The Gift Card
G.L. c. 200A, § 5D — valid at least 7 years, and the balance in cash near the end
In Massachusetts, a gift certificate sold or offered for sale is valid for not less than 7 years after it is issued. The issue date and expiration date are clearly identified on its face, or for an electronic card, on the receipt or through a website or toll free line.
No date shown, no expiration. A gift certificate not clearly marked with an expiration date, and whose date is not otherwise made available as the section requires, is redeemable in perpetuity.
- A card that cannot be reloaded and has been redeemed for at least 90 per cent of its face value: the holder chooses the balance in cash or keeps using the card.
- A reloadable card with $5.00 or less remaining: the holder chooses the balance in cash or keeps using the card.
A gift certificate with a zero balance is void. Whether a card is a gift certificate under the section is a question for a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.L. c. 200A, § 5D — Gift certificates and electronic gift cards
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Massachusetts attorney.