Can I return something without a receipt?
Yes, at most major retailers. In 2026, stores like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy can locate your purchase using your credit card, phone number, or loyalty account. The physical receipt is just proof of a transaction they already have a record of. Your first move should always be to ask the store to look up the purchase before assuming you are stuck.
Before you go: you probably have a receipt and don't know it
How do stores verify a purchase without a receipt?
Even if you truly have no receipt, stores have multiple ways to verify your purchase. Know these so you can give them the information they need.
Credit or debit card lookup
The most common approach. The cashier swipes the card you used to make the purchase and the system pulls up the transaction. This works at Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and many others. Bring the card you used.
Works at: Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's
Loyalty account / app history
If you're a member of the store's loyalty program (Target Circle, Costco membership, Kohl's Rewards, etc.), every purchase is tied to your account. The associate can pull it up with your phone number or app.
Works at: Costco, Kohl's, Target, Amazon, Best Buy
Driver's license scan
Stores like Walmart and some others use a system called The Retail Equation to track no-receipt returns. They scan your ID, verify your return history, and approve or decline based on your return frequency. First-time no-receipt returns are almost always approved.
Works at: Walmart, Home Depot, Target
Email receipt lookup
If the store emailed you a receipt and you have access to that email address, you or the associate can pull up the receipt number from the email to process the return.
Works at: Amazon, Gap, H&M, Zara, Most online-first retailers
Which stores don't require a receipt for returns?
Every major retailer, sorted by how receipt-friendly their no-receipt return process is.
No receipt required
| Retailer | Policy | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Costco Wholesale | Tracked via membership | Full guide → |
| REI | Tracked via membership | — |
| Sam's Club | Tracked via membership | — |
| Trader Joe's | Not required | — |
Digital or emailed receipt accepted
| Retailer | Policy | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Adidas | Digital accepted | — |
| Amazon | Digital accepted | — |
| Anthropologie | Digital accepted | — |
| Apple | Digital accepted | — |
| Best Buy | Digital accepted | Full guide → |
| Chewy | Digital accepted | — |
| Dick's Sporting Goods | Digital accepted | — |
| Gap | Digital accepted | — |
| Home Depot | Digital accepted | Full guide → |
| JCPenney | Digital accepted | — |
| Kohl's | Digital accepted | Full guide → |
| Lowe's | Digital accepted | — |
| lululemon | Digital accepted | — |
| Macy's | Digital accepted | — |
| Nike | Digital accepted | — |
| Nordstrom | Digital accepted | — |
| Old Navy | Digital accepted | Full guide → |
| Petco | Digital accepted | — |
| Pottery Barn | Digital accepted | — |
| Sephora | Digital accepted | Full guide → |
| Staples | Digital accepted | — |
| Target | Digital accepted | Full guide → |
| Ulta Beauty | Digital accepted | — |
| Under Armour | Digital accepted | — |
| Walmart | Digital accepted | Full guide → |
| Wayfair | Digital accepted | — |
Receipt required
| Retailer | Notes |
|---|---|
| Ace Hardware | A receipt is required for returns at Ace Hardware. Without a receipt, individual store managers have discretion on whether to accept a return. Online orders show in acehardware.com account history. |
| ALDI | A receipt is required for the Twice as Nice Guarantee and for refunds to the original payment method. Without a receipt, Aldi may offer a store credit or exchange at their discretion. |
| Bath & Body Works | A receipt is required for a refund to the original payment method. Without a receipt, Bath & Body Works may issue store credit at the current selling price, subject to their discretion. |
| Burlington Coat Factory | A receipt is required for a full refund. Without a receipt, a merchandise exchange or store credit at the current selling price may be offered at manager discretion. Burlington does not have a digital purchase lookup system like some loyalty programs. |
| CVS | A receipt is required for all returns. CVS ExtraCare members can look up eligible purchases through their account. Online orders can be verified with the order confirmation. |
| GameStop | A receipt is required for all returns. PowerUp Rewards Pro members may be able to look up recent purchases through their account. Keep your receipts. GameStop stores are not known for flexible no-receipt returns. |
| H&M | A receipt or proof of purchase is required. H&M Members can look up purchases in their account. |
| HomeGoods | A receipt is required for a full refund to the original payment method. Without a receipt, HomeGoods may issue non-transferable merchandise credit at the current lowest selling price. A valid government-issued photo ID is required for no-receipt returns. |
| IKEA | Proof of purchase and a government-issued photo ID are required for all returns. IKEA Family members have purchases tracked digitally. Online orders can use the order confirmation email. |
| Marshalls | A receipt is required for a full refund. Without a receipt, returns may be accepted as store credit at the lowest selling price at manager discretion. TJX Rewards cardholders can look up recent purchases. |
| Michaels | A receipt is required for a full refund. Without a receipt, Michaels may offer a merchandise exchange at the current selling price at manager discretion. Michaels Rewards members may be able to look up recent purchases. |
| Ross | Original receipt is required for all returns. Without a receipt, Ross may offer an exchange or store credit at the current selling price, but cash refunds are not available without a receipt. |
| TJ Maxx | A receipt is required for a full refund. Without a receipt, returns may be accepted as store credit at the lowest selling price, subject to manager approval. TJX Rewards cardholders can look up recent purchases. |
| Walgreens | A receipt is required for all returns. Walgreens myWalgreens members may be able to look up recent purchases through their account. |
| Zara | A receipt or proof of purchase is required for all returns. Zara account holders can access order history digitally. |
What kind of refund will I get without a receipt?
Your outcome depends on the retailer and whether they can locate the purchase. Here's what typically happens in each scenario:
Full refund to original payment method, same as if you had the receipt. This is the best case, and it happens most of the time at major retailers.
Store credit at the current selling price. If the item went on sale since you bought it, you'll get back less than you paid. This is standard policy at Walmart, Target, and similar stores.
Some retailers will swap the item for a different size, color, or version but won't issue credit. Check if this meets your needs before going to the store.
This happens when your ID shows a high return frequency, the item is in a final sale category, or the receipt lookup fails at a strict policy store. Your credit card return protection may still apply.
Retailer-specific no-receipt guides
Walmart →
ID scan policy, exceptions, limits
Target →
Circle lookup, credit card method
Kohl's →
Rewards account lookup process
Best Buy →
My Best Buy account, receipt lookup
Costco →
Membership lookup, no receipt needed
Home Depot →
Credit card lookup, ID-based returns
Old Navy →
Email lookup, loyalty account
Sephora →
Beauty Insider account lookup
TJ Maxx →
ID scan, store credit at lowest price
Zara →
Email receipt, QR code returns
Where can I find a receipt I thought I lost?
Search your email for the store name
Try "Target order", "Amazon receipt", or just the retailer name. Email clients search body text, so even partial matches come up.
Check your banking app transaction history
Filter by merchant name or date range. The transaction amount and date are usually enough for major retailers to locate the purchase.
Log into the retailer's website
Navigate to Account > Order History. Most major retailers show 12–24 months of purchases even for in-store transactions linked to your loyalty account.
Ask the store to look up your card
Bring the credit or debit card you used and ask the customer service desk to run a card lookup before giving up on finding the receipt yourself.
Check your printer or email trash
If you printed or forwarded a receipt, it may be in your printer history, sent items, or trash folder with a 30-day recovery window.
Never lose a receipt again
UnBuy automatically tracks your purchases and stores receipt data so you always have proof of purchase when you need it. Get notified before your return window closes. Never scramble for a receipt at the counter again.
Get policy change alerts
We'll email you when major retailers update their return policies or holiday windows open.
Related tools & guides
Scan your receipt. We count down the days.
UnBuy will scan your receipts, calculate every return deadline, and send you a reminder before time runs out. Coming soon for iOS.
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