Do Gift Cards Expire? Set a Use-By Reminder

1. The federal five-year rule

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 and the rule that puts it into effect, Regulation E, section 1005.20, set the minimum. For gift cards and gift certificates sold to the public, the funds cannot expire until at least five years after the card was issued, or after money was last loaded onto it.

• The expiration date of the funds, or the fact that they do not expire, must be disclosed on the card.
• The plastic card itself can expire earlier than the money on it.
• If the card expires first, you can get a replacement or the remaining balance free of charge until the funds expire.

Many states go further, and some do not allow gift card funds to expire at all.

2. When inactivity fees are allowed

A dormancy, inactivity, or service fee can only be charged after a year with no activity on the card, no more than once a month, and only if the card disclosed the fee. A card you use even once a year avoids it; a forgotten card can lose value month by month.

3. Cards the rule does not cover

The federal protections do not apply to every card that looks like a gift card, including:

• Loyalty, award, and promotional cards, such as a “free $10 card” with a purchase.
• Reloadable prepaid cards that are not marketed as gift cards.
• Paper-only gift certificates, and cards only for telephone services.
• Cards for admission to a specific event or venue.

Promotional cards are where short dates usually hide: they can expire within weeks, as long as the date is disclosed. Deal vouchers often mix the price you paid with a promotional value that ends sooner, so read their terms too.

4. Find the date on your card

Look on the back of the card, the carrier it came on, or the terms online. Wording like “Valid through”, “Expires”, or “Use by” marks the date. If the card says the funds do not expire, you still have a reason to track it: the balance only helps if you remember to spend it.

5. Track the date with AI, then confirm it

1. Photograph the card or voucher.Include the side with the date and the value.
2. AI reads the use-by date and the value.Each value shows the words it was read from.
3. You check the date.If the card prints no date, you can enter one yourself, such as a date to spend it by.
4. DueCalm reminds you before it expires.By default, 30 days and 7 days before, with the value in the reminder.

You can also add a card by hand for free. The photo you scan is discarded after processing; details are on the privacy page.