Amazon gift card balance cannot be transferred directly to a bank account
Amazon does not allow you to move gift card funds to a linked bank account, PayPal, or any external payment method. Once a gift card is added to your Amazon account, the balance lives only in your Amazon account and can be spent only on Amazon purchases—including physical goods, digital content, and services like Prime membership or AWS credits.
If you have an Amazon gift card you do not plan to use, your options are limited to spending it on Amazon or selling the card itself to a third party. There is no official Amazon process to convert the balance to cash or move it elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Amazon gift card balances cannot be transferred to a bank account, PayPal, or any payment method outside Amazon.
- You can spend the balance only on items, services, or subscriptions available through Amazon.com or Amazon-owned services.
- If you want cash, you can sell an unused gift card to a reseller, though you will receive less than the card's face value.
- Refunds from Amazon purchases return to the original payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank account), not to your gift card balance.
- If someone sent you a gift card fraudulently or without your consent, contact Amazon support to report it.
What happens when you add a gift card to your Amazon account
When you redeem an Amazon gift card, the funds are added to your Amazon account balance. This balance appears in your account settings under "Gift Cards" and is treated as store credit. Every time you make a purchase on Amazon, the system deducts from this balance first before charging any linked payment method.
The balance does not expire as long as your Amazon account remains active. However, it is tied permanently to that account and cannot be moved, shared, or withdrawn. If your account is closed, Amazon's policy on what happens to remaining balance varies—contact Amazon support to ask about your specific situation.
How refunds work when you return an Amazon purchase
If you buy something with your gift card balance and then return it, the refund does not go back into your gift card balance. Instead, it returns to your original payment method. If you paid with a gift card, the refund goes to the payment method you had linked to your account at the time of purchase—usually a credit card or bank account.
This means a refund can actually move money out of Amazon and back to your bank account, but only if you originally paid with a linked card or bank account, not with gift card balance alone. If your purchase was paid entirely with gift card balance, Amazon will refund the amount back to your gift card balance, not to an external account.
Selling an unused gift card to a reseller
If you have an Amazon gift card you will not use, you can sell it to a third-party reseller. Websites like Raise, CardCash, and Decluttr buy unused gift cards at a discount—typically 70 to 90 percent of face value, depending on demand. The process is straightforward: you provide the card code, the reseller verifies it, and they send payment to your bank account via ACH transfer or PayPal.
The trade-off is that you lose money. A $100 Amazon gift card might sell for $75 to $85. Resellers take a cut because they assume the risk that the card could be invalid or already redeemed. Read the reseller's terms carefully—some require you to provide proof of purchase or a photo of the physical card, and most will not buy cards that have already been partially spent.
Why Amazon does not allow balance transfers
Amazon's policy against transferring gift card balance to bank accounts is standard across most retailers. Gift cards are a form of store credit designed to lock spending within the retailer's ecosystem. Allowing cash-outs would reduce the likelihood that customers spend more than the card's value and would create accounting complications for Amazon.
From a fraud perspective, allowing transfers would also make gift cards a target for theft and resale. By restricting balance to Amazon purchases only, the company limits the damage if a card is stolen or compromised.
What to do if you received a fraudulent gift card
If someone added a gift card to your account without your permission, or if you suspect the card was purchased with a stolen payment method, contact Amazon support immediately. Explain that the card was added fraudulently and ask them to remove it from your account. Amazon can reverse the redemption and may refund the original purchaser's payment method, depending on the circumstances.
Do not spend the balance while the issue is under investigation. If the card was purchased fraudulently and Amazon later reverses the transaction, your account could go negative, and you may be responsible for the difference. Report the issue as soon as you notice it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my Amazon gift card balance to someone else's account?
No. Once redeemed, gift card balance is locked to your account and cannot be transferred, gifted, or shared. If you want to give money to someone else, you must purchase a new gift card and send them the code before it is redeemed.
What if I have a very small balance left on my gift card?
You can use it toward any purchase on Amazon, even if the balance is only a few cents. The remaining amount will be deducted from your purchase total, and any additional cost will be charged to your linked payment method. There is no minimum balance requirement to make a purchase.
Do Amazon gift cards expire?
No, Amazon gift cards do not expire. However, if your Amazon account is closed or inactive for an extended period, Amazon may remove the balance. Keep your account active if you plan to use the balance later.
Can I use my gift card balance to pay for an Amazon credit card bill?
No. Gift card balance can be used only to purchase items, services, and subscriptions on Amazon. It cannot be applied to credit card payments, Prime membership fees paid separately, or any bill outside the Amazon store.
What if the reseller I sold my gift card to says the code is invalid?
Contact the reseller's customer support immediately. Most reputable resellers have a verification process and will refund you if the code does not work. Keep records of the transaction and the original card code. If the reseller refuses to help, you may be able to dispute the transaction with your bank or PayPal.