Can gift certificates legally have expiration dates?

Federal law sets a floor for how long a gift certificate has to stay valid, and many states add stricter protections on top of it. Print your terms with both layers in mind.

• Federal CARD Act: A gift certificate cannot expire sooner than five years from the date of purchase or the date funds were last loaded.
• State add-ons: Several states extend that window further or prohibit expiration dates entirely.
• Dormancy fees: Service and inactivity fees are also restricted under federal rules, not just expiration.
• Print it clearly: Any expiration or fee terms need to be stated plainly on the certificate itself.

Before you finalize artwork, make sure your expiration language complies with both federal and state regulations for the states you sell in.

The five-year floor covers paper certificates, plastic gift cards and digital codes bought with money, and the clock resets each time value is reloaded. This is general information, not legal advice.