Are credit card rewards taxable?

Credit card rewards usually aren’t taxable. But make sure to watch out for select instances where rewards could be considered taxable income.

When are credit card rewards taxable and nontaxable?

Credit card rewards are nontaxable when you earn them through card purchases, or when you meet spend requirements to earn a bonus. They may be taxable if you earned them without having to meet any spend requirement.

For example:

• If you earn $200 cash back after spending $10,000 on your card in a year, that $200 is not taxable.
• If you earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on your card within the first three months, those points are not taxable.
• If your card provider gives you a $100 bonus because you opened an affiliated checking account, that $100 is taxable as income.

Are business credit card rewards taxable?

Business credit card rewards may be taxable if you receive them outside of normal spending or without having to meet spend requirements. In this sense, they’re similar to personal-card rewards for tax purposes.

There is an interesting quirk with business cards, however. You must eliminate the value of rewards when claiming deductions — both when you use rewards for redemptions and when you earn rewards for qualifying spending. For example:

• If you make a $500 purchase and pay for it partially with $100 in rewards, you can now claim a deduction of $400.
• If you make a $500 purchase and earn $25 in rewards, you can now claim a deduction of $475.

How much will I be taxed on my credit card rewards?

The amount you’re taxed on your rewards depends on how your card provider classifies them, as well as which 1099 form you’re sent.

• A 1099-INT form
  This means your card provider classifies your rewards as interest income. Consequently, your rewards are taxed at the rate you pay for ordinary income. Be sure to pay all relevant income taxes you owe — federal and state.

• A 1099-MISC form
  This means your provider classifies your rewards as miscellaneous income, when you’ll pay your income tax rate plus your rate for self-employment taxes.

Note that even if your provider doesn’t send you a 1099 form, you must report your rewards on your return if they’re considered income.

Read our guide on filing your taxes online, including tax brackets to help you figure out how much you owe.

Compare rewards credit cards

As mentioned above, credit card rewards usually are nontaxable. That said, don’t let taxes stop you from getting the card you want. Here are a few great credit card options for rewards.

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Name	Product	Welcome Offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
BlockFi Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card		Up to $100 in Bitcoin rewards by earning 3.5% back in Bitcoin on all purchases in the first 90 days	3.5% back in Bitcoin in the first 90 days, up to a total of $100 in Bitcoin, then 1.5% on all purchases	$0		Earn 3.5% back in Bitcoin in the first 90 days, up to a total of $100 in Bitcoin. After that you'll earn a solid 1.5% back on all purchases.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express® Gold Card		60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months	4x at restaurants including delivery and Uber Eats; 4x at US supermarkets on up to $25,000 annually (then 1x points), 3x points on directly-booked flights and 1x points on other eligible purchases	$250		Rose Gold is Back Earn up to 4x points on select purchases, a bevy of travel perks, and a welcome offer worth up to $600 based on our valuation with this upper-mid tier travel card. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express		Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months	3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1%), 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores and 1% on other purchases (redeem as statement credit)	$0		Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. This is a higher-than-average welcome offer for a card with no annual fee. Terms apply, see rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Bottom line

Credit card rewards usually aren’t taxable. But they can be, if your card provider offers you rewards unrelated to your spending or without you having to meet spend requirements. If you’re ever in doubt, contact a tax professional.

Credit card taxes typically won’t be your biggest concern — rather, it’s best to choose the right rewards card for your needs and spending habits.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I file my taxes for free?
The US government offers Free File, which lets you file your federal tax return online.

How long has the IRS considered credit card rewards to be rebates?
The IRS has held this view since 2002, per Bulletin No. 2002-10.

Where can I find a copy of my credit card agreement to view details about rewards and taxes?
Your provider will mail you a copy of your credit card agreement when it sends your card to you. You can also likely find your agreement through your online account.

If neither of those options work, give your provider a call at the number listed on the back of your card.