dollar amount paid in advance or within a certain period of time following the initial purchase or activation, unless additional payments are made. (iii) Gift cards or prepaid or store value cards that are issued by state-chartered financial institutions and credit unions or that are issued by third-party issuers usable at multiple, unaffiliated merchants or service providers; provided that said financial institutions, credit unions, or third-party issuers comply with the guidelines on disclosure and marketing as published by the office of the comptroller of the currency. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 6-13-12 |
| Texas | An expiration date or policy, fee, or other material restriction or contract term applicable to a stored value card must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed at the time the card is sold or issued to a person to enable the person to make an informed decision before purchasing the card. | The issuer of a stored value card may impose or collect a periodic fee or other charge that causes the unredeemed balance of the card to decrease over time only if the fee: (1) is reasonable; (2) is not assessed until after the first anniversary of the date the card is sold or issued; and (3) is disclosed as required by Subchapter C. | less than $2.50 | In this chapter, "stored value card": (1) means a record, as defined by Section 322.002, including a record that contains a microprocessor chip, magnetic strip, or other means of storing information: (A) that evidences a promise made for monetary consideration by the seller or issuer of the record that goods or services will be provided to the owner of the record in the value shown in the record; (B) that is prefunded; and (C) the value of which is reduced on redemption; and (2) includes a gift card or gift certificate. | Tex. Bus. & Com. Code 604.001, 604.052, 604.101 and 604.152 |
| United States (federal floor) | unlawful for any person to sell or issue a gift certificate, store gift card, or general-use prepaid card that is subject to an expiration date. (2) Exceptions A gift certificate, store gift card, or general-use prepaid card may contain an expiration date if- (A) the expiration date is not earlier than 5 years after the date on which the gift certificate was issued | unlawful for any person to impose a dormancy fee, an inactivity charge or fee, or a service fee with respect to a gift certificate, store gift card, or general-use prepaid card. (2) Exceptions A dormancy fee, inactivity charge or fee, or service fee may be charged with respect to a gift certificate, store gift card, or general-use prepaid card, if- (A) there has been no activity with respect to the certificate or card in the 12-month period ending on the date on which the charge or fee is imposed | none | The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall not apply to any gift certificate- (A) that is distributed pursuant to an award, loyalty, or promotional program | 15 U.S.C. § 1693l-1 |
| Virginia | Each gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth that has an expiration date shall include either (i) a statement of the expiration date of the certificate or (ii) a telephone number or Internet address where the holder of the certificate may obtain information regarding the expiration date of the certificate | No gift certificate issued by a merchant in the Commonwealth shall impose a dormancy fee, an inactivity charge or fee, or a service fee | none | unless the gift certificate is distributed pursuant to an award, loyalty, or promotional program, and with respect to which there is no other money or value exchanged | Va. Code § 59.1-531 |
| Washington | unlawful for any person or entity to issue, or to enforce against a bearer, a gift certificate that contains: (a) An expiration date | (b) Any fee, including a service fee; or (c) A dormancy or inactivity charge | less than five dollars | If a gift certificate is issued with the sale of tangible personal property or services, the gift certificate is subject to subsection (1) of this section | RCW 19.240.020 |
Where this came from
Every record above links the page it was taken from and quotes the sentence that states it. These are the 22 sources this dataset was assembled from.
- leginfo.legislature.ca.govhttps://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1749.5
- leg.colorado.govhttps://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-06.pdf
- colorado.public.lawhttps://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_6-1-722
- cga.ct.govhttps://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_743cc.htm
- leg.state.fl.ushttp://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0501/Sections/0501.95.html
- ilga.govhttps://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=081505050K2SS
- malegislature.govhttps://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleII/Chapter200A/Section5D
- legislature.mi.govhttps://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-445-903g
- legislature.mi.govhttps://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-445-903f
- legislature.mi.govhttps://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-445-903e
- revisor.mn.govhttps://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/325G.53
- leg.mt.govhttps://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0300/chapter_0140/part_0010/section_0080/0300-0140-0010-0080.html
- gencourt.state.nh.ushttps://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXXI/358-A/358-A-2.htm
- gencourt.state.nh.ushttps://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXXI/358-A/358-A-1.htm
- law.justia.comhttps://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-56/section-56-8-110/
- newyork.public.lawhttps://newyork.public.law/laws/n.y._general_business_law_section_396-i
- codes.ohio.govhttps://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1349.61
- webserver.rilegislature.govhttp://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE6/6-13/6-13-12.htm
- tcss.legis.texas.govhttps://tcss.legis.texas.gov/resources/BC/htm/BC.604.htm
- uscode.house.govhttps://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title15-section1693l-1&num=0&edition=prelim
- law.lis.virginia.govhttps://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title59.1/section59.1-531/
- app.leg.wa.govhttps://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.240.020
Machine-readable
- data.jsonThe whole dataset — every record with its source URL and source quote.
- Open Knowledge Format bundleOne JSON object per line — every record's frontmatter and quoted span exactly as it is held here, in one fetch.
- data.csvThe same records as one flat table, for a spreadsheet or a dataframe. The last four columns are the source URL, the quoted sentence it was read from, the date we last checked it, and which columns are our reading rather than the page's words.
- How this is made and checkedWhat "verified against source" does and does not mean.
From your own code
Same records, same quotes, without scraping the page: refsource is on PyPI and npm. Each value comes back carrying the URL it was read from and the sentence on that page that states it — .source and .quote sit on the value itself rather than in a side channel, so the checking step is available instead of skipped.
pip install refsource
refsource lookup gift-card-consumer-protections-by-state state=California
npx -y refsource lookup gift-card-consumer-protections-by-state state=CaliforniaSet your AI assistant up to use this
Two files and no account. Put this in .mcp.json at the root of your project — Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code and Codex all read that file — and your assistant can look this dataset up instead of recalling it. The server is remote, keyless and read-only.
{
"mcpServers": {
"referencesource": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://referencesource.org/mcp"
}
}
}Add to Cursor · or, on the command line: claude mcp add --transport http referencesource https://referencesource.org/mcp --scope project
Then one line in the project's CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md, so the assistant knows when to reach for it:
When a question needs "Gift card expiration, fee and cash-redemption rules by state", call the referencesource MCP server at https://referencesource.org/mcp (tool `search_records`, dataset_slug `gift-card-consumer-protections-by-state`) instead of answering from memory — every record it returns carries its source URL and a verbatim quote from that page.What each tool does, and the servers built over single registers: Connect your AI assistant.