Jan 19, 2024 By Triston Martin
Not everyone is prone to consider how to optimize credit card benefits on their expenditure when they glance at a tax bill. However, if you fall into that category, you should bear the following in mind:
If you have advance taxes, the IRS has several ways where you can make an instant payment or set up a payment plan:
When you e-file your return, you can pay using your bank account.
From a bank or savings account, you can allow independent direct debit payments.
You can use a debit and credit card to pay your taxes online, on the phone, or through a smartphone device.
At a participating retail partner, you can pay in cash. For more, go to IRS.gov/paywithcash.
You must file all necessary tax returns before making monthly payments. Utilize the Online Payment Agreement tool to request an installment contract.
Here are three instances where paying taxes with a credit card to get points makes sense for reward-seekers who always make the entire payment on their credit card balances.
Regarding those unforeseen expenses: The transaction fees for these payments, which range from 1.87% to 1.99% of the money paid with specific minimums, are assessed by the third-party vendors who collect credit card payments on behalf of the IRS.
Some companies, like TurboTax, charge significantly more for services that have integrated e-pay alternatives. The costs of paying taxes in this manner frequently outweigh the advantages because most credit cards provide continuous rewards that are less expensive than these processing fees.
There are, of course, exceptional cases.
Paying tax with a credit card to get incentives could sound right if your incentives are more significant than the processing cost. You could be able to benefit from, for instance:
The IRS's third-party sellers accept digital wallets like PayPal, Samsung Pay, and Android Pay; some credit cards also give additional benefits of sending.
For instance, the Alliant Cash Back Visa Signature card offers 3% cash back on all first-year transactions.
Even obtaining only one mile for every dollar spent on taxes can make logical sense if you can extract at least five cents worth of value from each airline mile you earn on your credit card.
Remember that your credit card bonuses are useless unless you utilize them. Make sure you are earning rewards you'll utilize before paying a transaction fee upfront.
It's challenging to find a credit card with recurring benefits that are substantial enough to offset a hefty processing cost. Nonetheless, where can one find a credit card with a significant sign-up bonus? Much easier.
If someone received a sign-up incentive that was more than the fees related to using credit cards to compensate for taxes, paying tax with a credit card to get incentives "might theoretically work out."
Numerous reward cards provide sign-up bonuses of $500 upwards, and a few do not charge an annual fee for the first year. Your tax bill may make it easier for you to quickly achieve the high financial targets for these cards, which are frequently several thousand dollars during the first few months. After processing charges, you can be rewarded with hundreds of dollars.
Rae, the CFP, found that paying his tax with a credit card not only helped him collect incentives but also expedited the process of achieving elite status with Delta Air Lines. This is because he achieved the spending level necessary on his American Express Delta Reserve Credit Card earlier, earning him a sizable bonus that contributed to his status. Processing costs were far surpassed by the worth of that designation and the miles he accrued.
By meeting specific spending requirements, you may earn elite status or other valuable advantages, such as a complimentary ticket or a free award night, if you use a co-branded hotel or airline card. Paying advance taxes using a card might be beneficial to reach those levels more quickly, assuming you could maximize perks like these.
In conclusion, given the benefits and drawbacks of paying taxes for plastic, it is essential to determine what is best for your situation and financial goals. Paying taxes with plastic may provide rewards and benefits, but it is essential to weigh the cost of doing so and the availability of rewards to see if it is a good fit for you.
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