New York Has Millions in Unused Gift Card Money Here Is How to Claim Yours

You probably have a few gift cards tucked away somewhere in your house. Maybe they are in a drawer, a wallet, or a small basket on a shelf. It is easy to forget about them, especially after the holidays or a birthday. But what happens if years go by and the card never gets used?

In New York, the money on those forgotten gift cards does not just disappear. Every year, stores are required to turn unused balances over to the state once a card has been inactive for five years. In 2025 alone, more than 28 million dollars in gift card money was sent to the state because people never used their cards.

That money is held by the New York State Comptroller’s Office in a program called the Office of Unclaimed Funds. The goal is simple. Protect people’s money and give it back when they ask for it.

The easiest advice is to use your gift card as soon as you get it. If you are not ready to spend it, you can register the card online or by phone with the company that issued it. This connects the card to your name and makes it easier to track later.

Read More: New York Has $20 Billion in Unclaimed Funds

Even if you paid with cash or never registered the card, you can still try to get your money back. You can search the state’s unclaimed funds database using your name and ZIP code. If you find a match and file a claim, the state will mail you a check. Claims are free, and the money never expires.