Under California’s gift card cash out law, a retailer must give you cash for any qualifying single-retailer gift card with a balance below the statutory threshold. That threshold is $10 through March 31, 2026, and rises to $15 on April 1, 2026. The rule is in California Civil Code Section 1749.5, and the retailer cannot substitute store credit or a replacement card.1California Legislative Information. California Code CIV 1749.5
The Threshold and When It Changes
Right now, a card with less than $10 on it qualifies. Starting April 1, 2026, anything under $15 qualifies. That change comes from Senate Bill 22, which also made two other updates worth knowing: the statute’s definition of “gift certificate” now explicitly includes electronic gift cards, and gift cards donated to a nonprofit are exempt if the card clearly states it is not redeemable for cash.2LegiScan. California SB22 2025-2026 Regular Session
California also bans expiration dates and dormancy fees on gift cards covered by this law, so a balance you forgot about years ago should still be sitting there when you check.
Which Gift Cards Qualify
The cash-out right covers single-retailer gift cards you (or someone) paid for. Several common card types are outside the law:
- Multi-seller prepaid cards redeemable at unaffiliated retailers. Most Visa, Mastercard, and American Express gift cards fall here.
- Store credit issued because you returned merchandise.
- Loyalty, award, rewards, employee incentive, and promotional cards you received without paying for them.
- Prepaid phone cards sold for calling minutes.
- Gift cards distributed through wholesale or non-retail channels.
- Nonprofit donation cards carrying the SB 22 disclaimer.
The multi-seller exemption is the one that catches people off guard. A $25 Visa gift card from your birthday looks and works like a gift card, but because it runs on a card network accepted at unaffiliated merchants, Section 1749.5 does not apply to it.1California Legislative Information. California Code CIV 1749.5 A Starbucks card, a Target card, a Macy’s card: those are the kind the law was built for.
How to Ask for Your Cash
Check the balance first. You can usually do this on the retailer’s website or by calling the number printed on the back of the card. Confirm it is under the current threshold.
Then go to any store location of the retailer that issued the card. Bring the card itself. At a register or the customer service desk, ask to redeem the remaining balance for cash. The cashier verifies the balance and pays you.
If the employee pushes back, stay calm and specific. Ask for a manager and mention California Civil Code Section 1749.5. Many refusals come from staff who have simply never heard of the rule, and escalating one level usually ends the conversation.
Electronic and Online-Only Gift Cards
Because SB 22 wrote electronic gift cards into the statute, online retailers can no longer treat digital cards as outside the rule. If the issuer has California stores, bring (or show) the e-gift card there and ask for cash. For a purely online retailer, contact customer service, reference Section 1749.5, and request your balance by check or electronic transfer. Some companies have set up dedicated cash-out portals; others handle it case by case.
If the Retailer Still Refuses
A valid cash-out request that gets denied is a violation of state law, and you have more than one way to respond.
File a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs. The department takes consumer protection complaints and can look at patterns of noncompliance by a particular retailer.3Department of Consumer Affairs. Complaints
You can also sue in small claims court for the balance the retailer refused. The statute allows actual damages, and a court may add a civil penalty if it finds the refusal was intentional.1California Legislative Information. California Code CIV 1749.5 District attorney enforcement actions have produced significant settlements against larger chains that made a habit of saying no.
One practical note on cards you cannot find. The law requires cash for a balance you can present; it does not require a retailer to replace a lost or stolen card, though many will if you still have the original purchase receipt. Writing down the card number and PIN when you first receive a card is the simplest protection against losing the balance later.