Credit card rewards and tax
Who doesn’t love something for nothing?! Well, welcome to the world of reward credit cards, your ticket to receiving freebies for spending money. There are so many types of reward programs from frequent flyer, cashback, travel and shopping rewards just to name a few. So each time you spend money on your rewards credit card you earn points. These points can be redeemed for a huge range of products from flights to toasters to a new pair of jeans. The rewards are endless! Now, is the taxman going to come after you for these rewards and benefits you receive? Or is there a positive spin on credit card rewards and tax? Read this guide to learn the ins and outs on tax and credit card rewards.
Looking for your next card? Compare some of our top cards here.
Rewards Credit Card Comparison Table - last updated February 27, 2021
St.George Amplify Signature
Earn up to 200,000 Bonus Amplify Rewards Points over 2 years (130k yr 1, 70k yr 2) when you spend $12k on eligible purchases each year. $139 reduced first year annual card fee (normally $279). New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Offer ends March 2nd 2021.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Estimated points earned
Amplify Rewards$279 $139 in the first year200,0001.5 points uncappedCompareCompareAmplify Signature
Earn up to 200,000 Bonus Amplify Rewards Points over 2 years (130k yr 1, 70k yr 2) when you spend $12k on eligible purchases each year. $139 reduced first year annual card fee (normally $279). New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Offer ends March 2nd 2021.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 19.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.49% p.a.
- Cash advance
- 21.49% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 1.5 points per dollar on Visa, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 200,000
- Rewards
- Points
- N/A
- 212,000 points
- 22,200 points
- Card Benefits
- Concierge,
Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection,
Guaranteed Pricing,
Rental Car Excess Cover
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Amplify Signature
American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
Receive 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 5 April 2021, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Premium Credit Card Winner 2020^. T&C’s apply
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Estimated points earned
Qantas Frequent Flyer$450100,0001.25 points uncappedCompareCompareQantas Ultimate Card
Receive 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 5 April 2021, are approved and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. New Card Members only. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Premium Credit Card Winner 2020^. T&C’s apply
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $30.00
- Points earning
- 1.25 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 100,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points
- 110,400 points
- 18,770 points
- Card Benefits
- Travel Insurance,
Purchase Protection,
Account alerts by SMS
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Ultimate Card
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. 7 complimentary insurances when you meet eligibility criteria including Overseas Travel Insurance.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Estimated points earned
Qantas Frequent Flyer$395 $295 in the first year130,0001 point up to $5,000/month, then
0.5 points up to $20,000/monthCompareCompareQantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. 7 complimentary insurances when you meet eligibility criteria including Overseas Travel Insurance.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 19.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.74% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 1 point per dollar on Visa, up to $5,000 per month, then
0.5 points per dollar on Visa, up to $20,000 per month
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 130,000
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points
- 110,400 points
- 18,770 points
- Card Benefits
- Concierge,
Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection,
Guaranteed Pricing,
Domestic Hotel Burglary Insurance
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Rewards Signature Card
BankSA Amplify Signature
Earn up to 200,000 Bonus Amplify Rewards Points over 2 years (130k yr 1, 70k yr 2) when you spend $12k on eligible purchases each year. $139 reduced first year annual card fee (normally $279). New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Offer ends 2nd March 2021.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Estimated points earned
Amplify Rewards$279 $139 in the first year200,0001.5 points uncappedCompareCompareAmplify Signature
Earn up to 200,000 Bonus Amplify Rewards Points over 2 years (130k yr 1, 70k yr 2) when you spend $12k on eligible purchases each year. $139 reduced first year annual card fee (normally $279). New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Offer ends 2nd March 2021.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 19.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.49% p.a.
- Cash advance
- 21.49% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 1.5 points per dollar on Visa, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 200,000
- Rewards
- Points
- N/A
- 212,000 points
- 22,200 points
- Card Benefits
- Concierge,
Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection,
Guaranteed Pricing,
Rental Car Excess Cover
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Amplify Signature
American Express Qantas Discovery Card
Receive up to 1.75 Qantas Points for every $1 spent on Card purchases (T&Cs apply). No annual fee for the life of the card. T&C’s apply. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Card Winner 2020^.
Rewards program
Annual fee
Bonus points
Earn rate per $1
Estimated points earned
Qantas Frequent Flyer$0No current offer0.75 points uncappedCompareCompareQantas Discovery Card
Receive up to 1.75 Qantas Points for every $1 spent on Card purchases (T&Cs apply). No annual fee for the life of the card. T&C’s apply. Mozo Experts Choice Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Card Winner 2020^.
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 20.74% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $30.00
- Points earning
- 0.75 points per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- No current offer
- Rewards
- Points
- 8,000 points
- 110,400 points
- 18,770 points
- Card Benefits
- Purchase Protection,
Account alerts by SMS
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Discovery Card
Are credit card rewards considered taxable income?
Reward credit cards are a common way for both businesses and individuals to spend money. As hundreds if not thousands of points are racked up on their rewards credit cards what happens at the end of the financial year? The good news is, these points remain tax free for now! However, the Australian Tax Office may change this in the foreseeable future, to prevent fraud as people are opening fake accounts in order to earn thousands of reward points. When it comes to redeeming the points for rewards the situation is a little different in relation to tax. Depending on if the reward is personal or business related will determine if tax is applicable:
Personal:
The general principle is that personal rewards received from loyalty programs, including flight rewards and cashback are not considered taxable income.
Business:
When it comes to businesses and employees receiving rewards from credit card loyalty programs it gets a little complicated. It depends on several factors as to whether or not the reward is taxable. If the employee receives a reward such as a flight in lieu of a salary than it may be subject to income tax or fringe benefit tax. We suggest checking out the ATO’s website on taxing consumer loyalty program rewards.
We know that choosing a rewards card isn’t easy given there’s so many options, that’s why Mozo developed the Rewards Revealer Tool. Plug in your annual spend to find a ranking of rewards cards based on your spending level and rewards you're interested in.
Can you earn credit card reward points when you pay your TAX?
Earning credit card reward points is pretty easy! Every time you make a purchase, be it shopping for groceries, paying for petrol or booking a flight you can use your rewards credit card to accrue points. Now we have another way for you to earn points that you may never have thought possible…paying your TAX. While you may dread tax time, turn it into a positive, as a chance to earn reward points towards that much needed flight to Melbourne!
The Australian Tax Office actually states on its website that it would rather taxpayers pay their bill using a credit card. So there’s an opening to use your rewards credit card and earn points towards your loyalty program. There’s an online payment system on the ATO website that processes credit card transactions as a purchase. But be aware, the ATO does charge a surcharge for using your credit card to pay your tax bill. So do the maths and see if the points earned are worth more than what you’ll pay in surcharge.
Check out Mozo’s guide on avoiding credit card fees.
Which banks allow you to earn reward points when paying your TAX bill?
Not all banks and financial institutions will allow you to accrue reward points when you pay your tax bill by credit card. As it’s an easy way for businesses and individuals to earn lots of points, a lot of banks have abolished or changed the point earnings rate when making payments to the ATO. For example:
- Commonwealth Bank: From November this year the CBA has put a halt on earning frequent flyer points when making payment to the Australian Taxation Office. So if you have a personal credit card with the Commonwealth bank including – standard, Gold, Platinum and Diamond Awards you won’t earn any points towards you rewards program. However, CBA Business Awards customers will continue to receive points when making payments with the ATO.
- Westpac: In November 2014 Westpac halved the number of points awarded on American Express with bills paid to the ATO. They even went further as to axe all points earned on Visa and MasterCards with ATO payments.
- NAB: If you’re a NAB customer with a rewards credit card you won’t accrue any points when paying the ATO! In May 2015 the NAB put an end to all credit card points earning with the ATO.
It’s important to check with your card provider before assuming you’ll earn reward points come TAX time.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Rewards Credit Cards Awards
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