Millions in unused gift cards turned over to NY as unclaimed funds

ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — Money left on unused gift cards can quietly slip away, but state officials say New Yorkers may be able to get it back with just a few simple steps.

The New York State Comptroller’s Office says millions of dollars in unused gift card balances are turned over to the state every year — simply because people forget to use them.

In 2025 alone, more than $28 million in unused gift cards were transferred to the state as unclaimed funds.

Under state law, if a gift card goes unused for five years, retailers are required to turn the remaining balance over to the state’s Office of Unclaimed Funds, a division of the Comptroller’s Office, where it can be claimed by the rightful owner at any time.

“The law is really about protecting people’s money and making sure that they can always have a right to claim it,” said Kelly Kuracina, director of the Office of Unclaimed Funds.

Kuracina says the simplest advice for consumers is also the most effective.

“Once you get a gift card, the best idea is to spend it,” she said. “Don’t let it sit idle.”

If you don’t plan on using your gift card right away, state officials encourage consumers to register them as soon as they receive them, which helps link the balance to a name and makes it easier to return the money if the card is lost or forgotten.

“We encourage everyone who receives a gift card to register it,” Kuracina said. “All the gift card companies will have a website or a telephone number that you can call and register your name.”

Even if a gift card was purchased with cash and never registered, officials say the money can still be recovered. Consumers can contact the Office of Unclaimed Funds directly and provide information such as the card number or a copy of the card.

“If someone has a card and they never registered it, they can still call us or write to us,” Kuracina said. “With that account number, we can find it and get it back to them.”

To see if the state is holding money that belongs to you, residents can search the Comptroller’s Office unclaimed funds database by entering their name and ZIP code. Review what pops up and select the unclaimed funds you’d like to claim.

If a claim is approved, the Comptroller’s Office sends the money directly to the owner, typically in the form of a check.

“So many people — over 150,000 people last year — got a check in the mail that they maybe didn’t even expect to get,” Kuracina said.

Claims are always free to file, and unclaimed funds held by the state never expire.