One in four Irish consumers still haven't used last year's gift voucher

New research from Competition and Consumer Protection Commission also shows most men fail to include a gift receipt 

One in three consumers would regift an unwanted Christmas present if they didn't have a reciept, research from the CCPC shows.

One in four consumers had not used the gift vouchers they received last Christmas, new research from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) shows.

The CCPC research looked at consumer behaviour, intentions, and knowledge relating to shopping during the Christmas period 2025. It looked at areas including gifting, Christmas spending trends, credit use, awareness of return and redress rights, and sustainability. 

Under the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act consumers have at least five years to use a gift voucher, but there are exceptions, and the CCPC urged anyone who received a gift voucher to use it.

“Since our pre-Christmas research showed that almost a quarter of consumers still had unused vouchers from nearly a year ago, we’re strongly advising anyone who has received a gift voucher this year to make a plan to spend it as early as possible," said CCPC director of communications Grainne Griffin.

One in three consumers would regift an unwanted Christmas present if they didn't have a receipt, the CCPC survey shows.

Yet the research also showed that 42% of consumers never include a gift receipt when giving presents at Christmas. This rises to more than half (52%) of men surveyed.

The findings showed 32% of consumers would choose to regift an unwanted present if they had no receipt, while 17% would donate to charity - consumers aged 55 or more were three times as likely to donate their unwanted gift to charity than those aged under 35. Some 15% of consumers would choose to use an unwanted gift anyway while other actions would include leaving unwanted gifts  unopened in storage somewhere at home - the choice of 9% of respondents. One in 100 people would dump the gift.

“While over half of consumers said they include a gift receipt at least some of the time, that still leaves a significant number who never include a receipt," said Ms Griffin. "This makes it harder to return or exchange unwanted gifts and can leave many unsure about what to do with their unwanted presents."

“While it’s great to see many consumers regifting, swapping or donating their unwanted gifts to avoid waste, 10% will leave it unopened or dump it and only 5% will ask for a receipt.”

For gifts bought online, consumers have a right to cancel for up to 14 days but this window begins when the gift is delivered by the retailer, not from when it’s gifted. There are also exceptions to this, such as customised clothing.

While businesses are not legally obligated to accept an unwanted gift due to a change of mind, many stores have returns policies that allow gifts to be returned, with some offering extended return periods throughout January. However, they will usually require proof of purchase when returning a gift.

Irish consumers are protected for up to six years after buying a faulty good, with the original retailer responsible for resolving the issue. These rights are strongest in the first 30 days and the first year after making the purchase. However, you will often still need a proof of purchase when taking it back.

The research on gifting was carried out on behalf of the CCPC by Ipsos B&A from more than 1,000 respondents across Ireland.