Returns without a receipt: which stores accept them

Short answer: Many big stores will still take a return without a receipt, but you'll usually get store credit (not cash), often at the lowest recent sale price, and you'll often need a photo ID. Before you give up, try a receipt lookup: many stores can find the purchase from the card you paid with, your rewards account, or your phone number.

Stores that accept no-receipt returns

Terms below are from each store's official return policy as summarized on our retailer pages. Store managers may limit or refuse non-receipted returns, so check with the store.

Store	What you get without a receipt	ID?
Aldi	ALDI Merchandise Credit gift card at current retail price	Check with the store
Bath & Body Works	Merchandise credit at lowest selling price; some stores limit non-receipted returns to $250 per 90 days	May be required
CVS	Exchange for the same item or store credit, possibly at the lowest advertised price in the prior 60 days; third-party verification applies	Photo ID may be required
Dick's Sporting Goods	Store credit at lowest selling price	Required
Dollar General	Exchange for merchandise of equal value or a gift card of equal value	Check with the store
Hobby Lobby	Exchange or merchandise credit at lowest price in the last 60 days	Required
HomeGoods	Non-transferable merchandise credit	Photo ID, name, address and signature
JCPenney	Merchandise Return Voucher at lowest price in the last 45 days	Photo ID required
Kohl's	Accepts most returns with or without a receipt. If no lookup is possible: Kohl's Merchandise Credit at the lowest discounted sale price in 13 weeks	Photo ID may be required
Macy's	Store credit may be at the lowest selling price in the last 90 days	Check with the store
Marshalls	Merchandise credit only	Government photo ID, name, address and signature
Michaels	Store Return Card at lowest price in the prior 90 days	Photo ID required
Nordstrom	If Nordstrom agrees to a refund with no record of sale: current price on a Nordstrom gift card	Personal ID requested
Office Depot	Return Card at lowest price in the prior 90 days; technology not returnable without a receipt	Government ID required
PetSmart	Merchandise return card for the most recent sale price	Valid ID required
Publix	Publix gift card (purchases made by card or phone number may be looked up first)	Club Publix ID or government photo ID may be needed
Ross	Store credit or exchange at current selling price (credit over $50 mailed within 21 days); limit on no-receipt refunds	Valid photo ID required
Staples	In-store credit at lowest price in the prior 30 days (if no lookup)	Required
Target	Merchandise return card (Target Plus Partner items need proof of purchase)	Required
TJ Maxx	Merchandise credit	Check with the store
Walmart	Walmart gift card if approved by refund verification; card lookup available; limits on frequency	Government photo ID required

Maybe, with conditions

Best Buy: Without proof of purchase, reimbursement may be store credit, or may be limited or denied; tax and fees may not be reimbursed.
Home Depot: A system receipt lookup is often available within 30 days for card or check purchases (365 days for Home Depot credit or commercial accounts). Photo ID is required for many non-receipted or store-credit returns.
Sam's Club: Sam's Club says it will do its best to process a return without a receipt.
Walgreens: Without a receipt or order number, returns need management approval and are typically refunded on a gift card.
AutoZone: If you lost the receipt, customer service can find the transaction (bring the card you paid with).

Stores that require proof of purchase

These stores' official policies say proof of purchase is required, though many can look up a purchase from your card, account, or order number:

BJ's (items without proof are final sale)
GameStop (no proof: not returnable, though you may trade in)
IKEA (receipt and government photo ID)
Lowe's (can validate by card, phone number, order number or rewards account)
lululemon
Nike
Nordstrom Rack
Petco
REI
Sephora (Beauty Insider lookup counts)
Whole Foods

Tips for returning without a receipt

Ask for a lookup first. Kohl's, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, Michaels, Publix and others can often find a purchase from your payment card, rewards account, app or phone number, which may get you a normal refund.
Bring a government photo ID. Many stores require it, and some record your ID details to limit non-receipted returns.
Expect store credit at a lower price. If the item went on sale since you bought it, you may get the sale price.

Not listed: stores whose official policies don't address no-receipt returns. See all retailer return policies.

Which stores accept returns without a receipt?

Among stores we checked, official policies describe no-receipt returns at Aldi, Bath & Body Works, CVS, Dick's Sporting Goods, Dollar General, Hobby Lobby, HomeGoods, JCPenney, Kohl's, Macy's, Marshalls, Michaels, Nordstrom, Office Depot, PetSmart, Publix, Ross, Staples, Target, and TJ Maxx, and Walmart, usually for store credit. Best Buy, Home Depot, Sam's Club, and Walgreens may accept some with conditions.

Do you get cash back without a receipt?

Usually not. Most of these stores give store credit, a merchandise card, or a gift card instead of a refund to your original payment when there's no receipt.

Do I need ID to return something without a receipt?

Often, yes. Dick's, Hobby Lobby, HomeGoods, JCPenney, Marshalls, Michaels, Office Depot, PetSmart, Ross, Staples, Target, and Walmart say ID is required for no-receipt returns, and several others say it may be required.

Why did I get less than I paid?

Many stores refund no-receipt returns at the item's lowest recent selling price, not what you paid. For example, JCPenney uses the lowest price in the last 45 days, Michaels and Office Depot the prior 90 days, and Kohl's the lowest discounted price in 13 weeks.

Compiled from official retailer return policies last checked 2026-10-14. Policies change and individual stores may apply limits, so check with the store.