MilesBuzz! - Dec 2006 Any double miles on income tax payment?

Anybody know if there are any double miles currently on income tax payments. Usually there are promotions closer to tax time, but I'd like to pay an estimate now. Will only consider the convenience fee for double starpoints.

The only "double mile" promo currently offered is for the UA MP Visa. Most others are usually just from 1/1 - 4/15, if not something like 3/1 - 4/15! But the MP Visa offered double miles for tax payments thru 12/31/06. (It may do the same next year - I hope! :D

Don't have that card. If I knew for sure that it would begin 1/1/06 on other cards I would wait rather than send a check.

American Expess is running their double promotion on several cards, including the Starwood AE, check out

[URL="http://tax.americanexpress.com/taxes"]

Love those cheap miles.

American Expess is running their double promotion on several cards, including the Starwood AE, check out americanexpresss.com/taxes.

The only offers Amex has right now are for last year, not this year.

Also, there was a recent thread on this topic in this forum:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=634277&highlight=double+taxes

American Expess is running their double promotion on several cards, including the Starwood AE, check out americanexpresss.com/taxes.

Love those cheap miles.
Where did you see anything about a current AmEx double miles promotion with SPG AmEx or any of their other cards? What I see at that website looks like what is always available, the non-appealing option of using the CC and get 1 point for every 2.49 cents.

AMEX still has the "double MR points on everything" offer Oct 1 - Dec 31. Dig around the AMEX forum.

AMEX still has the "double MR points on everything" offer Oct 1 - Dec 31. Dig around the AMEX forum.
Yes, I didn't mean to sweep all AmEx cards, just the SPG AmEx in particular. (I am getting "double MR points on everything" with my green AmEx right now.) But have they been giving double points on the SPG AmEx other than at tax time last year (April 15), when could get double miles up to a max of 10K for a 5K spend with the card to pay taxes through Official Payments? If so, I would like to hear about it, especially if any such SPG AmEx offer is currently in effect. (I am going to be making big tax payments with UA Platinum Visa today for the double miles that brings, and hope that those payments will get both my wife and me 5K of 2007 EQM each.)

It appears the AE webmaster hasn't moved as fast as the marketing department. Within the last 4-5 days I received an email from AE advising of the double points for tax program for this year. When you go to the link,

http://tax.americanexpress.com/taxes

it does indicate the program is from 3/1/06-4/17/06. The dates will probably be updated in short order. I've done the program for last two years and it works like a charm.

[QUOTE=gejone;6920080]It appears the AE webmaster hasn't moved as fast as the marketing department. Within the last 4-5 days I received an email from AE advising of the double points for tax program for this year. When you go to the link,

http://tax.americanexpress.com/taxes

it does indicate the program is from 3/1/06-4/17/06. The dates will probably be updated in short order. I've done the program for last two years and it works like a charm.[/QUOTE

Will the new dates be March to April again? Have you ever received double miles for estimated taxes paid in Dec or Jan? Thanks.

[QUOTE=gejone;6920080]It appears the AE webmaster hasn't moved as fast as the marketing department. Within the last 4-5 days I received an email from AE advising of the double points for tax program for this year. When you go to the link,

http://tax.americanexpress.com/taxes

it does indicate the program is from 3/1/06-4/17/06. The dates will probably be updated in short order. I've done the program for last two years and it works like a charm.[/QUOTE

Will the new dates be March to April again? Have you ever received double miles for estimated taxes paid in Dec or Jan? Thanks.
Yes, that would be my question(s) too - the offer will be out there for tax payments come 3/1/07-4/15/07, or it is out there now so that it might be used for 4th quarter estimates? (I called SPG AmEx today and was told no double miles offer for tax payments at present, so went ahead with big payment of 4th quarter state taxes using UA Visa to get the double miles with that card.) And what about caps on the offer, only up to $5K payment and 10K points with the SPG AmEx for tax payments or higher/no limits?

I didn't see anything helpful using that link yesterday, but will look there again to see if it has been updated in the meantime. (gejone, might you share that email you received with the rest of us?)

Unfortunately I deleted the email so I can't share it here. There wasn't much information, just the basic double mile information and the link. If the program is like it has been, it's only good for the March/April timeframe. Since you are using the two tax payment agencies, you may be able to direct the payment to something other than the 2006 tax payment. If you have to do that, you will get a refund, or you can direct your refund to the 2007 ES.

Don't forget, if you're using Starwoods AE, you get a 25% bonus when converting 20,000 point to miles.

Called Signature Visa and told that double miles for tax payments still here in 2007. Hurray!

Now, hope to hear that SPG AmEx will be offering double miles for tax payments again. Would really be great if they repeated the offer, this time without a cap, or alternatively with a much higher cap than last year.

The United/Chase double miles offer has been extended through January.
Details here. (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html#Earn%20double%20miles%20for%20 paying%20your%20taxes)

The United/Chase double miles offer has been extended through January.
Details here. (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html#Earn%20double%20miles%20for%20 paying%20your%20taxes)

Unfortunately the fine print on that offer seems to restrict the total reward to 2500 miles. Big time downgrade from what it was last year :(

Unfortunately the fine print on that offer seems to restrict the total reward to 2500 miles. Big time downgrade from what it was last year :(
TERRIBLE!!! And the unwary may overlook the footnote, figuring it is the same offer as before, and buy a great many miles at 2.49 cpm thinking they are getting them at 1.245 cpm. (Glad that I made the large state tax payments that I did on 12/31/06.)

If you have more than $1250 in taxes to pay (the 2500 mile cap), why not make multiple payments across several cards? The IRS won't care if you send it in several batches. $1250 on a UAL card, the balance on the SPG card... ?

For those of us that have multiple MP Visas as a result of last years bonus party can we put $2500 on each card and receive a 2500 miles bonus on each card?:)

I will go back to read it again, but believe that you can pay $2500 and get double miles for doing so, that is the usual 2500 and a bonus 2500. Hugely disappointing, though. I had hoped and expected that the offer would be renewed in 2007 unchanged.

I am concerned now that I made payments many x $2500 on 12/30/06, put didn't reflect in my balance until 1/3/07, and maybe they will treat it as an '07 payment subject to the $2500 cap. If they do, I will protest most vigorously, because I did not intend to buy miles at 2.49 cpm, twice as expensive as what I reasonably expected.

American Expess is running their double promotion on several cards, including the Starwood AE, check out americanexpresss.com/taxes.

Love those cheap miles.

Dead link.

Dang. I should have paid my January estimated taxes in December.

Note, too, that the provider has changed (Link2Gov now, not Official Payments), and you need to use a special URL (http://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united).

The double-miles-for-school promotion has similarly changed, though that's off-topic for this thread.

Upon second reading, the double-miles-for-taxes promotion is only listed for January 2007. So the 2500-mile cap technically applies only to this month.

It's unclear what happens after January.

Upon second reading, the double-miles-for-taxes promotion is only listed for January 2007. So the 2500-mile cap technically applies only to this month.

It's unclear what happens after January.
Hmmm, it seems that something is going on. I decided to have a "second reading" too, and there are no T&C but rather an ad telling us we will have something to smile about this tax season and to come back on 1/8/07 to see what it is?! Might they recant about the $2500 cap on the double miles offer and make it a sky's-the-limit one again like it was in 2006? I certainly hope that is what will be there on 1/8/07.

Well, I'll be looking again on 1/8/07. Will it be ^ or :td: then?

SPG Amex 2007 offer now posted, and it is essentially the same as last year...

Terms and Conditions:
Double points on first $5000 spent on personal federal tax payments. Bonus Starpoints earned through this promotion will be limited to 5,000 per Credit Card account and will post to your account 8-10 weeks after 4/17/07. Only personal federal tax payments made from 2/15/07 through 4/17/07 will qualify for double Starpoints. This offer is available to Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cardmembers only. Double Starpoints will be awarded for the federal tax payment only and not for any associated convenience fee. For all other questions, please call the toll-free number on the back of your Card.

https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT103/OT103.html

There is also an offer for using the JetBlue card...

https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT105/OT105.html

SPG Amex 2007 offer now posted, and it is essentially the same as last year...

Terms and Conditions:
Double points on first $5000 spent on personal federal tax payments. Bonus Starpoints earned through this promotion will be limited to 5,000 per Credit Card account and will post to your account 8-10 weeks after 4/17/07. Only personal federal tax payments made from 2/15/07 through 4/17/07 will qualify for double Starpoints. This offer is available to Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cardmembers only. Double Starpoints will be awarded for the federal tax payment only and not for any associated convenience fee. For all other questions, please call the toll-free number on the back of your Card.

https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT103/OT103.html

There is also an offer for using the JetBlue card...

https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT105/OT105.html
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Should we be pleased that they are repeating the promo in 2007 just as it was in 2006 or disappointed that they are keeping the 5K cap? I suppose it should be the former, especially since the Chase deal may be so much less than it was in 2006. (I really, really hope that what Chase announces in a couple of days will be substantially better than what they first announced as the deal for paying taxes with the UA Visa.)

Why does SPG AmEx restrict it to the payment of federal taxes, when Official Payments handles state tax payments? I would love to know the terms of Chase's deal with Official Payments and SPG AmEx's one with them.

The United/Chase double miles offer has been extended through January.
Details here. (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html#Earn%20double%20miles%20for%20 paying%20your%20taxes)
The webpage with a woman sitting at her computer and smiling says check back on 1/8/07 for the details of their miles for tax payment offer. It's mid-morning 18/07, so where is it? Is the offer going to be capped at 5000 RDM for $2500 taxes paid, or is it going to be uncapped like it was in 2006? My fingers are crossed, though I am not too optimistic. (May just pick up the phone to get the answer, though do prefer to see the details in print.)

[QUOTE=itsme;6963681]Why does SPG AmEx restrict it to the payment of federal taxes, when Official Payments handles state tax payments? QUOTE]

I don't why they don't, maybe they want to make it simple. If you need to make a state payment, this work around will allow you to earn the miles we all want.

If your Federal tax is full paid and you need a state tax payment made, here is a simply solution. Make the $5,000 payment to the IRS, which will give you an overpayment to the IRS, then eFile your return showing the excess credit. The IRS will deposit your refund check to your bank in less than 3 weeks, then you can pay your state tax payment by April 16th. Yes, 2007 taxes are due on April 16th as the 15th is on Sunday.

Please don't get into the mode that the IRS won't give you your money back, they will without a 2nd thought.

[QUOTE=itsme;6963681]Why does SPG AmEx restrict it to the payment of federal taxes, when Official Payments handles state tax payments? QUOTE]

I don't why they don't, maybe they want to make it simple. If you need to make a state payment, this work around will allow you to earn the miles we all want.

If your Federal tax is full paid and you need a state tax payment made, here is a simply solution. Make the $5,000 payment to the IRS, which will give you an overpayment to the IRS, then eFile your return showing the excess credit. The IRS will deposit your refund check to your bank in less than 3 weeks, then you can pay your state tax payment by April 16th. Yes, 2007 taxes are due on April 16th as the 15th is on Sunday.

Please don't get into the mode that the IRS won't give you your money back, they will without a 2nd thought.
I expect that many people with taxes to pay will bump up against the $5K SPG AmEx double miles cap with their federal payment, so won't have to try for any work around answers for how to pay state taxes. Still, I do wonder why it is limited to federal payments when Official Payments handles state ones in the same way and for the same 2.49% convenience fee.

If the UA Visa (Chase) double miles tax payment deal is to be capped at $2,500 or less for some cards, then IMNSHO its nothing to get very excited about. Last year, when the sky was the limited on double miles for tax payments with the card, that was a most excellent opportunity to "buy" a great many miles at a very reasonable price.

Is Chase going to surprise us with something? Their website said a special tax payment offer would be announced 1/8/07, but there was nothing new there this morning and now I see they have postponed (until when) any announcement, if indeed there is to be one.:confused:
Will they re-think the $2500 cap previously announced? I earnestly hope so, though I am not too optimistic.

The United/Chase double miles offer has been extended through January.
Details here. (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html#Earn%20double%20miles%20for%20 paying%20your%20taxes)
If one goes to the webpage one gets to by using the link above and the link there, one comes to a picture of that smiling woman and the advice that "soon" we will have reason to smile when paying our taxes. It has been updated to "January 9," that is today, but still there are no details to be had there, only this tease about something still in the offing. (Before, it said wait until January 8; then on January 8, the page was "refreshed," but still nothing; and nothing today other than the updated date.)

In the end, whenever that may be, there will probably be a cap, probably a $2500 max one. But I would like to see it spelled out. (Am I missing their meaning, really they are saying no more than when you do have to pay our taxes, we will smile because of this puny double-miles-on-tax-payments-up-to-$2500 deal?)

The Chase site was actually originally January 4th, then on the 4th changed to the 8th.

The Chase site was actually originally January 4th, then on the 4th changed to the 8th.
And now it says "Coming soon".

Maybe they are trying to wait past the 15th after people who make big Q4 safe harbor payments have cleared.

And now it says "Coming soon".
The 2007 tax payment deal will be what it will be whenever Chase decides what it is to be. (Profound, aren't I.) But do others care to speculate, which is all we can do at this point, what they will announce "soon"? Will it be anything different from their initial announcement of the 2007 tax payment deal, with the regrettable $2500 cap (and less with some of Chase's other Visa products)?

What do others think the likelihood we will hear the cap wouldn't be there for 2007 payments or an announcement of something better (e.g., double miles and "convenience fee" of only 1.99%)? I don't think very good, but I continue to hope.

The Chase site is up now, but there's no new information in the terms. The promotion period is still defined as January 1 - January 31, so the bonus miles cap presumably applies to that promotion period.

The Chase site is up now, but there's no new information in the terms. The promotion period is still defined as January 1 - January 31, so the bonus miles cap presumably applies to that promotion period.

That sucks :-)

Even thought I won't have my taxes actually DONE by January 31, there's no reason that I can't pre-pay them now to get the bonus, I suppose. The IRS will be happy to get my money any time, I'll bet... heh.

"The maximum reward accumulation during this promotion period is: 2,500 bonus miles for World, Signature, Gold Class Signature, Platinum Class Signature, and Platinum Business products; 1,250 bonus miles for Rewards and College products."

So if I'm reading this right, I can pay $2500 on my UAL card to get the max bonus miles there, and $2500 via the Starwood AmEx pay-your-taxes promotion page, right?

E

The Chase site is up now, but there's no new information in the terms. The promotion period is still defined as January 1 - January 31, so the bonus miles cap presumably applies to that promotion period.
I see this as allowing at least a glimmer of hope. I was afraid that they would announce this was the only tax payment promo offer we would see in 2007. While perhaps not likely, maybe when we are closer to the big tax payment day, April 15, they will announce an uncapped double miles offer. I will have my fingers crossed.

I see this as allowing at least a glimmer of hope. I was afraid that they would announce this was the only tax payment promo offer we would see in 2007. While perhaps not likely, maybe when we are closer to the big tax payment day, April 15, they will announce an uncapped double miles offer. I will have my fingers crossed.

Does that mean we take a chance now, or we wait until past 1/31 and see what happens?

Or a related question-- could I pay the $2500 now before 1/31, and then if they open the cap, do a second payment to get a bonus again? I don't see anything about the bonus miles having to be collected in one transaction-- in fact, the existing rules say "The maximum reward accumulation during this promotion period is..." --implying that it's about the promotional period, not an individual transaction. (Does that make sense?)

Does that mean we take a chance now, or we wait until past 1/31 and see what happens?

Or a related question-- could I pay the $2500 now before 1/31, and then if they open the cap, do a second payment to get a bonus again? I don't see anything about the bonus miles having to be collected in one transaction-- in fact, the existing rules say "The maximum reward accumulation during this promotion period is..." --implying that it's about the promotional period, not an individual transaction. (Does that make sense?)
I will use my card to pay $2500 toward our 4th quarter taxes and my wife's card to pay another $2500. Why not, what might I risk missing out on?

My concern was that the >$50K payment I made through Official Payments at the very end of December might be counted toward 2007, since it didn't reflect in my card balance until 1/1. While I would very much like to get the 5K EQM for spending >$35K in 2007 (for 2008 status) rather than have that EQM credit for 2006, when it would do nothing for me, I did not want to hit my head on the 2007 cap, doubling not the number of miles coming to be but instead doubling my cost per mile from 1.245 to 2.49.

(Did others notice that a couple of days ago, Chase reversed the picture of that woman sitting at her computer screen and smiling, so she was then facing to the left rather than to the right? New date each day, but same text.)

Here's another apparent change in terms.

Last year, state income tax, federal income tax, and property tax payments all qualified for double miles. The current terms (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html#Earn%20double%20miles%20for%20 paying%20your%20taxes) at the United site seem to say that all of those taxes still qualify:

Bonus miles on tax payments: Bonus miles are earned for personal income tax, property tax, and quarterly estimated tax payments made with your United Mileage Plus credit card from January 1, 2007 through January 31, 2007.

However, the terms at the Chase site (http://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united) are different -- only federal income tax payments qualify for double miles.

Bonus miles are earned for personal federal income tax payments made with your United Mileage Plus credit card from January 1, 2007 through January 31, 2007.

And sure enough, the Chase site seems to only allow Federal tax payments.

Why is the offer only out there for 1/1/07 - 1/31/07, when most people will not file their 2006 returns until closer to 4/15/07? And why is it good only for payments through Link2Gov, when before qualifying payments could be made through Official Payments? I still wonder if we will see further changes in another month or so.

Why is the offer only out there for 1/1/07 - 1/31/07, when most people will not file their 2006 returns until closer to 4/15/07? And why is it good only for payments through Link2Gov, when before qualifying payments could be made through Official Payments? I still wonder if we will see further changes in another month or so.

Assuming that Chase actually wants to spur people to pay taxes using their credit card (or else why offer a double-miles promotion?), I would expect another promotion period covering 4/15/07. The January promotion period is mostly useful for Q4 estimated tax payments.

Assuming that Chase actually wants to spur people to pay taxes using their credit card (or else why offer a double-miles promotion?), I would expect another promotion period covering 4/15/07. The January promotion period is mostly useful for Q4 estimated tax payments.

They did this last year, right? Did they announce the new period before the end of the first?

Obviously I want to delay paying my taxes as long as possible (I'd rather keep my money and make my interest, even those few months will make a difference)... but what happens if I wait past 1/31 and then no new promotion is announced and I'm out the double miles. That's my concern.

It seems like breaking it up over several cards is a smart strategy (i.e. $2500 on United, $2500 on SPG) to at least get the max bonus from my payments.

SPG Amex 2007 offer now posted, and it is essentially the same as last year...

Terms and Conditions:
Double points on first $5000 spent on personal federal tax payments. Bonus Starpoints earned through this promotion will be limited to 5,000 per Credit Card account and will post to your account 8-10 weeks after 4/17/07. Only personal federal tax payments made from 2/15/07 through 4/17/07 will qualify for double Starpoints. This offer is available to Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cardmembers only. Double Starpoints will be awarded for the federal tax payment only and not for any associated convenience fee. For all other questions, please call the toll-free number on the back of your Card.

https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT103/OT103.html

There is also an offer for using the JetBlue card...

https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT105/OT105.html


at some point i seem to recall last year that the SPGs fee was reduced to 1.99%... or was it another CC? i tried searching in the old tax payment thread but it got huge... sorry if my memory serves me wrong.

imho 5K points is too little. wish they had a much higher threshold...:td:

They did this last year, right? Did they announce the new period before the end of the first?

Obviously I want to delay paying my taxes as long as possible (I'd rather keep my money and make my interest, even those few months will make a difference)... but what happens if I wait past 1/31 and then no new promotion is announced and I'm out the double miles. That's my concern.

It seems like breaking it up over several cards is a smart strategy (i.e. $2500 on United, $2500 on SPG) to at least get the max bonus from my payments.
If you want in on the only double miles for tax payments deal Chase has announced for 2007, you will have to jump on it before 2/1. And the maximum payment you can make at this time and get a full measure of double miles is $2500. (They will gladly accept payments >$2500, but you will pay the full 2.49% "convenience fee" on whatever you pay beyond $2500 and you will only be getting 1 mile for each dollar of taxes and convenience fee charged to the card.

I believe that the SPG cap on their double points for tax payments offer is again $5K this year.

So unless you have more than one of the Chase and more than one of the SPG AmEx cards, you are looking at $7.5K as the maximum you can do for double miles and points.

at some point i seem to recall last year that the SPGs fee was reduced to 1.99%... or was it another CC? i tried searching in the old tax payment thread but it got huge... sorry if my memory serves me wrong.

imho 5K points is too little. wish they had a much higher threshold...:td:
Was it a promo offer for SPG points or one for AA miles that dropped the "convenience fee" to 1.99%? I believe it was the later, though I am not certain of it. If Chase, SPG AmEx, or anyone else was ever offering double miles or points for a 1.99% fee, I missed it.

If you want in on the only double miles for tax payments deal Chase has announced for 2007, you will have to jump on it before 2/1. And the maximum payment you can make at this time and get a full measure of double miles is $2500. (They will gladly accept payments >$2500, but you will pay the full 2.49% "convenience fee" on whatever you pay beyond $2500 and you will only be getting 1 mile for each dollar of taxes and convenience fee charged to the card.

I believe that the SPG cap on their double points for tax payments offer is again $5K this year.

So unless you have more than one of the Chase and more than one of the SPG AmEx cards, you are looking at $7.5K as the maximum you can do for double miles and points.

Thank you for the confirmation! I think I have about $9k - $11k due in taxes, so I am going to have to see if I still have a second Chase/UAL card open. (Of course I had like 4 of them at one point, but I've been on a card-closing housekeeping binge recently...)

Hey, I think I found a loophole in all this, too. Let's say I only had $1k due on my taxes. If I paid $5k now with my SPG card, I'd get the full earn of the promotion, and my 2006 return would show a $4k overpayment... which is considered a tax refund that the IRS will direct-deposit back into my account... right?

Was it a promo offer for SPG points or one for AA miles that dropped the "convenience fee" to 1.99%? I believe it was the later, though I am not certain of it. If Chase, SPG AmEx, or anyone else was ever offering double miles or points for a 1.99% fee, I missed it.

If anyone hears of any rates going down from the normal %, post it here! :-) I'm gearing up to do my payments RSN, since I don't want to miss the 1/31 deadline.

Was it a promo offer for SPG points or one for AA miles that dropped the "convenience fee" to 1.99%? I believe it was the later, though I am not certain of it. If Chase, SPG AmEx, or anyone else was ever offering double miles or points for a 1.99% fee, I missed it.

good call. i went back to last years thread and you were correct. Nothing about SPG, my bad.

I always tend to wait this thing out anyways, you never know.

Hey, I think I found a loophole in all this, too. Let's say I only had $1k due on my taxes. If I paid $5k now with my SPG card, I'd get the full earn of the promotion, and my 2006 return would show a $4k overpayment... which is considered a tax refund that the IRS will direct-deposit back into my account... right?


That is correct. The IRS system will take all payments and apply them to your account. When your 2006 return processes it will refund any excess funds on your account. Fact is, when you complete your 2006 return, even if it shows a refund, you could still make a payment, get your double points, and receive a refund. If you had more than one qualifying card/deal, you could make a payment from each one. It boils down to: Are you willing to pay the cost per mile?

That is correct. The IRS system will take all payments and apply them to your account. When your 2006 return processes it will refund any excess funds on your account. Fact is, when you complete your 2006 return, even if it shows a refund, you could still make a payment, get your double points, and receive a refund. If you had more than one qualifying card/deal, you could make a payment from each one. It boils down to: Are you willing to pay the cost per mile?

Wait, I thought the entire point of this whole promotion was that the cost per mile was so low that only a fool wouldn't be willing to pay it?! :-)

My understanding is that the cost is 2.49% (at $1 per mi) but because you get double bonus miles, the real cost is 1.245%, or to look at it another way, just a hair over a penny a mile. FlyerTalk has taught me that miles are traditionally valued around 10c/mi (and really, anything under 5c/mi is an incredible bargain), so that makes this is an amazing, incredible, stupendous bargain...

Tell me if my math is wrong! Otherwise, I'm pushing all my cards to the top and letting the IRS direct-deposit me back. They're pretty quick, if I remember right, in issuing refunds.

Wait, I thought the entire point of this whole promotion was that the cost per mile was so low that only a fool wouldn't be willing to pay it?! :-)

My understanding is that the cost is 2.49% (at $1 per mi) but because you get double bonus miles, the real cost is 1.245%, or to look at it another way, just a hair over a penny a mile. FlyerTalk has taught me that miles are traditionally valued around 10c/mi (and really, anything under 5c/mi is an incredible bargain), so that makes this is an amazing, incredible, stupendous bargain...

Tell me if my math is wrong! Otherwise, I'm pushing all my cards to the top and letting the IRS direct-deposit me back. They're pretty quick, if I remember right, in issuing refunds.
I don't consider an almost 25% difference (1.245 vs. 1.000) a slight uptick, and would not call it "just a hair over a penny a mile." But if you figure you are earning miles on the convenience fee too (1 for $1) and you will have 3 to 7 weeks before you have to pony up the money during which time you can leave it in an interest bearing account, then your final cpm may well be closer to 1.0 cpm than 1.245 cpm.

Where you are seriously, and dangerously, off is in thinking that "miles are tradionally valued around 10c/mi (and really, anything under 5c/mi is an incredible bargain." That is way overvaluing them in the eyes of most of us. (How have you been spending your miles? Are you using them to pull down biz or first class international award tickets, the only way one can get a "return" like you contemplate?)

Where you are seriously, and dangerously, off is in thinking that "miles are tradionally valued around 10c/mi (and really, anything under 5c/mi is an incredible bargain." That is way overvaluing them in the eyes of most of us.

Ah, my mistake. I thought that was the rough rule of thumb, 10c/mi. Even still, isn't approx 1c/mi still a great deal? That's kinda the point I was trying to make. Apologies if it didn't come across...

Anyone know if you can do $5,000 on a personal SPG card and $5,000 on a small business SPG card and get the bonus on both?

Ah, my mistake. I thought that was the rough rule of thumb, 10c/mi. Even still, isn't approx 1c/mi still a great deal? That's kinda the point I was trying to make. Apologies if it didn't come across...
Huge difference between 10 cpm and 1 cpm. I think most of us would be happy to buy unlimited numbers of miles at 1 cpm. I certainly would be. Last year one could do that for a bit over 1 cpm. Unfortunately, this year they are only offering us double miles, which brings our cost down to nearly 1 cpm, for up to $2500, and after that it is the standard 1 mile per $1, meaning a cost close to 2.5 cpm.

delete/duplicate post

Dang. I should have paid my January estimated taxes in December.

Note, too, that the provider has changed (Link2Gov now, not Official Payments), and you need to use a special URL (http://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united).

The double-miles-for-school promotion has similarly changed, though that's off-topic for this thread.
The link takes one to a Chase webpage, the same one that United directs one to. You can read the T&C there, but it doesn't then take you to a website for paying online. One can dial the 877- number provided and do it by phone, by all they get is an automated response. Or one can listen for the website address (<www.pay1040.com>) and go there to do it online. I am about to do this, but think it all rather sloppy on Chase's part.

Official Payments, which I have used for big payments as recently as 12/30/06 without problems, seems to be out of the picture, and now we have to go through Link2Gov for the promo. It would be nice if Chase provided the link to get there, and it would give me a little more security about the whole business. The last thing I want to do is make payments with a 2.49% "convenience fee" and not get double miles for each $ of taxes (up to 2500) paid this way.

Also, the Chase T&C continue to say this offer is good 1/1 - 1/31/07. Still nothing about what will happen after 1/31/07. Continue the same offer, just extending it through 12/31/07, with same $2500 cap for entire year? What about state taxes?

Would someone please tell Chase to give this more attention to this.

Incidentally, the Starwood Amex promo is now for 3/1 - 4/17, not 2/15 - 4/17 as it was before.

http://tax.americanexpress.com/

I find this whole thing with the dates totally screwy. Isn't the goal to get consumers to use the card to pay? Wouldn't they just want to have the valid dates be 1/1 - 4/17 and that's it, let's make it easy for you, period? ;-)

E

Incidentally, the Starwood Amex promo is now for 3/1 - 4/17, not 2/15 - 4/17 as it was before.

http://tax.americanexpress.com/

I find this whole thing with the dates totally screwy. Isn't the goal to get consumers to use the card to pay? Wouldn't they just want to have the valid dates be 1/1 - 4/17 and that's it, let's make it easy for you, period? ;-)

E

When I click on this link it show only 3/1-4/17 for 2006 not 2007.
Am I missing something. I did this promotion last year and would like to
use it again if I could.:(

When I click on this link it show only 3/1-4/17 for 2006 not 2007.
Am I missing something. I did this promotion last year and would like to
use it again if I could.:(

It appears that Amex is not updating that web site. Follow the link in post #24. That still lists the 2/15/07-4/17/07 dates.

Anyone knows if there is a bonus associated when paying taxes with the Citi PP card?

Anyone knows if there is a bonus associated when paying taxes with the Citi PP card?

Last year Citi only ran a reduced fee promo (down to 1.99%).

Last year Citi only ran a reduced fee promo (down to 1.99%).

pls post it here if you see it again. was it for all Citicards?

Do I understand this correctly? I am self-employed, and will end up owing taxes. I'm not going to use real figures here, but let's say the tax bill is $20,000. Ignoring the double miles promos, could I (a) pay $100,000 via the online tax payment service on my SPG AmEx, (b) receive 100K SPG points (plus pts for the fee paid) and (c) then receive an $80,000 refund by check or direct deposit from the IRS?

I know I'd lose the interest on the money if it was in my account, but that is probably offset by the fact that as a self-employed independent contractor, I can deduct the cost of the convenience fee.

Thanks,
Goph

Do I understand this correctly? I am self-employed, and will end up owing taxes. I'm not going to use real figures here, but let's say the tax bill is $20,000. Ignoring the double miles promos, could I (a) pay $100,000 via the online tax payment service on my SPG AmEx, (b) receive 100K SPG points (plus pts for the fee paid) and (c) then receive an $80,000 refund by check or direct deposit from the IRS?

Goph

Sounds about right to me.

Last fall I needed a quick 6,000 miles, so I made a tax payment instead of buying the miles or an unwanted large ticket item. The miles posted and i received the excess payment (after filing of course) as a typical refund.

All the IRS knows is that you've overestimated and overpaid your taxes due.

I do it every year, although not to the extent of your example.

Do I understand this correctly? I am self-employed, and will end up owing taxes. I'm not going to use real figures here, but let's say the tax bill is $20,000. Ignoring the double miles promos, could I (a) pay $100,000 via the online tax payment service on my SPG AmEx, (b) receive 100K SPG points (plus pts for the fee paid) and (c) then receive an $80,000 refund by check or direct deposit from the IRS?

I know I'd lose the interest on the money if it was in my account, but that is probably offset by the fact that as a self-employed independent contractor, I can deduct the cost of the convenience fee.

Thanks,
Goph
How much are you willing to pay for points? Ignoring "double miles," which can only be had up to 5K in any event, you will be 2.49 cents each in "convenience fee." Then you will be foregoing any interest earnings on your money, making in effect an interest-free loan to the IRS, until they get around to refunding your money. What value do you put on SPG points that such a deal would appeal to you?

- you can earn 100K bonus DL miles with Platinum DL Amex

pay $100K + $2490 fee

$2490 for 200K miles (1.2 cents per mile)

you could redeem that for 2 SQ F JFK-FRA for example (like paying $1245 per ticket)

- you can pay the fee with membership rewards (not sure if you can do this and pay taxes with another card though..)

- you can get a $200 tax credit with a Biz Amex

How much are you willing to pay for points? Ignoring "double miles," which can only be had up to 5K in any event, you will be 2.49 cents each in "convenience fee." Then you will be foregoing any interest earnings on your money, making in effect an interest-free loan to the IRS, until they get around to refunding your money. What value do you put on SPG points that such a deal would appeal to you?

The OP said he'd overpay by $80k and get it back from the IRS.

Assuming he paid and then filed right away, let's assume it takes the IRS 30 days to refund the check. (I'm just making up this figure-- I can't tell from my records how long it took them last year to issue my refund check, but I remember it being fairly quick.)

ING Direct 4.5% savings account = ~$282 in interest (earned in 30 days)
30 day CD @ 5.1% (highest on BankRate) = ~$319 in interest

So FWIW the opportunity cost of this is not too much, less than $500. I get the feeling that when you have a credit card with a $100k limit, earning $500 in interest is probably pocket change ;-)

If ONLY they'd reduce the 2.49% fee.

(Added later: this also assumes you can buy a CD or deposit to savings from the credit card, which isn't easy)

Sounds about right to me.

Last fall I needed a quick 6,000 miles, so I made a tax payment instead of buying the miles or an unwanted large ticket item. The miles posted and i received the excess payment (after filing of course) as a typical refund.

All the IRS knows is that you've overestimated and overpaid your taxes due.

Except ... that is a significant overpayment and may result in a red flag.

Yes, but if you put the charge on your credit card on the first day of the billing cycle, you probably have about 50 days before that charge is due. Assume you get your refund in 30 days, that means you actually have 20 days to EARN interest that you otherwise would not have earned.

The OP said he'd overpay by $80k and get it back from the IRS.

Assuming he paid and then filed right away, let's assume it takes the IRS 30 days to refund the check. (I'm just making up this figure-- I can't tell from my records how long it took them last year to issue my refund check, but I remember it being fairly quick.)

ING Direct 4.5% savings account = ~$282 in interest (earned in 30 days)
30 day CD @ 5.1% (highest on BankRate) = ~$319 in interest

So FWIW the opportunity cost of this is not too much, less than $500. I get the feeling that when you have a credit card with a $100k limit, earning $500 in interest is probably pocket change ;-)

If ONLY they'd reduce the 2.49% fee.

Yes, but if you put the charge on your credit card on the first day of the billing cycle, you probably have about 50 days before that charge is due. Assume you get your refund in 30 days, that means you actually have 20 days to EARN interest that you otherwise would not have earned.

Good point-- so not only do you get the points but you also get the 20 days of interest from dropping the money into ING Direct!

The funny part is, as another message pointed out just above, overpaying by $80k will probably get you at least a letter from the IRS... :-)

There is a cap of 5000 for double points. I think that means you can charge $5000 and get 10,000 points. Is that right? So, you couldn't charge $100,000 and get 200,000 points. You would get 105,000 points.

There is a cap of 5000 for double points. I think that means you can charge $5000 and get 10,000 points. Is that right? So, you couldn't charge $100,000 and get 200,000 points. You would get 105,000 points.

The cap is only for the starwood card. The Delta card allows up to 100,000.

Ah, my mistake. I thought that was the rough rule of thumb, 10c/mi. Even still, isn't approx 1c/mi still a great deal? That's kinda the point I was trying to make. Apologies if it didn't come across...

I value miles somewhere between 1 and 2 cents. 10c is crazy, as others have noted.

i got over 8 cents per point value on a starwood stay last year.

and international F class can be almost 15 cents per point.

Also, keep in mind a couple things: If charging to an SPG card, you can convert at 1.25 miles/point. Also, my understanding of the tax rules is that if a self-employed taxpayer, the 2.5% convenience fee is deductible, effectively reducing the aftertax cost of the fee.

Whether a substantial overpayment triggers a red flag I don't know. I was just throwing out a number...hardly in a position to make a $80K overpayment :eek: ... would like to overpay for the miles, but a realistic amount.

Goph

In case anyone needed any more encouragement that the SPG double points promo is indeed a good deal if you are looking to buy miles:

Assume you owe $5000 to the IRS. You pay with SPG Amex before 17 April 2007, but after your April billing cycle has begun. So you now get to keep your cash for an extra, say, 50 days, because the current billing cycle will end and there is a 30 day grace period before you actually must have settled the Amex bill. If you keep the $5000 in a savings account yielding 4.5%, you will earn $30.82 in interest, of which you will keep, say, $20 after taxes for 2007.

The 2.49% service fee means paying the IRS will cost $124.50 extra (which you don't earn double points on, sadly). Subtract the above $20 in extra interest income for a total cost of $104.50. Total SPG points earned: 10124. With the SPG 20% bonus, that is 12148 FF miles, for a total effective cost per mile of $0.0086.

(Of course, this analysis breaks down for overpayments - you lose potential interest on the money before the IRS sends it back to you - but the worst case cost per mile, ignoring the opportunity cost of lost interest, is $0.010375 per mile. If the IRS takes, say, 50 days to refund your money, and you would have kept in an account yielding 4.5%, the total cost per mile works out to $0.01189. Regardless, if you don't need your miles to be EQMs, and your situation matches the assumptions I made, this is far less effort and much cheaper than a mileage run!)

wow ttjoseph -- excellent analysis!

I think I'm going for the full amount that will give the dbl miles on SPG, $5k. it's an overpayment by a few thousand but that's fine with me...

In case anyone needed any more encouragement that the SPG double points promo is indeed a good deal if you are looking to buy miles:

Assume you owe $5000 to the IRS. You pay with SPG Amex before 17 April 2007, but after your April billing cycle has begun. So you now get to keep your cash for an extra, say, 50 days, because the current billing cycle will end and there is a 30 day grace period before you actually must have settled the Amex bill. If you keep the $5000 in a savings account yielding 4.5%, you will earn $30.82 in interest, of which you will keep, say, $20 after taxes for 2007.

The 2.49% service fee means paying the IRS will cost $124.50 extra (which you don't earn double points on, sadly). Subtract the above $20 in extra interest income for a total cost of $104.50. Total SPG points earned: 10124. With the SPG 20% bonus, that is 12148 FF miles, for a total effective cost per mile of $0.0086.

(Of course, this analysis breaks down for overpayments - you lose potential interest on the money before the IRS sends it back to you - but the worst case cost per mile, ignoring the opportunity cost of lost interest, is $0.010375 per mile. If the IRS takes, say, 50 days to refund your money, and you would have kept in an account yielding 4.5%, the total cost per mile works out to $0.01189. Regardless, if you don't need your miles to be EQMs, and your situation matches the assumptions I made, this is far less effort and much cheaper than a mileage run!)
What is the "SPG 20% bonus" thing? Is this something I have been missing out on?

And not to be nitpicking, but the $20 in interest income will reduce to a lesser sum when you pay the taxes on it next year.;)

What is the "SPG 20% bonus" thing? Is this something I have been missing out on?

When you transfer 20000 SPG points to frequent flyer miles, SPG adds 5000 miles, for a total of 25000 miles in exchange for 20000 SPG points. That is the 20% bonus.

And not to be nitpicking, but the $20 in interest income will reduce to a lesser sum when you pay the taxes on it next year.;)

Actually, I had already taken into account the expected tax payment on the interest income; the $20 is the after-tax figure. I just made up an estimated tax as everyone's situation is different.

The United/Chase double miles offer has been extended through January.
Details here. (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html#Earn%20double%20miles%20for%20 paying%20your%20taxes)

Do others know where the United/Chase offer stands presently? Last year, of course, there was no limit on how much of the double miles for tax payments one could get. Then with the start of this year, there was a new double miles offer, but only on $2500 of payments between 1/1 and 1/31. Now, it seem there is another such offer for payments between 3/1 and 4/1, again a cap on the doubling at $2500. This is my understanding from a Chase rep just now. (The website small print explanation is less than crystal clear, and it is pointless to call the toll-free number, which is an automated response.) I gather there will be a similar, limited opportunity each quarter.

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html#Earn%20double%20miles%20for%20 paying%20your%20taxes

Too bad, it was a great deal in the past.:( :( :(

Hm! At least we can do the double miles again on the UAL card, for those dates.

When you transfer 20000 SPG points to frequent flyer miles, SPG adds 5000 miles, for a total of 25000 miles in exchange for 20000 SPG points. That is the 20% bonus.

This is usually referred to as a 25% bonus (5000/20000 = 25%).

This is usually referred to as a 25% bonus (5000/20000 = 25%).

Thanks for the correction. Guess I was a bit pessimistic there ;)

First--

Thanks to the poster who pointed back to the link in #24
https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT103/OT103.html


I've been looking everywhere for this promo!


I've used this promo for several years now-- 5K on my Starwood 5K on my husband's

Those 20K points have been well worth the fee for me.

YMMV

Now, it seem there is another such offer for payments between 3/1 and 4/1, again a cap on the doubling at $2500. This is my understanding from a Chase rep just now.(

When you say that the cap is $2500, is that just for the Rewards and College cards? The way I read the terms was that the other cards have a bonus cap of $5000. So you could pay $5K in taxes and get back 10K in miles? Or is that incorrect?

Re: UA Double Miles: I read that as 'bonus caps at 5000mi' -- ie $5k + bonus = 10,000mi, $7k + bonus = 12,000mi -- within the new 3/1-4/30 window.
Has anybody actually experienced something different ?

Next approach -- split 'estimated payments' across several cards/programs/etc.

When you say that the cap is $2500, is that just for the Rewards and College cards? The way I read the terms was that the other cards have a bonus cap of $5000. So you could pay $5K in taxes and get back 10K in miles? Or is that incorrect?
I had reference to the UA MP Platinum Visa, which should be the most liberal with respect to caps, if any. And my understanding of the changes is that one can pay $2,500 in taxes, subject to the 2.49% "convenience fee," and they will realize 2,500 "base" miles (RDM) plus 2,500 "bonus" miles (RDM), giving an effective price of 1.245 cents for each of the 5,000 miles they get. If one goes beyond $2,500 in tax payments, then you will only see 1 mile per $1.0249 expended.

It does look like the offer may be renewed each quarter, so that one could get double miles for up to $10K per year. Better than nothing, but very, very inferior to what it was last year, when no cap.

Re: UA Double Miles: I read that as 'bonus caps at 5000mi' -- ie $5k + bonus = 10,000mi, $7k + bonus = 12,000mi -- within the new 3/1-4/30 window.
Has anybody actually experienced something different ?

Next approach -- split 'estimated payments' across several cards/programs/etc.
I'll look again, as should others, to see whether the limit is a payment of $2,500 yielding 5K miles in all, or $5,000 yielding 10K miles in all. I do believe it is the former.

I am not clear what you mean by "$7K + bonus = 12,000mi." One can pay as much in taxes as one wants if they are willing to pay 2.49% for the miles. The question is how large a payment can one make and get "double miles," reducing one's cost to 1.245 cpm. Personally, I have no interest in buying miles at 2.49 cpm, though that might work for some premium international awards; I am very interested in purchasing very large numbers of miles at 1.245 cpm, though.

Except ... that is a significant overpayment and may result in a red flag.

Wrong. Income, deductions, and credits affect the scoring on your tax return. ACTUAL estimated payments (which are verified) DO NOT.

I am not clear what you mean by "$7K + bonus = 12,000mi."
To rephrase: I read the 'double bonus' as a 'match' offering -- up to 5k-mi.
" The maximum reward accumulation during this promotion period is: 5,000 bonus miles for World, Signature, Gold Class Signature, Platinum Class Signature, and Platinum Business products; 2,500 bonus miles for Rewards and College products. " (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html#Earn%20double%20miles%20for%20 paying%20your%20taxes)

Given: ANY amount of payment earns 1-mile per $, as a base rate --
hence, $5k payment yields 10k-mi. (purists will kindly ignore the 2.49% for the moment)

So, it would follow that payments in excess of $5k continue to earn the base rate, but with no increased bonus -- therefore "$7k-base + 5k-bonus = 12,000mi".

Seems pretty straightforward to me.

To rephrase: I read the 'double bonus' as a 'match' offering -- up to 5k-mi.
" The maximum reward accumulation during this promotion period is: 5,000 bonus miles for World, Signature, Gold Class Signature, Platinum Class Signature, and Platinum Business products; 2,500 bonus miles for Rewards and College products. " (http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html#Earn%20double%20miles%20for%20 paying%20your%20taxes)

Given: ANY amount of payment earns 1-mile per $, as a base rate --
hence, $5k payment yields 10k-mi. (purists will kindly ignore the 2.49% for the moment)

So, it would follow that payments in excess of $5k continue to earn the base rate, but with no increased bonus -- therefore "$7k-base + 5k-bonus = 12,000mi".

Seems pretty straightforward to me.
Yes, I think you are right that one could pay $5K in taxes and wind up with a total of 10K RDM with the "doubling." (I was confused by "bonus" vs total, and the 2,500 bonus miles cap on the other cards.) But once past the $5K tax payment (and 5K bonus), you won't be seeing any "doubling." So, make a $7K tax payment with one of those Chase Visas and you will get 10K of RDM (ignoring small increment of RDM for "convenience fee" component) at 1.245 cpm, but the next 2K of RDM will work out to 2.49 cpm.

but the next 2K of RDM will work out to 2.49 cpm.Ummm.. by your mixed reasoning, I think not. After the bonus caps out, you're back to base rate -- 1:1. No different than buying groceries; it's something you do anyways.

According to this website on IRS.gov, they list the service providers for paying your federal taxes via credit card
http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=101316,00.html


They list www.incometaxpayment.com charging a flat fee of $2.95 per transaction. Am I missing something here? This is a lot better than the providers that charge the 2.5% fee.

This sounds like its too good to be true.

delete

Ummm.. by your mixed reasoning, I think not. After the bonus caps out, you're back to base rate -- 1:1. No different than buying groceries; it's something you do anyways.
Right, "After the bonus caps out, you're back to base rate -- 1:1." That means you can get up to 10K of RDM at 1.245 cpm with the "double miles" bonus, and after those "cheap" 10K, additional miles will no longer be cheap, they will cost roughly 2.49 cpm.

"No different than buying groceries; it's something you do anyways."?! When you buy groceries, you don't pay a 2.49% "convenience fee" for the privilege of using a credit card for the purchase, do you?

Again, I liked it far, far better when last year, for however many $s of taxes we chose to pay by credit card, we could have miles at 1.245 cpm.

Amex MR - targeted - bonus ID: 4468 Double MR points for tax payments made 3/1/07-4/17/07 - limit 10,000 bonus points. Received via snail-mail. URL provided: http://americanexpress.com/mrtax.

Amex MR - targeted - bonus ID: 4468 Double MR points for tax payments made 3/1/07-4/17/07 - limit 10,000 bonus points. Received via snail-mail. URL provided: http://americanexpress.com/mrtax.

This link didn't work for me--just brought me to regular 1:1 MR rewards for taxes screen.

This link didn't work for me--just brought me to regular 1:1 MR rewards for taxes screen.

Doesn't work for me either - but I'm saving the postcard :)

QUOTE=mbreuer; TribeFlyer " .. 3/1/07-4/17/07 .."

Ummm .. ya think maybe ... :rolleyes:

According to this website on IRS.gov, they list the service providers for paying your federal taxes via credit card
http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=101316,00.html


They list www.incometaxpayment.com charging a flat fee of $2.95 per transaction. Am I missing something here? This is a lot better than the providers that charge the 2.5% fee.

This sounds like its too good to be true.

They only accept debit cards... so, yes, if you have a debit card that earns points/miles etc, this is a great deal. Otherwise, big yawn....

They list www.incometaxpayment.com charging a flat fee of $2.95 per transaction. Am I missing something here? This is a lot better than the providers that charge the 2.5% fee.

This sounds like its too good to be true.

Debit card only, and only a few specific card networks (NYCE,
Star, or Pulse). So there's no credit card fee to deal with. Looking at the details, it's operated by link2gov.com, which also operates a 2.9% credit card program.

If you're looking for convenience, too lazy to write a check, etc., then $3 isn't bad. ("And you lose the hassle of writing, mailing, and waiting for a check to clear!" - how did we ever live with the painful process of actually writing checks - oh the pain....;) ).

It looks legit, with it's limitations. But no miles or other bonuses from it, I suspect. Do any of the mileage cards provide miles/points for debit card usage?

QUOTE=mbreuer; TribeFlyer " .. 3/1/07-4/17/07 .."

Ummm .. ya think maybe ... :rolleyes:

You're right--I'll check the link again on March 1 and see if the double miles link has activated then... :o

I frequently rely on pgary's website to identify the limited-time bonus offers for various frequent flyer programs. Interestingly, his website today says that the Starwood double-point tax bonus is no longer offered. However, the link in this thread still appears to work -- so I'm not sure where he is getting his information. Has anyone heard that the Starwood bonus is being pulled this year?

I started this thread, and thank you damon88 for the link. I have just submitted my balance due, and on March 1st will submit the remainder of $5000 as my first estimate. I had to have my taxes completed by Feb 15th for financial aid application and had to have taxes filed, but I didn't want to send in a check and forms because I was hoping for this promo. THANK YOU. Flyertalk has come through again.

Last year i put my tax payment on my Starwood Amex. I kept checking and checking and never saw the miles. After months I contacted Amex who insisted that I had received my extra miles for tax payment as a "Banana Republic" special. Huh??? I never shop Bana Republic. It never appeared anywhere on a statement. I had to spend a considerable amount of time on the phone, send many emails, etc. etc. before, several months after tax season, I received my bonus miles. I don't think I will use my Starwood Amex for this any more.

Do any of the mileage cards provide miles/points for debit card usage?
There are a few mileage debit cards out there.

Key Bank has a 1 mile / $2 CO cobranded card: https://www.key.com/html/H-1.16.html

Bank of America has 1 mile / $2 US- and AS- cobranded cards:
http://www.bankofamerica.com/deposits/checksave/index.cfm?template=checkcards_usair
http://www.bankofamerica.com/deposits/checksave/index.cfm?template=checkcards_alaskaair

Chase has a 1 mile / $2 UA card:
http://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/individuals/debit_cards/page/united_miles_plus
and a CO card, in both 1 mile / $2 and 1 mile / $1 flavors ($25 / $65 annual fees):
http://www.chase.com/ccp/index.jsp?pg_name=ccpmapp/individuals/debit_cards/page/continental_airlines

Citibank has a 1 mile / $2 AA card:
https://www.aa.com/apps/AAdvantage/ViewMileageProgramsPartnerDetail.jhtml?fileName=de bitcardOffer.xml&repositoryName=AAdvantagePartnersContentRepository&repositoryId=16019218&itemDescriptor=AAdvantagePartnersContent

There are probably others. Note that some of these require the transaction to be signature-based rather than PIN-based to earn miles. It's unclear how this transaction will be processed until you try (and I don't have any of these cards so I'm not about to do that).

I frequently rely on pgary's website to identify the limited-time bonus offers for various frequent flyer programs. Interestingly, his website today says that the Starwood double-point tax bonus is no longer offered. However, the link in this thread still appears to work -- so I'm not sure where he is getting his information. Has anyone heard that the Starwood bonus is being pulled this year?

I said that because a reader told me that a customer rep said the offer doesn't exist, and because it is not listed on the two websites on which it ought to be listed: http://tax.americanexpress.com/ and https://www.officialpayments.com/so_amex.jsp

When I get around to updating my Finance page, I plan to relist the link with a caution that the offer may not be honored.

There are probably others. Note that some of these require the transaction to be signature-based rather than PIN-based to earn miles. It's unclear how this transaction will be processed until you try (and I don't have any of these cards so I'm not about to do that).

The incometaxpayment.com site is definitely PIN-based as they say it has to be Star/NYCE/Pulse which are all ATM networks. The only company that I know of that gives a percentage reward on PIN-based transactions is Citi (1 ThankYou point for every $3). I'm not absolutely positive about all of the ones you list, but the Citi AA debit cards definitely only give rewards on signature-based transactions.

I'm not absolutely positive about all of the ones you list, but the Citi AA debit cards definitely only give rewards on signature-based transactions.

The Chase cards also have fine print ruling out PIN-based transactions (in the case of the CO one, from 2/21/07). The Key Bank and BofA products seem to have less fine print on the application info page, and the Key Bank one specifically says 'all purchases' rather than 'eligible purchases' or something like that, so it is probably the best bet.

Still, when a credit card is otherwise the best deal, it doesn't seem worth rushing out to get one of these cards.

...a customer rep said the offer doesn't exist, and because it is not listed on the two websites on which it ought to be listed: http://tax.americanexpress.com/ and https://www.officialpayments.com/so_amex.jsp


I don't understand why cardholders deal with American Express by telephone, there is no accountability. I wrote to American Express to verify that the Starwood Preferred Guest Business card is also eligible for this promotion and they verified that it is, as reported in the American Express section...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7162735&postcount=14

I printed this page for my records...

https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT103/OT103.html

[QUOTE=pgary;7253952]...a customer rep said the offer doesn't exist, and because it is not listed on the two websites on which it ought to be listed: http://tax.americanexpress.com/ and https://www.officialpayments.com/so_amex.jsp
[\QUOTE]

I don't understand why cardholders deal with American Express by telephone, there is no accountability. I wrote to American Express to verify that the Starwood Preferred Guest Business card is also eligible for this promotion and they verified that it is, as reported in the American Express section...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7162735&postcount=14

I printed this page for my records...

https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT103/OT103.html

Mia,
Thanks for doing the leg work on this.
double points here I come!:cool:

I don't understand why cardholders deal with American Express by telephone, there is no accountability. I wrote to American Express to verify that the Starwood Preferred Guest Business card is also eligible for this promotion and they verified that it is, as reported in the American Express section...

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7162735&postcount=14

I printed this page for my records...

https://www.officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT103/OT103.html

There is a point to be made about the non-existence of the SPG offer. If you go to Official Payments and click on the Special Offers and select American Express you get this page (https://www.officialpayments.com/so_amex.jsp?JSESSIONID=FgZDDw3vJWvn6d0!-1824763271!-1014695655) - which does not list a SPG bonus (as of 2/24/07). I've seen the SPG link so I know the offer exists. If you didn't know about the offer, how could you get to it through Official Payments?

This is very strange--

the link on OfficialPayments was there this morning (for Starwood double points) and then suddenly it's dead

Cent customer service rep assures me that it's valid

Then why are they hiding it this year???

The SPG Amex offer is dead, it seems. Just received this email response to my inquiry:

Unfortunately, the Starwood offer is no longer.

Thank you,

Official Payments Corp.

I also emailed Amex about this, and they have "opened an investigation" and will follow up with me by US Mail. Inexplicably, the "Starwood Customer Service unit" is "not set up to correspond by e-mail". I'll post again when I hear more (though I have the feeling it won't be good news).

Then why are they hiding it this year???
Well the offer is normally announced in a mid-March press release...

The SPG Amex offer is dead, it seems. Just received this email response to my inquiry:

The thread below shows the responses several of us have received after emailing Amex-it seems directly contrary to what you received from Official Payments

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=531391&page=4

The Chase United Mileage Plus promotion seems to have changed, but it's confusing (at least to me). You can now get bonus miles for federal taxes, state taxes, and local taxes using the Chase links at http://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united. The federal tax payments go through Link2Gov, but the state and local tax payments go through Official Payments.

The promotion period is now March 1 through May 25, 2007, as listed both at http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html?jumpLink=%2Fmpvsoffers and http://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united.

However, I can't find any mention of the bonus cap at either of those pages. The only cap mentioned there is the earnings cap of the credit card (which would be unlimited for the Platinum Signature Visa).

However, the Winter 2007 United Mileage Plus Update mailer that I just received describes both a different promotion period (March 1 through April 30) and an earnings cap of 5,000.

I suspect that the web sites are more accurate regarding the promotion period. but has the 5,000 bonus miles cap also been lifted?

Time to call, I suspect.

The Chase United Mileage Plus promotion seems to have changed, but it's confusing (at least to me). You can now get bonus miles for federal taxes, state taxes, and local taxes using the Chase links at http://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united. The federal tax payments go through Link2Gov, but the state and local tax payments go through Official Payments.

The promotion period is now March 1 through May 25, 2007, as listed both at http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html?jumpLink=%2Fmpvsoffers and http://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united.

However, I can't find any mention of the bonus cap at either of those pages. The only cap mentioned there is the earnings cap of the credit card (which would be unlimited for the Platinum Signature Visa).

However, the Winter 2007 United Mileage Plus Update mailer that I just received describes both a different promotion period (March 1 through April 30) and an earnings cap of 5,000.

I suspect that the web sites are more accurate regarding the promotion period. but has the 5,000 bonus miles cap also been lifted?

Time to call, I suspect.
Just to be clear, by "earnings cap of 5,000" and "5,000 bonus miles cap," we mean pay $2,500 of taxes with the card and we should get 5K RDM in all (ignoring "convenience fees"), right? Pay $5,000 of taxes and expect 7.5K in RDM. (I think it helps to avoid confusion if we distinguish what amounts to a cap on $ spend (you can exceed if card allows it, but won't see double miles for "excess" over cap) and what is a cap on the double miles earned.

Please tell us what you learn when you do call. I would be very surprised if they have changed the way it was at the start of 2007 and gone back to the way it was in 2006, when there was no cap on how many double miles could be had.

Any word on the UAL cap? And are there any promos anyone has found other than UAL?

Any word on the UAL cap? And are there any promos anyone has found other than UAL?
OK, now I'm really confused. Using the same link I used weeks ago, I come to a webpage that makes no mention of any cap(s) on the double miles offer, and is not too clear about whether federal tax payments get double miles along with state and local tax payments. (Looks like they do, but there is some ambiguity, and the Chase rep wanted to transfer me to MP, which is closed for the night.) Definitely bears further inquiries, especially as 4/15/07 draws closer. No caps would be most welcome news, but I want to be absolutely certain that is the case, since I am not after miles at 2.49 cpm.

Have now spoken to both Chase and MP. While there is nothing on the current "payyourtaxes" webpage about a cap on the double mile offer, there is one in the amount of $2500. Pay more than $2500 and you will only see 1 mile for each $1 of taxes and 2.49 cents "convenience fee." So much for what was a great opportunity in 2006.

2500 per Visa card or 2500 per MP number?

Have now spoken to both Chase and MP. While there is nothing on the current "payyourtaxes" webpage about a cap on the double mile offer, there is one in the amount of $2500. Pay more than $2500 and you will only see 1 mile for each $1 of taxes and 2.49 cents "convenience fee." So much for what was a great opportunity in 2006.

This is just bizarre. While I wouldn't necessarily expect the payyourtaxes page to mention a cap, I would expect the UAL page to say that it was capped. Very very strange. And very frustrating. What would happen if someone read the ad and didn't read the board? I have no doubt they would eventually get the double miles if they pursued it enough, but why put someone through that hell just because of a company's own incompetence in writing their T&Cs. :td:

This is just bizarre. While I wouldn't necessarily expect the payyourtaxes page to mention a cap, I would expect the UAL page to say that it was capped. Very very strange. And very frustrating. What would happen if someone read the ad and didn't read the board? I have no doubt they would eventually get the double miles if they pursued it enough, but why put someone through that hell just because of a company's own incompetence in writing their T&Cs. :td:
I wasn't looking at any UAL page, but rather at a Chase one that regularly "updates," or at least has the current date at the top of the page near the picture of the smiling customer, sometimes a woman, sometimes a man. Whereas back in January, this webpage looked exactly the same, but in the footnotes there was an explicit statement about the cap, there is no mention of a cap now. According to a Chase rep and to an MP rep there is a cap, though.

I agree that someone who paid more than $2.5K in taxes and the 2.49% convenience expecting double miles because the webpage promises double miles and doesn't qualify the offer with a stated or implied cap would have an excellent case if they then denied him/her double miles. Their very strong case should be even stronger if they made a very substantial tax payment last year for which they got double and could say they never saw anything advising that it was a different offer this year on account of a cap.

I myself don't know whether it is a $2500 cap for the entire year (2007), which seems most likely, or it is a $2500 cap for each separate quarter, which it could be given that the offer has not been in continuous effect since the start of the year.

I agree that someone who paid more than $2.5K in taxes and the 2.49% convenience expecting double miles because the webpage promises double miles and doesn't qualify the offer with a stated or implied cap would have an excellent case if they then denied him/her double miles. Their very strong case should be even stronger if they made a very substantial tax payment last year for which they got double and could say they never saw anything advising that it was a different offer this year on account of a cap.

Someone like me - who paid around $40K extra in taxes last year through this method (for 80K miles).

I'd looked very hard at the terms and conditions when I last logged in to chase.com/cards, and I couldn't see anything about a mileage cap.

Someone like me - who paid around $40K extra in taxes last year through this method (for 80K miles).

I'd looked very hard at the terms and conditions when I last logged in to chase.com/cards, and I couldn't see anything about a mileage cap.
Are you going to pay a substantial amount (>>$2.5K) with your card again this year? I think there is real concern that you will not get double miles for any amount >$2.5K (see preceding posts), but if you do go ahead, please tell us what happens. If they give you double miles for every $1 you spend, including those in excess of $2.5K, then more power to you, and I for one will follow.

(Maybe I will pay $3K, risking $12.45 on the "excess" $500, in order to see for myself whether I get double miles on every $1 or not. Unfortunately, it may take more than 3 months to know the outcome by looking at their MP account.)

Are you going to pay a substantial amount (>>$2.5K) with your card again this year?

Not until I verify to my satisfaction that there isn't a mileage cap.

As the posts above indicate, it behooves me to call and find out for myself -- although the fact that they don't indicate this mileage cap on their terms and conditions page is really astounding. Legally, they could be in for trouble if people challenge them on this.

Not until I verify to my satisfaction that there isn't a mileage cap.

As the posts above indicate, it behooves me to call and find out for myself -- although the fact that they don't indicate this mileage cap on their terms and conditions page is really astounding. Legally, they could be in for trouble if people challenge them on this.
Right, they could be in for trouble if people challenge them on this, but who among us wants to undertake the risk and cost that would entail? Would be glad to see it happen, and maybe someone will do it, but it won't be me. (Again, please do share with us whatever you may learn. And I think I will go just a bit past $2.5K to see what happens, that is whether the double miles cuts off at $2.5K or not.)

Folks,

I need to file a paper return with California due to a home sale that disqualifies me for e-filing. What's the best way to charge my taxes due to my credit card in this situation?

TurboTax is saying I need to pay by check. Can I somehow pay via CC and include a voucher that California FTB can cross reference to verify I paid?

Would hate to miss the double miles!

Just make the on-line payment and Franchise Tax will automatically have it as a payment on your account.
There are 3 payment options for state tax at Official Payments:
1)Individual Tax return
2)Extention
3)Estimate
Just make sure you do NOT designate the payment an estimate (or they will credit it to 2007 instead of 2006) - and you will be fine!

Folks,

I need to file a paper return with California due to a home sale that disqualifies me for e-filing. What's the best way to charge my taxes due to my credit card in this situation?

TurboTax is saying I need to pay by check. Can I somehow pay via CC and include a voucher that California FTB can cross reference to verify I paid?

Would hate to miss the double miles!
Are you go to pay >$2500 with a UA Visa? If so, be advised that you may not get double miles for that which goes over $2500. (see previous posts in this thread).

I spoke with Chase yesterday and they assured me that there was NO mileage cap for the double tax miles. According to United, the cap would be the miles cap for your card (ie 60,000 for a signature card, etc...) for the CHARGES. The cap on the card only referrs to miles earned for charges (not bonus miles), so I assume that theoretically, you could charge up to your 60,000 CARD cap (and still get bonus miles on top of the 60,000 for things like double tax payments, adding a cardmember, referring a card member, paperless statements, etc...)

I spoke with Chase yesterday and they assured me that there was NO mileage cap for the double tax miles. According to United, the cap would be the miles cap for your card (ie 60,000 for a signature card, etc...) for the CHARGES. The cap on the card only referrs to miles earned for charges (not bonus miles), so I assume that theoretically, you could charge up to your 60,000 CARD cap (and still get bonus miles on top of the 60,000 for things like double tax payments, adding a cardmember, referring a card member, paperless statements, etc...)
Thanks for relating this. I am still a bit hesitant because: 1) while there was no cap in 2006, that Chase webpage that went up in January and stayed up long enough to cover any first quarter payments was unequivocally clear that there was a $2500 cap; and 2) when mention of the $2500 cap was gone from that webpage a few weeks ago, I called Chase and was directed to MP, who told me there was a cap. But maybe, though I never expected it, MP and/or Chase have dropped the cap idea (except for whatever spending limit one's card may carry), and if so, I look forward to paying all my taxes this way.

If we do pay sums >$2500, what do we do to protect ourselves against being denied double miles later, e.g., take "snapshots" of the relevant UA and Chase webpages? (How does one do that?) Email Chase looking for a firm answer?

Yes, take screenshots. This free utility can help: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/hoversnap.html

Also email Chase so you have something more than a verbal answer. I say this because last year Chase mailed me a glossy ad detailing double miles on some purchases, and it had my name and last 4 digits of the card number printed on it. I completed all of the terms and they said no such promotion existed when I asked for my missing miles. I called several times and only got the miles after finally sending a copy of the junk mail I still had in a pile. They acted like I was lying about the solicitation I received.

does anyone have the link for double SPG points for Fed Income Tax payments? is it still a $5k limit like last yr?

does anyone have the link for double SPG points for Fed Income Tax payments? is it still a $5k limit like last yr?

Did you read this thread? It doesn't seem to exist this year. Some claim to have "copies of emails and screen shots" but all official notifications that I've seen state it doesn't exist, and it's not on any of the usual website.

Did you read this thread? It doesn't seem to exist this year. Some claim to have "copies of emails and screen shots" but all official notifications that I've seen state it doesn't exist, and it's not on any of the usual website.

i kept up to pace with pgary's website when he was the first i believe to post that SPG wasn't giving out double miles, but then again I had read otherwise, hence my asking. Thanks for clarifying.

I guess its "official" there ain't one this yr.

- you can earn 100K bonus DL miles with Platinum DL Amex

pay $100K + $2490 fee

$2490 for 200K miles (1.2 cents per mile)

you could redeem that for 2 SQ F JFK-FRA for example (like paying $1245 per ticket)



Link?


FWIW, pgary's site doesnt show this and his SPG Amex double point promo link is down.

OK, so I did e-mail Chase, just to make sure that their was no 2,500 mile cap to Bonus miles, and then they send me this reply... It's the first I've ever seen of 5,000 limit!!!

My E-mail to Chase:
Re: "Double miles for tax payments paid on United Mileage Plus cards"...
Is there a 2500 mileage cap (as there was in January) for the new double tax promotion regarding tax payments made March 1 - May 25?

Their Reply:
Dear Pat:
Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding your Mileage
Plus credit card account.

The March 1, 2007 through May 25, 2007 Double Miles for
Tax payments promotion offers double miles on tax payments
to a maximum of 5,000 bonus miles. To receive bonus miles
for making your Federal Income Tax or Quarterly Estimated
Tax payments, please call 877-829-2954 or visit
www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united. To receive bonus miles
for your State Income Tax or Property Tax payments, please
contact 1-800-2PAY-TAX (1-800-272-9829) or visit
www.officialpayments.com/United. Earned bonus miles will
appear on your account six to eight weeks after the last
day of this promotion.

If you have any further questions, please reply using the
Secure Message Center.

Thank you,

Andrea Austin
E-mail Customer Service Representative

1-800-436-7927

Account is owned by Chase Bank USA, N.A. and may be
serviced by its affiliates.

(Over the phone they told me there was NO cap. I'l going to send a message through my business account link and see what they reply a second time.)

Re: SPG AmExp double points...
I called both SPG and AmExp and they both claim ignorance that there ever was a double points offer! My friend does have a screen shot, but we decided that it's too much of a hassle, Although they would probably give it to you after many e-mails, letters, etc....

PatMike, unbelievable! I still see nothing there about any cap on bonus miles. If you hear anything further, please let us know. I do think anyone interested in the offer should take a snapshot of the webpage and all related ones.

"For consumers who would rather have a free hotel room, American Express said holders of the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card can earn double Starpoints, up to a maximum of 5,000 bonus points, between March 15 and April 15, when they pay federal income taxes with the card. The points can be redeemed for free nights at Starwood Hotels & Resorts."


http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-02-27-taxes_x.htm

deleted

"For consumers who would rather have a free hotel room, American Express said holders of the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card can earn double Starpoints, up to a maximum of 5,000 bonus points, between March 15 and April 15, when they pay federal income taxes with the card. The points can be redeemed for free nights at Starwood Hotels & Resorts."


http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-02-27-taxes_x.htm

The USA Today link is dated 2/27/2004.

The USA Today link is dated 2/27/2004.

oops... do u have the DL Amex offer LINK??

oops... do u have the DL Amex offer LINK??

https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/cda/dynamic.jsp?name=DeltaCardsSpecialOffers_List&type=intBenefitList

Other than United and Jet blue, I haven't sen any other double miles/points offers for taxes (other than the mysteriously gone SPG Amex)

PatMike, unbelievable! I still see nothing there about any cap on bonus miles. If you hear anything further, please let us know. I do think anyone interested in the offer should take a snapshot of the webpage and all related ones.

Itsme, You're gonna love this!!!
I sent the same exact message as above (cut and pasted it) to Chase's secure message center from a different United credit card account and got this message...


Date: 03-26-2007 14:31:11
From: Credit Card Support
Subject: Re: Other/Inquiry Not Listed
Message:
Dear Michael:

Under the March 1, 2007 through May 25, 2007 Tax promotion
there is not limitation on the miles you can earn.

If you have any further questions, please reply using the
Secure Message Center.

Thank you,

Leslee Moore
E-mail Customer Service Representative

1-800-537-7783

Account is owned by Chase Bank USA, N.A. and may be
serviced by its affiliates.


************************************************** ********
**********
DO YOU KNOW AT CHASE ONLINE YOU CAN ....
- Gain instant access to view and download your credit
card information.
- See and pay your bill online
- Transfer balances or order checks
- Change your address and much more....

************************************************** ********
**********

- you can earn 100K bonus DL miles with Platinum DL Amex

pay $100K + $2490 fee

$2490 for 200K miles (1.2 cents per mile)

you could redeem that for 2 SQ F JFK-FRA for example (like paying $1245 per ticket)

- you can pay the fee with membership rewards (not sure if you can do this and pay taxes with another card though..)

- you can get a $200 tax credit with a Biz Amex

So is the above true or not?

Given that the above poster has provided numerous postings with misinformation , I suspect this is another one... or can you confirm your posting??

https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/cda/dynamic.jsp?name=DeltaCardsSpecialOffers_List&type=intBenefitList

Other than United and Jet blue, I haven't sen any other double miles/points offers for taxes (other than the mysteriously gone SPG Amex)

So it's just United and JetBlue at double miles? I didn't see any reference in that link to Delta being double miles.

I've always done the Starwood deal, because I could justify paying $125 for 10,000 points. United's ff program is much better than average on availability (see the relevant threads, of the legacies, only AA and UA have reasonable availability these days). That said, I can't really say their miles are worth more than a penny each. I'd probably be willing to buy 10,000 miles for $75. So it's better to keep the cold hard (albeit more boring) cash.

Tax day (4/17/07 thanks to DC's Emancipation Day falling on Monday, 4/16) is fast approaching, so I tried again today to get clear whether or not there is a cap on the "double miles" offer with the MP Platinum Visa. After a conversation with a Chase rep, I am sufficiently confident to go ahead and make large payments with the expectation of "double miles," but I wouldn't say there is 100+% certainty to it.

First, one ought to go to the Chase website itself <www.chase.com> to see what is there. I did that, logging-on to my accounts, and came to <https://resources.chase.com/MyAccounts.aspx>. Once there, I clicked on a box at the side of the page announcing an offer of 500 miles for registering to make online payments, which brought up another screen with a list of various offers for MP bonus miles, including the one for tax payments. When I clicked on "terms and conditions," up came the following:

2 Bonus miles are earned for personal federal income tax or quarterly estimated federal tax payments made with your United Mileage Plus credit card from March 1, 2007 through April 30, 2007. To receive your bonus miles, you must make your payment by either calling 1-877-829-2954 or visit www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united. The maximum reward accumulation during this promotion period is: 5,000 bonus miles for World, Signature, Gold Class Signature, Platinum Class Signature, and Platinum Business products; 2,500 bonus miles for Rewards and College products. Reward program may be subject to your earnings cap (if applicable). Please see Reward Rules and Regulations for details. During this promotion period, your United Mileage Plus credit card account must not be delinquent in order to receive bonus miles at the time the miles are to be posted. The bonus miles will be reflected on your monthly credit card statement approximately 6 - 8 weeks from the end of the month in which the transaction posts to your credit card statement. Tax payments made with a credit card will be subject to a service fee imposed by the Service Provider Link2Gov. This service fee is typically 2.49% but may vary depending on the type and the amount of taxes paid with the card. For more information about this service, please visit www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united.(boldface added)

That explicit statement that there was a cap appeared to be the definitive answer, a big "NO" for me. I called Chase, though, and the rep assured me that notwithstanding the above, which I read to him, there was no cap during this period of time?! Great, huh, website explicitly says there is one, but rep says there isn't. He said he would annotate my record so it would be documented that we had this conversation and that he had told me no cap, and he read back to me the note he made. So, still somewhat unsettling to see there in print (nothing about cap on the "chasepayyourtaxes" webpage, though?!?!) the cap while rep saying to disregard it, but I will call back in a day or two and if another rep reads back to me what is supposedly annotated now, I will go ahead with a payment when my accountant tells me how much the damage is. (I think I will also send an email to Chase requesting confirmation of the "no cap" understanding their rep gave me this morning.)

This for me is the penultimate "answer." The ultimate one will be in 3 to 4 months when I see if double miles have credited to my MP account. (It is an annoyance that the miles take so long to credity, but then part of the beauty of the promo is that you can charge the tax payment to the card at the very last minute, then not have to pay the credit card balance for as much as 7+ weeks later.)

Does this cover it for the Chase offer?

The AARP Tax-Aide program has nearly 32,000 volunteers staffing 8,500 sites across the United States. These IRS certified volunteers provide free tax counseling and preparation services to millions of low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those ages 60 and older.


http://www.aarp.org/money/taxaide/taxpreparation/a2004-01-22-findtheaarp.html

http://www.aarp.org/money/taxaide/taxpreparation/a2004-01-22-findtheaarp.html
Welcome to Flyertalk, adrift. Of what relevance is it to this thread about "double miles on income tax payment" that there are volunteers out there to help those over 60 with preparation of their taxes? I doubt very much that those volunteers are prepared to advise on this particular subject.

Crap...did I miss a window on SPG Double Points for taxes? I seem to recall someone here posting about it in January. Now I'll I'm seeing is regular points.

IMHO, double SPG or double HH would be the only way I'd use a credit card for taxes. I can usually get more than 1.25 cents/mile when I redeem, but I certainly don't want to pay 1.25 cents per mile in 2007 dollars for a shaky promise of a free flight in 2009 or 2010, which is approximately when I will be redeeming the miles I'm earning today - unless I go off on a 1.2 million mile binge. :)

So, if there are no hotel promos, it looks like I'll pay my taxes the old fashioned way: snail-mailing a paper check on the night of April 17th.

Crap...did I miss a window on SPG Double Points for taxes? I seem to recall someone here posting about it in January. Now I'll I'm seeing is regular points.

There were a couple of links posted -- including one earlier in this very thread (see post 24), but on 26 Feb the link suddenly died and now no one seems to be find such an offer out there.

The link was good; I tried it and noted it for future reference when I did my taxes. Like a fool, I didn't take a screen shot, so now that I am finally doing my taxes I don't know whether they will accept my recollection that it indeed *was* there.

Anyone have an update as to whether it is being honored or not?

(See also the discussion on this thread (http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=644127&page=2) to the same effect, and also toward the end of this other thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=531391).)

Seems like Chase or United have removed the cap, can't see it anywhere in the terms and conditions neither on chase.com nor on united.com anymore.

http://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/index3.cfm?sourceID=insud1&offerID=86249

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,1261,00.html?navSource=mppromotions&linkTitle=8creditcards#Earn%20double%20miles%20for %20paying%20your%20taxes

I just called United Mileage Plus myself but am still unclear on the terms.

The CSR had no record of promotion code MPF257, which is what the United web site currently lists. That promotion is for March 1 through May 25, 2007; is good for federal income tax, state income tax, and local property taxes; and doesn't list a bonus cap.

What she *could* find was a promotion listed for January 1 through December 31, good for federal income tax and state income tax, and had a 2500 miles cap for Gold and 5000 miles cap for Platinum Signature.

I described what was on the current web site, and she went off to look at it. But the best advice she had was to print out the terms on the web site and use it later if there was a problem with the full bonus posting.

Given all of this uncertainty, the targeted Amex MR double-points offer (max 10K bonus, if I recall properly) is looking better.

I just called United Mileage Plus myself but am still unclear on the terms.

The CSR had no record of promotion code MPF257, which is what the United web site currently lists. That promotion is for March 1 through May 25, 2007; is good for federal income tax, state income tax, and local property taxes; and doesn't list a bonus cap.

What she *could* find was a promotion listed for January 1 through December 31, good for federal income tax and state income tax, and had a 2500 miles cap for Gold and 5000 miles cap for Platinum Signature.

I described what was on the current web site, and she went off to look at it. But the best advice she had was to print out the terms on the web site and use it later if there was a problem with the full bonus posting.

Given all of this uncertainty, the targeted Amex MR double-points offer (max 10K bonus, if I recall properly) is looking better.


The cap is probably a good idea for Chase. What's to prevent someone from say, not including all deductions, paying more than they owe, then filing an amended return within 3 years and getting a refund check from uncle sam. Sure they lose the service fee, but some crazy mileage folks might just go for it.

The cap is probably a good idea for Chase. What's to prevent someone from say, not including all deductions, paying more than they owe, then filing an amended return within 3 years and getting a refund check from uncle sam. Sure they lose the service fee, but some crazy mileage folks might just go for it.
So what from Chase's standpoint? I fail to see how the possibility of a refund from the IRS changes the deal from Chase's standpoint.

What continues to amaze me is the uncertainty with respect to cap vs no cap at present. Am I alone in thinking it truly extraordinary that Chase and MP have not made the terms explicitly and unequivocally clear? After my own conversations with Chase reps, and the assurance that the rep was annotating my record to indicate that I had been told there was no cap at this time, I am satisfied to go ahead with the expectation it will be miles for me at <1.25 cpm, that is "double miles." I am waiting only for my accountant to tell me how much I must pay.

The cap is probably a good idea for Chase. What's to prevent someone from say, not including all deductions, paying more than they owe, then filing an amended return within 3 years and getting a refund check from uncle sam. Sure they lose the service fee, but some crazy mileage folks might just go for it.

Why would Chase care? They'll collect the revenue from the charge no matter what. The middleman (the Official Payments company) collects his juice, too. Any later refund would be between the IRS and the taxpayer.

The only one where such a shenanigan would even approach making sense was double Starpoints. But that one was capped.

Unless they got up into the 3x or 4x miles category, there's no real reason to cap. The only one who can get hosed by overpaying is the taxpayer.

Why would Chase care? They'll collect the revenue from the charge no matter what. The middleman (the Official Payments company) collects his juice, too. Any later refund would be between the IRS and the taxpayer.

The only one where such a shenanigan would even approach making sense was double Starpoints. But that one was capped.

Unless they got up into the 3x or 4x miles category, there's no real reason to cap. The only one who can get hosed by overpaying is the taxpayer.
Is there a double Starpoints with the AmEx card now in effect? Starpoints are worth less than they were at the beginning of this year, but 1.25 cents each is still a reasonable buying opportunity.

As far as I can tell, the SPG Amex offer has been discontinued for this year unfortunately. Both Official Payments and Amex have confirmed this to me (the former with an email, the latter with a hardcopy letter).

After finding notice at offical payments, on 2/18/07 I printed the notice saying that there would be double starpoints for the first $5000 spent on personal federal tax payments. The dates are from 2/15/07-through 4/17/07/ This was at https://www/officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT103?OT103.html
I have not found it anyway else and if you can't find it I will be happy to fax a copy of this for your records in case the points don't show up - that is anywhere in the US. It is so bizarre that it is hard to find this.
I did my last my 2006 taxes, and with the remaining amount, did my estimate for 2007. I printed it because I don't trust that they will keep their word. Clearly if the notice has disappeared, it might just be a problems. It says that points will post 8-10 weeks after 4/17/07

...and if you can't find it I will be happy to fax a copy of this for your records in case the points don't show up - that is anywhere in the US...
I can also email a scan to anyone who needs it. However after AMEX told me this was a mistake, I did not take the offer figuring it will be a fight to get the *points.

I can also email a scan to anyone who needs it. However after AMEX told me this was a mistake, I did not take the offer figuring it will be a fight to get the *points.

Wise move, I think. Fighting with Amex is worse than fighting with the IRS. Both offer a similar level of customer service.

After finding notice at offical payments, on 2/18/07 I printed the notice saying that there would be double starpoints for the first $5000 spent on personal federal tax payments. The dates are from 2/15/07-through 4/17/07/ This was at https://www/officialpayments.com/promotions/so/amex/OT103?OT103.html
I have not found it anyway else and if you can't find it I will be happy to fax a copy of this for your records in case the points don't show up - that is anywhere in the US. It is so bizarre that it is hard to find this.
I did my last my 2006 taxes, and with the remaining amount, did my estimate for 2007. I printed it because I don't trust that they will keep their word. Clearly if the notice has disappeared, it might just be a problems. It says that points will post 8-10 weeks after 4/17/07
OK, just to be clear, we are talking about double Starpoints for tax payments with the SPG AmEx card. (I think it confusing at times that this long thread has gone back and forth about double miles on UA with the Visa card to pay taxes, double miles on DL with the DL AmEx, and double points with the SPG AmEx, each with their own distinctions.)

When did you make those 2006 and 2007 payments, back on 2/18/07, when that link was a good one? (It is dead now.) I take it you have seen no points to your account yet, though by now you probably paid AmEx the amount charged for taxes and the "convenience fee."

I too think there is a good chance of a hassle later. Imputing a value of no more than 2 cents per point, that would mean a "gain" of .75 cents per point (2.0 - 1.25 convenience fee expense for each point) x 10,000 max, so upside of $75. Though not as rich as last year, that is pre-devaluation of SPG points, I would do it if a sure thing; now, with the considerable uncertainty surrounding it, wouldn't.

I didn't ask and I will fight for these bonus points if they don't give them to me. If you have documentation, I think that they will have a hard time not honoring it.

I made my final payment for 2006 on 2/18/07. I just made my estimated payment for 2007. Even though the link is NOW dead, I printed out the page so I have proof that it was an offer - the offer was for Starpoints with the AMEX card - double up to $5000 to be posted 8-10 weeks AFTER April 17th, 2007. So I will not see any points before to see if they will do this on their own, or if I will have to fax them the page I have proving the offer.

I made my final payment for 2006 on 2/18/07. I just made my estimated payment for 2007. Even though the link is NOW dead, I printed out the page so I have proof that it was an offer - the offer was for Starpoints with the AMEX card - double up to $5000 to be posted 8-10 weeks AFTER April 17th, 2007. So I will not see any points before to see if they will do this on their own, or if I will have to fax them the page I have proving the offer.
I'm not clear as to what you have done so far in 2007. Have you charged taxes to your SPG AmEx twice in 2007, that is back on 2/18/07 and then more recently, perhaps within the past few days? If so, have you exceeded $5K between the two payments, or are you $5K or less between them? I ask because unlike the UA Visa double miles offer, which gives one the opportunity to make tax payments several times in the course of a year, though possibly only during proscribed periods, the SPG AmEx only offers double points once a year around 4/15. (Again, let's not confuse the terms of one offer with those of another, which is easy enough to do, since in the course of this long thread there has been discussion of tax payments with 3 different cards, and the websites of both Chase (UA Visa) and SPG AmEx have been so confusing, if not self-contradicting.)

My focus at the moment is on the UA Visa opportunity and how I can avail myself to the max possible on that one. I have huge tax liabilities to settle at this time, the total amount approximately 5X my substantial credit card limit, and I am trying to arrange as large a payment with the card as I can. If I could, I would pay everything with the card. Unthinkingly, though, while waiting for my accountant to give me an exact number, it is crunch time and I may not be able to as much with the card as I would like. Hopefully, I can charge to the limit now, then pay down the balance, and charge to the limit again, meaning a total payment of 2X. Online I am not able to pay more than the current balance on the card, so will have to see on Monday, when I can wire from my bank, whether Chase will accept payment in excess of the current balance so I can "prepay," then charge a greater amount than my card limit.

I don't know that the opportunity to buy UA miles at ~1.2 cpm ("double miles" portion at 2.49/2 and miles for the convenience fee at 1 mile/$1) is the greatest deal that ever came down the pike. If one can use the miles for more costly travel than in economy on domestic flights, though, it is a pretty good deal. With the UA Platinum Visa there is the added bonus of 5K of EQM for a spend of >$35K in a calendar year, which I already got for 2007 by paying taxes with the card at the very end of 2006 and seeing it post at the very beginning of 2007. Also, there is the possibility of up to 8 weeks of float between when charges the taxes and when they must pay the credit card company, which lowers the effective cpm still more, depending on what is earning on their money while they have it in their hands. (I wonder how statement dates are set, whether one can somehow arrange to have their statement cut just before the 15th of the month rather than shortly thereafter. Since my statement cuts on the 24th and payment is due no later than the 18th of the following month, I can get more than a 24-25 day float.)

I made a payment using my AMEX starpoints card on 2/18/07 when I filed my taxes for 2006 (needed to do it early because of application for financial aid for my daughter's college.). I then subtracted that amount from $5K, and that is what I sent in for my estimated taxes for 2007. So it is exactly 5000 bonus points that I should get - no more, no less.
I don't know about any other card.

On double starwood points I am trying it to the max.
I have three starwood AE accounts, the offer says (said) limit 5,000 per
account, I expect a fight but we will see. I too have a print out of the offer
that I did back in Feb. that says the offer is good until 4-17-07.
I paid my taxes with the cards last Thursday for $15,000 and reluctantly
mailed a check for the balance.

So you have 3 completely different AMEX starpoints accounts - not 3 different cards on the same master account? I would fight one card at a time if you need to fight it.

On double starwood points I am trying it to the max.
I have three starwood AE accounts, the offer says (said) limit 5,000 per
account, I expect a fight but we will see. I too have a print out of the offer
that I did back in Feb. that says the offer is good until 4-17-07.
I paid my taxes with the cards last Thursday for $15,000 and reluctantly
mailed a check for the balance.
Out of curiosity, let me ask if you impute a value to Starwood points? If so, how much do you think they are worth to you in cpp? As I said earlier, since the huge devaluation which took place 2/1/07, I'm not interested in accumulating Starwood points unless they are to be had at less than 2 cpm. I see no reason to collect them, moreover to pay a "convenience fee" which means cash out of pocket solely to gain points, unless I can use them later for a fairly substantial discount (maybe 33%) from paying the room rate in $s.
You are going after Starwood points so determinedly with 3 separate cards that I must wonder how much they are worth to you and how you get that much value out of them. What opportunities are there to earn points with additional cards that make it worthwhile for you to pay the annual fees ($60?) on each of those extra cards.

I hope you get the double points you are after, and I think you are entitled to them. But for me there is too much uncertainty about the double miles offer, that is whether it is out there, and the value to be gained if successful insufficient to set up a fight with AmEx over it if they deny the double miles. And I would be really chagrined to wind up paying 2.49 cpp if in the end they stiffed me with this one.

I'm a bit surprised at the high level of attention getting miles for tax payment is generating.

There is a nearly 3% fee for this, so if you have a $1,000 tax bill even at double miles, that's 2,000 united miles for $30 and that doesn't count the credit card interest that immediately starts. further the miles on airlines i dont believe are eqm.

Yes it's significantly less than united would charge to purchase the miles ($94.13) directly but i'd prefer to get miles by eating out than this

There is a nearly 3% fee for this...and that doesn't count the credit card interest that immediately starts.

The fee is exactly 2.49%, and there is no interest if the card is paid in full every month. If the card is not paid in full each and every month the cardholder would be wise to look for a card with a very low interest rate and forget about points or miles for the timebeing.

For 3000 or 4000 points I have been able to stay at a Sheraton. So spending $90 for 7000 points is defintely worth it. No other point program gives so much value enabling hotel stays. When I accumulated a lot of starpoints and I was aiming for AA lifetime platinum, I bought us savings bonds, transferred the points which accomplished the task. Once accomplished, I only use points for hotel stays. Recently needed a hotel near Boston that allowed dogs at a reasonable price and was able to stay at the Needham for 7000 points. Even if they had the $99 special they have e-mailed me about, after taxes, it would have been $120 so still at $87.15 to charge $3500 in taxes. I wish that there were other ways to get starpoints, but the ways are limited and the hotel stays are a really good deal.

Yes I have 3 seperate accounts, two are new this year and are free
until the renewal which will be in August and December. Not sure yet
if I will keep them, I may have my husband apply in his name for the 10,000
points (which you can only do once) and the free year. I find starwoods
points still a very good value when used carefully, always do the "redeem
4 nights, get a 5th night free" and so on. I also transfer them to AA for
the 5,000 mile bonus. I should enough points for lifetime gold with AA in
another year or so. I had a large tax bill this year and I toyed with the idea
of opening 3 accounts in my husbands name as well but with the uncertainty
of the double points program I didn't bother.

U believe that with the hard copy (proof) of the offer that we will get it in the end so I have confidence.

For 3000 or 4000 points I have been able to stay at a Sheraton. So spending $90 for 7000 points is defintely worth it. No other point program gives so much value enabling hotel stays. When I accumulated a lot of starpoints and I was aiming for AA lifetime platinum, I bought us savings bonds, transferred the points which accomplished the task. Once accomplished, I only use points for hotel stays. Recently needed a hotel near Boston that allowed dogs at a reasonable price and was able to stay at the Needham for 7000 points. Even if they had the $99 special they have e-mailed me about, after taxes, it would have been $120 so still at $87.15 to charge $3500 in taxes. I wish that there were other ways to get starpoints, but the ways are limited and the hotel stays are a really good deal.
If you are using 7000 points to get a room that would have cost you $120, then aren't you getting a value of 1.70 cpp, so a little less than a 30% discount on the 1.245 cpp you are spending. (I'm doing this quickly in my head, so not taking into account the points you get for $s on the "convenience fee," which brings the cost closer to 1.2. There is also the float on your money until you pay the credit card bill, but the float works more against you than for you because it will be a much longer time until almost August when you will see the points and be able to use them.) And you are not really getting 1.70 cpm on your points when using 7000 of them rather than pay $120, since if you paid $120 for the room you might earn close to 500 points and get credit for a night's stay toward elite status. (I would think of it as the 7000 points out of your account + 480 foregone points + value of a night's stay toward elite status, so maybe 1.6 cpp effective value toward a stay.)

Not trying to be a party pooper here, just trying to be realistic about the value of points and miles, especially when "buying" them directly, as with the double miles/points for tax payments with credit card deals.

It seems there may be another "hidden" qualification on the Chase double mile offer for federal tax payments. Yesterday, I made a very large tax payment with my own Platinum Visa and another one with my wife's Platinum Visa. Today when I found out that Chase would let me go over my credit limit, I tried to make another payment with the card, but was unable to do so. I thought maybe they were rejecting my payment because I was trying to go to much over my limit, but according to the error message only 2 payments can be made under the same SSN in the course of a year?! Anyone ever hear/read about that limit beforfe? Their phone keeps ringing busy, so I can't find out if that means no quarterly payments by me during the balance of 2007.

You are making my head spin. If I didn't have points, I would have to pay at least $120 for a room in Boston. I don't travel enough except these past trips looking at colleges for my daughter. Most of the hotels have cost me 3000 or 4000 points, but that doesn't exist in Boston unless I wanted to stay at the airport which I didn't. So I just wanted to save money. Period. Sometimes that level of calculation is beyond me. I saved money. Most of the time I save more money. My hotels in Springfield, MA, Bangor, ME, and Providence, RI were all 3000 or 4000 points. I didn't want to spend 7K but I had no choice for Boston so that shouldn't be the total measure, but even in that case, I saved some money. One doesn't always get the best deal every time, but sometimes you just have to settle. And I'm not sorry. My other option. Don't spend 7000 points (which might have actually cost more than $120 - I only used that number because I got an e-mail about a "special" they were having.) and pay out of pocket. At the time, it probably cost more. They allow dogs without extra charge, and they didn't charge for parking. It all worked out.

In a vacuum I don't believe earning the points with a 2.49% fee is a good value, even with double points. But I am going to pay with the MP Visa, then do a zero-dollar fee/zero percent interest for 12 months balance transfer to another credit card ($12K), while the $12k in cash I was going to use to pay the taxes sits in a 4.5% interest savings account. After one year, I will have earned $540 in interest, with a cost of about $300 in tax fees. Even after backing out forgeone interest in the the CC balance principal diminishment (i.e. min. payment due on the 12K CC balance each month), and, the 30% tax rate on the interest earned, I still not only come out ahead slightly financially, but also earn the 24K miles.

Kind of a hassle but worth it for a potential free ticket to Canada or Alaska.

In a vacuum I don't believe earning the points with a 2.49% fee is a good value, even with double points. But I am going to pay with the MP Visa, then do a zero-dollar fee/zero percent interest for 12 months balance transfer to another credit card ($12K), while the $12k in cash I was going to use to pay the taxes sits in a 4.5% interest savings account. After one year, I will have earned $540 in interest, with a cost of about $300 in tax fees. Even after backing out forgeone interest in the the CC balance principal diminishment (i.e. min. payment due on the 12K CC balance each month), and, the 30% tax rate on the interest earned, I still not only come out ahead slightly financially, but also earn the 24K miles.

Kind of a hassle but worth it for a potential free ticket to Canada or Alaska.
Which credit card will let you transfer that balance from MP Visa without fees and no interest for a full year?

About the limit of 2 payments of federal taxes through Link2Gov in a year, turns out that only pertains to prior year taxes. So with a taxes due for the previous year greatly in excess of card limit, you can charge up to the limit on your card once, pay off the balance and go back to charge up to your limit a second time, but couldn't repeat the cycle a third time. Too late for me now to pay all my taxes with the credit card, but if they repeat next year, which I earnestly hope they will, then I will be prepared. (To make payments substantially in excess of credit card limit, "pre-pay" credit card so as to have a positive balance in the account which will allow one to go past limit.) The 2 payment limit apparently does not apply to estimated taxes, so could make those throughout the year, if the offer will be good throughout the year.

Which credit card will let you transfer that balance from MP Visa without fees and no interest for a full year?AMEX Blue has an offer now with up to 15 months at 0% and no transfer fee. Capital One charges no fee, but is not 0% right now (at least for me).

I just called Chase regarding the Mileage Plus Visa double-miles promotion.

Here's what the CSR told me:


There's a bonus cap of 10,000 miles (for me, with a Platinum Signature Visa) that applies to the current promotion period (March 1 through May 25). This is separate from any other promotion periods (e.g., the promotion that covered January).
The bonus cap is the total number of bonus miles. So if I charge $10,000 in taxes, I would get 20K total miles (10K normal + 10K bonus). Charging $20,000 in taxes would net 30K total miles (20K normal + 10K bonus).

This does sound different from what itsme was told. Given what I was told, I wouldn't expect to get double miles for any tax charges over $10K for this promotion period.

is it really worth paying the 2.5% service fee to pay taxes to earn miles?

is there anyway to earn miles paying your mortgage? i did see western union offers a service but it basically is a 4% service fee. i guess they have to pay a merchant fee for accepting the credit card.

I just called Chase regarding the Mileage Plus Visa double-miles promotion.

Here's what the CSR told me:


There's a bonus cap of 10,000 miles (for me, with a Platinum Signature Visa) that applies to the current promotion period (March 1 through May 25). This is separate from any other promotion periods (e.g., the promotion that covered January).
The bonus cap is the total number of bonus miles. So if I charge $10,000 in taxes, I would get 20K total miles (10K normal + 10K bonus). Charging $20,000 in taxes would net 30K total miles (20K normal + 10K bonus).

This does sound different from what itsme was told. Given what I was told, I wouldn't expect to get double miles for any tax charges over $10K for this promotion period.
Are you either paying $140/year for the credit card you have (Platinum Signature Visa) or getting it as a 1K with no annual fee? That is the sort of card I have, and my understanding is that there is no cap on the number of double miles for paying taxes with it. I don't know what limits there may be on other MP Visa cards, e.g., Gold, which may limit the number of miles that can be earned with the card in a year.

Also, are you sure that you and the Chase rep mean the same thing by "total number of bonus miles"? Did they tell you that you could pay $10K in taxes and wind up with 20K of miles? Again, I am not sure of the answer, but would want to be certain that that was indeed what they meant, not that one could pay $5K in taxes and get a total of 10K bonus miles.

Are you either paying $140/year for the credit card you have (Platinum Signature Visa) or getting it as a 1K with no annual fee? That is the sort of card I have, and my understanding is that there is no cap on the number of double miles for paying taxes with it. I don't know what limits there may be on other MP Visa cards, e.g., Gold, which may limit the number of miles that can be earned with the card in a year.

I have the $140/year Platinum Signature Visa card. My impression was that the lower-tier cards had an even smaller bonus cap (5K).

Also, are you sure that you and the Chase rep mean the same thing by "total number of bonus miles"? Did they tell you that you could pay $10K in taxes and wind up with 20K of miles? Again, I am not sure of the answer, but would want to be certain that that was indeed what they meant, not that one could pay $5K in taxes and get a total of 10K bonus miles.

I discussed this point in great detail with the Chase rep. At first, she thought that it was $10K in total, such that charging $10K would only net 10K miles. That didn't make much sense to me, as that would be essentially zero bonus miles -- just the standard one mile per dollar. She went offline to clarify the terms, then came back with the clear statement that charging $10K would net 20K miles (10K for the standard one mile/dollar plus 10K bonus miles) and that charging $20K would net 30K miles (20K for the standard one mile/dollar plus 10K bonus miles).

So there's no cap on the number of miles earned (per my Platinum Signature card terms), but there's a 10K mile bonus cap.

It's not at all clear to me that I'm getting accurate information here. But based on what I've heard, I wouldn't expect any more than 10K bonus miles.

I have the $140/year Platinum Signature Visa card. My impression was that the lower-tier cards had an even smaller bonus cap (5K).



I discussed this point in great detail with the Chase rep. At first, she thought that it was $10K in total, such that charging $10K would only net 10K miles. That didn't make much sense to me, as that would be essentially zero bonus miles -- just the standard one mile per dollar. She went offline to clarify the terms, then came back with the clear statement that charging $10K would net 20K miles (10K for the standard one mile/dollar plus 10K bonus miles) and that charging $20K would net 30K miles (20K for the standard one mile/dollar plus 10K bonus miles).

So there's no cap on the number of miles earned (per my Platinum Signature card terms), but there's a 10K mile bonus cap.

It's not at all clear to me that I'm getting accurate information here. But based on what I've heard, I wouldn't expect any more than 10K bonus miles.
If the information you were given is correct, then I have paid a very substantial sum more than I wanted to, because I charged many times $10K and would have done still more but for trouble transfering funds. Around the end of July/beginning of August, when double miles are to post to our MP accounts, I suppose we will know. Let's talk again at that time.

Chase has done an incredibly bad job with this promo. How is it that we can be sure of the terms, including presence or absence of caps, based on our reading of what is on the website?! What is there changed along the way, and reps continue to give distinctly different answers to those who call to get it straight.:td: :td: :td: (I have never used that emoticon before, but Chase richly deserves it for this one. I like the promo, but wish they could make the T&C unequivocally clear.)

AMEX Blue has an offer now with up to 15 months at 0% and no transfer fee. Capital One charges no fee, but is not 0% right now (at least for me).


Do you have a link to the AMEX Blue offer? I see 0% interest on PURCHASES for 15 months and 4.99% on balance transfers.

Does anybody know of any card (that's not Discover) offering a free ride on balance transfers? I've looked around a lot and haven't seen any recently.

Thanks,
BL17

Sorry I don't have a link. I did a Chase 0% a few months ago but had to pay a $75 transfer fee. Bank of America had one too.

Do you have a fax or electronic copy of the 2007 SPG Tax Bonus from Feb before they took down the site? Please PM me

Do you have a link to the AMEX Blue offer? I see 0% interest on PURCHASES for 15 months and 4.99% on balance transfers.

Does anybody know of any card (that's not Discover) offering a free ride on balance transfers? I've looked around a lot and haven't seen any recently.

Thanks,
BL17


Try this site and take your pick.

http://www.creditcardsearchengine.com/balance-transfer.php

Paid my taxes with a good old check for the first time in a few years. Here's hoping for some better promotions next year!

I used my Citi Premier Pass Elite this year. Matched with flights points I'm essentially getting 2 TY points fpr $.0249 or 1.25 cents per point.

Not the greatest deal, but I'll come out ahead especially considering one still earns miles on TY award ticket. On a 60,000 redemption I'll probably get ~30,000 miles back.

I just called Chase regarding the Mileage Plus Visa double-miles promotion.

Here's what the CSR told me:


There's a bonus cap of 10,000 miles (for me, with a Platinum Signature Visa) that applies to the current promotion period (March 1 through May 25). This is separate from any other promotion periods (e.g., the promotion that covered January).
The bonus cap is the total number of bonus miles. So if I charge $10,000 in taxes, I would get 20K total miles (10K normal + 10K bonus). Charging $20,000 in taxes would net 30K total miles (20K normal + 10K bonus).

This does sound different from what itsme was told. Given what I was told, I wouldn't expect to get double miles for any tax charges over $10K for this promotion period.

Here's what I received from my Chase secure e-mail. Cut and paste it if you don't get all of your points...

Date: 03-26-2007 14:31:11
From: Credit Card Support
Subject: Re: Other/Inquiry Not Listed
Message:
Dear Michael:

Under the March 1, 2007 through May 25, 2007 Tax promotion
there is not limitation on the miles you can earn.

If you have any further questions, please reply using the
Secure Message Center.

Thank you,

Leslee Moore
E-mail Customer Service Representative

1-800-537-7783

Account is owned by Chase Bank USA, N.A. and may be
serviced by its affiliates.

If the information you were given is correct, then I have paid a very substantial sum more than I wanted to, because I charged many times $10K and would have done still more but for trouble transfering funds. Around the end of July/beginning of August, when double miles are to post to our MP accounts, I suppose we will know. Let's talk again at that time.

Chase has done an incredibly bad job with this promo. How is it that we can be sure of the terms, including presence or absence of caps, based on our reading of what is on the website?! What is there changed along the way, and reps continue to give distinctly different answers to those who call to get it straight.:td: :td: :td: (I have never used that emoticon before, but Chase richly deserves it for this one. I like the promo, but wish they could make the T&C unequivocally clear.)

I paid over $20,000 on the card.
Here's what I received from my Chase secure e-mail. Cut and paste it if you don't get all of your points...

Date: 03-26-2007 14:31:11
From: Credit Card Support
Subject: Re: Other/Inquiry Not Listed
Message:
Dear Michael:

Under the March 1, 2007 through May 25, 2007 Tax promotion
there is not limitation on the miles you can earn.

If you have any further questions, please reply using the
Secure Message Center.

Thank you,

Leslee Moore
E-mail Customer Service Representative

1-800-537-7783

Account is owned by Chase Bank USA, N.A. and may be
serviced by its affiliates.

I had yet another (but same) offering for double miles w/my Platinum AMEX. I paid online w/TurboTax and Official Payments the 16th, but it did not post until the 18th. Do you think they will try & not give me the double miles? Did anyone else have this happen to them beacuse the IRS got pounded & TurboTax got behind, so I heard?:confused:

Under the March 1, 2007 through May 25, 2007 Tax promotion
there is not limitation on the miles you can earn.


Technically, the above statement would still be correct if the bonus miles were limited to 10,000. Although there might not be a limitation on the miles you can earn, there could still be a limitation on the number of bonus miles.

I'm not saying that's the case, but the Chase statement in the email still isn't completely clear.

Technically, the above statement would still be correct if the bonus miles were limited to 10,000. Although there might not be a limitation on the miles you can earn, there could still be a limitation on the number of bonus miles.

I'm not saying that's the case, but the Chase statement in the email still isn't completely clear.
You are quite right. It would not be inconsistent with what the email said for Chase to take the position that their offer placed no limit on the total number of miles that could be earned, but it did not allow for a "double miles" bonus for $s >$5K on taxes. I don't think that is what they will say/do, and acted accordingly. If they do, it won't be pretty. They have so screwed up their statements of this double miles deal on so many different occasions that they would have a hard time maintaining there was indeed a cap and we should have been aware of it.

I had yet another (but same) offering for double miles w/my Platinum AMEX. I paid online w/TurboTax and Official Payments the 16th, but it did not post until the 18th. Do you think they will try & not give me the double miles? Did anyone else have this happen to them beacuse the IRS got pounded & TurboTax got behind, so I heard?:confused:

I didn't use TurboTax, but I paid part of my tax on my Gold Rewards Plus AMEX. The transaction posted on 4/17 and the bonus points have already shown up. When I go to the Amex Membership Rewards online summary, the bonus points are already in the "Earned Points" listing under "Bonus Offers." The Earned Point Summary show the details as "2x Pts. Taxes."

OK, today is May 14th, which means one month from now will be the deadline for quarterly tax payments. Will Chase UA MP Visa "double mile" offer extend to them. What I see when I go to the Chase website and click on their "use your United Mileage Plus credit card to pay your federal taxes" is that "double miles" are supposed to be there from March 1, 2007 through May 25, 2007." However, when I call, the Chase CSRs keep reading from something else which says the offer ended April 30, 2007.

Will May 25, 2007 be the last day to avail oneself of the "double miles" for tax payments offer? Or will it be extended, perhaps for the balance of 2007, that is for the entire year as it was in 2006?

I see on my MP statement credit for 1 RDM for every $1 spent on taxes in April, but not any "bonus" miles yet. No one else has seen their bonus miles appear yet, have they. (My understanding from the Chase webpage is that the bonus miles should appear 6 to 8 weeks after 5/25/07.) I will be glad when they do appear and I can stop wondering if there will be any problem claiming what is due us.

(BTW, are there any other active "double miles" for tax payments out there now? AmEx? SPG AmEx?)

At last I have The ANSWER from Chase. I could never get an answer I thought I could rely on from their CSRs who were trying to figure out the offer (dates and cap vs no-cap) along with me. Their email response tells me what I wanted to know all along, and I can see why it has been so confusing.


*********
Dear Itsme:

For the 2007 tax promotion there are specific promotion
dates and amounts that can be earned. First all tax
payments must be made in the following manner to receive
double miles. For personal federal income tax or quarterly
estimated federal tax payments must be made through
chasepayyourtaxes.com/united or 1-877-829-2954. For state
and property taxes they must be made through
www.officialpayments.com or 1-800-2PAY-TAX. A service fee
applies and does not earn miles. The following are the
promotion dates and amounts that can earn double miles for
a Platinum Class account:

1/1/07 - 1/31/07 2,500 Cap
3/1/07 - 5/25/07 No Cap
6/1/07 - 8/28/07 4,000 Cap
The miles will post 6-8 weeks after the end of the
promotional time-frame. Example: taxes paid between
3/1-5/25 will post 6-8 weeks after 5/25/7.
********

I have no idea why the offer does not run continuously all year long rather than for these particular intervals of time, with a 5-day break in there 5/26-30. Nor do I know why it should be uncapped only for the 3/1-5/25 period. And I don't know whether there will be double miles after 8/28/07, so that one could pay subsequent quarterly taxes. And FWIW, which ain't much, I think the changes along the way are stupid. But now I think we have the ANSWER for Chase's double miles for tax payment deal. (Oh, I did write back to ask if it was really true that no miles at all are earned on the "convenience fee" charge.)

*********
Dear Itsme:

For the 2007 tax promotion there are specific promotion
dates and amounts that can be earned. First all tax
payments must be made in the following manner to receive
double miles. For personal federal income tax or quarterly
estimated federal tax payments must be made through
chasepayyourtaxes.com/united or 1-877-829-2954. For state
and property taxes they must be made through
www.officialpayments.com or 1-800-2PAY-TAX. A service fee
applies and does not earn miles. The following are the
promotion dates and amounts that can earn double miles for
a Platinum Class account:

1/1/07 - 1/31/07 2,500 Cap
3/1/07 - 5/25/07 No Cap
6/1/07 - 8/28/07 4,000 Cap
The miles will post 6-8 weeks after the end of the
promotional time-frame. Example: taxes paid between
3/1-5/25 will post 6-8 weeks after 5/25/7.
********



Thanks for sharing the info.

At last I have The ANSWER from Chase. I could never get an answer I thought I could rely on from their CSRs who were trying to figure out the offer (dates and cap vs no-cap) along with me. Their email response tells me what I wanted to know all along, and I can see why it has been so confusing.

Thanks for the information. Chase really needs to train their CSRs better ont these promotions -- the one I spoke with gave me a completely different answer.

Well, there was no cap on the double miles offer for the period ending May 25, now for this offer in the new period June 1 to August 28 there is a cap of $4K. I have no idea how they decide these things, a cap of $2.5K, no cap, or $4K, and we don't know if the offer will be repeated after the summer. I just hope that next year they repeat the offer and put no cap on it, at least for the period including April 15th.

Oh, I did write back to ask if it was really true that no miles at all are earned on the "convenience fee" charge.
I think what they mean is that there are no double miles for the convenience charge. But you still will earn 1:1 for the "purchase" - just like most other purchases.

I think what they mean is that there are no double miles for the convenience charge. But you still will earn 1:1 for the "purchase" - just like most other purchases.
Right, it has always been 1:1 for the "convenience fee" expense, "double miles" only on the taxes actually paid up to the cap (the 1:1 on taxes too), if there is a cap in effect. And now, we are back to a cap again, this time in the amount of $4K.

Visit www.OfficialPayments.com/united for more information.
Just got this in the mail. I don't have a mileage plus card, but for those who do

I applied for and received my card after the Feb 01/2007 cutoff stipulated in the T&C; however I have 2 emails from United Mileage Plus via the "Contact US" inbox (while logged into my CC account) assuring me that I am eligible for the double miles (the 2nd one was just to be sure, and the response seemed that the author was a bit aggravated at my for following up a 2nd time!). Of course I made these inquiries BEFORE I made the payment.

Do you believe that these 2 confirmations directly from Chase will entitle me to the double points (i.e. they can be used as ammo when I dispute for my bonus miles), even with my opening the card after 2/07? After all the CSR answering the question does have (or should have) my account info right in front of him/her while providing me with "personal customer service".

I applied for and received my card after the Feb 01/2007 cutoff stipulated in the T&C; however I have 2 emails from United Mileage Plus via the "Contact US" inbox (while logged into my CC account) assuring me that I am eligible for the double miles (the 2nd one was just to be sure, and the response seemed that the author was a bit aggravated at my for following up a 2nd time!). Of course I made these inquiries BEFORE I made the payment.

Do you believe that these 2 confirmations directly from Chase will entitle me to the double points (i.e. they can be used as ammo when I dispute for my bonus miles), even with my opening the card after 2/07? After all the CSR answering the question does have (or should have) my account info right in front of him/her while providing me with "personal customer service".
I hope you get the double miles you are looking forward to, since miles at 1.245 cpm is reasonable, but not at 2.49 cpm, IMO. You will only know if you are getting double miles 6-8 weeks after 5/25, however. (The "non-bonus" miles should post at the same time as miles from other charges, the "bonus" ones later.)

For me the BIG amount is the Fed estimates.

State is tiny in comparison.

I hope you get the double miles you are looking forward to, since miles at 1.245 cpm is reasonable, but not at 2.49 cpm, IMO.

Well, you humble opinion is right on line with my thinking.

I was going to lie down and get in bed with Chase.
And this knowing that My grandmother always told me that if you lie down with dogs , that you get up with fleas.


My larger payments are four quarterly Federal estimates.

As I am require to file quarterly estimates, my actual bill in April is not that big.
Sometimes, I even get a small refund.

Is the double miles unlimited restricted to the April 15 payment???

*********
Dear Itsme:

For the 2007 tax promotion there are specific promotion
dates and amounts that can be earned. First all tax
payments must be made in the following manner to receive
double miles. For personal federal income tax or quarterly
estimated federal tax payments must be made through
chasepayyourtaxes.com/united or 1-877-829-2954. For state
and property taxes they must be made through
www.officialpayments.com or 1-800-2PAY-TAX. A service fee
applies and does not earn miles. The following are the
promotion dates and amounts that can earn double miles for
a Platinum Class account:

1/1/07 - 1/31/07 2,500 Cap
3/1/07 - 5/25/07 No Cap
6/1/07 - 8/28/07 4,000 Cap
The miles will post 6-8 weeks after the end of the
promotional time-frame. Example: taxes paid between
3/1-5/25 will post 6-8 weeks after 5/25/7.
********

With respect to the cap of 4,000, is this per Visa account or per person/mileage plus account?

If someone has 3 UA MP Chase cards, can they charge $4,000 per credit card account (totally $12,000 +fees) and receive 24,000 miles (double miles on $12K) + single miles on the fees?

From the details in the email it I understand it to be per account, but if anyone has experience or an answer from Chase I would appreciate any info.

Thanks!

Has anyone had their bonus miles post yet for fed taxes paid by April 17th, 2007?

I paid my fed taxes on 4/15 using the Chase UA MP "pay your taxes, get bonus miles" promo. Miles posted from monthly Chase UA MP card activity just like normal. No bonus miles yet, tho.

Has anyone had their bonus miles post yet for fed taxes paid by April 17th, 2007?

I paid my fed taxes on 4/15 using the Chase UA MP "pay your taxes, get bonus miles" promo. Miles posted from monthly Chase UA MP card activity just like normal. No bonus miles yet, tho.
The Chase statement about posting of bonus miles is pretty clear: "The miles will post 6-8 weeks after the end of the promotional time-frame. Example: taxes paid between 3/1-5/25 will post 6-8 weeks after 5/25/7." So I wouldn't expect to see them before the second week of July at the earliest.

The T&C's for the promotion period ending in August do not now seem to contain the 4000 point cap. Does anyone think you could use the promotion a second time to pay your third voucher estimated taxes early?

Has anyone seen double miles from the 3/1 to5/25 promotion period?

They posted on 20 July to my MP account.

Has anyone seen double miles from the 3/1 to5/25 promotion period?
Yes, a considerable sum of them this month.

According to the Chase Visa website. There is now a cap of 5000 miles on the tuition payments?

*Double Miles on tuition payments: The double miles offer applies to purchases made with your card from July 3, 2007 through September 30, 2007, after the first $200 at retail locations classified by the merchants to Visa as Colleges, Universities, Professional Schools, Junior Colleges, Elementary Schools and Secondary Schools. Elementary and Secondary Schools include public and private schools, parochial schools, and boarding schools. Please note, in some instances, the products or services you purchase may not be offered directly by the school and will not accrue bonus miles. For example, in some instances the bookstore is managed independently of the school. The bonus miles will be reflected on your monthly credit card statement approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of the promotion period (September 30, 2007). The maximum bonus miles accumulation during the entire promotional period is 5,000 miles for Visa Signature, Gold Class Visa Signature and Platinum Class Visa Signature; 2,500 miles for Rewards and College Visa cardmembers.

According to the Chase Visa website. There is now a cap of 5000 miles on the tuition payments?
Out of idle curiosity, since we stopped paying tuition last year - do most schools tack on a surcharge when you pay tuition with a credit card? If so, how much 2-3%?

I hope you get the double miles you are looking forward to, since miles at 1.245 cpm is reasonable, but not at 2.49 cpm, IMO. You will only know if you are getting double miles 6-8 weeks after 5/25, however. (The "non-bonus" miles should post at the same time as miles from other charges, the "bonus" ones later.)


As an update, I did get the full bonus miles, in about the allotted timeframe.

Out of idle curiosity, since we stopped paying tuition last year - do most schools tack on a surcharge when you pay tuition with a credit card? If so, how much 2-3%?

Yes. My daughter's school charges 2.5% for credit card payments.

Yes. My daughter's school charges 2.5% for credit card payments.

No surcharge at my wife's college. I think they only allow credit card payments for grad courses though.

My daughter's current school COA in Bar Harbor< Maine charges 1.5%. Her previous school DePaul did not charge.
But on the original topic for which I was the original poster, I have just called AMEX to say that I did't get my miles and since I have a printout of the offer (while it lasted, shortlived as it was) I am confident that I will get my miles eventually. I will post when I do. If anyone has used an AMEX I can fax the documentation if you need it. Send me a Private Message with your fax number.

My daughter's current school COA in Bar Harbor< Maine...
Rated best college food in the country a few years ago, Bowdoin in Brunswick rated #2.

The food served at this year's graduation was fabulous, and all prepared by them in their kitchen!

The food served at this year's graduation was fabulous, and all prepared by them in their kitchen!
Lobster? (BTW, do you fly into BGR, however one gets there, or PWM and drive? Bar Harbor gets pretty quiet after the summer season, doesn't it?)

Any current double miles/points for taxes?

Any current double miles/points for taxes?

UA MP Visa seems to run a recurring double miles promotion. I recall them advertising this with my latest bill.

Yes, I also received the flyer with my last bill. End date for this round is sometime in Decembr, if I recall correctly.

dgordon,
Just to let you know I at last got my bonus miles posted from the Amex
starwood card offer - I too had the print out. It took a lot of calls and
faxes, but I have my miles now:D

UA MP Visa seems to run a recurring double miles promotion. I recall them advertising this with my latest bill.

Through which website do you have to pay the taxes? (I don't have the ad.)

Through which website do you have to pay the taxes? (I don't have the ad.)

www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united

www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/united
NB: This is rather small potatoes:(, with a cap of 5K miles.;)

NB: This is rather small potatoes:(, with a cap of 5K miles.;)

Last year at this time when my wife and I had 3 or 4 cards each it would have worked.:)

NB: This is rather small potatoes:(, with a cap of 5K miles.;)

Well, the bad/good news is my ES payment for this quarter is only $5K exactly.

Last year at this time when my wife and I had 3 or 4 cards each it would have worked.:)
You are only allowed two charges in any quarter for Fed taxes, so unless you are paying estimates in many states, it would not have worked.:)

You are only allowed two charges in any quarter for Fed taxes, so unless you are paying estimates in many states, it would not have worked.:)
Yours is an important point. I do not recall exactly how it works, but I ran into that obstacle when I thought to "stage" my payments, only to find myself prevented from taking greater advantage of the offer than I had originally intended. Did wonder what would have happened if I went back and made the next payment under wife's Social Security number, which goes on our joint return along with mine, but didn't want to chance screwing up credit for payments to IRS, which in the end is more consequential than racking up more miles.

It is unfortunate that Official Payments does not make it easy to contact them in order to get one's questions answered. There is a way to reach them by phone, but I don't remember it at this time.

You are only allowed two charges in any quarter for Fed taxes, so unless you are paying estimates in many states, it would not have worked.:)

Thanks, I did not know this. If it is two payments per quarter for Federal is there a limit for the states, California in my case?

Well, the bad/good news is my ES payment for this quarter is only $5K exactly.
So, do you expect to make a $5K tax payment that together with the "convenience fee" will cost you a $5,124.50 and for that receive a total of 10,124 of RDM in the end (5,124 miles for the $s toward your tax obligation and the "convenience fee" + 5,000 "bonus" RDM)? I think that is what you should pay and in turn receive, but yet again I think those who draft these offers with their T&C do a very poor job of it, so I am less than 100% certain and would email Chase for confirmation of that understanding.

In a footnote to the offer, it is said, "The maximum reward accumulation for this promotion is 5,000 miles." "Reward" is the extra dollop of RDM, that is the extra 5K from the "double miles" promo? I think it probably is, but isn't there some ambiguity here, so that it could be you max out with a tax payment of $2.5K, which gives 5K plus the miles due on a 1:1 basis for the "convenience fee" portion?

They ought to forget the caps at all times, not just around 4/15, and then things would be clearer and we could take maximum advantage of this opportunity.;)

It is unfortunate that Official Payments does not make it easy to contact them in order to get one's questions answered. There is a way to reach them by phone, but I don't remember it at this time.
They have an email address. On 9/1 I exchanged a few emails rather quickly with them.

Is anyone else having trouble with the Chase site? I have tried 2 browsers on 2 computers. :confused:

I have had no issues with the Chase site during the past 2 days.

My issue with the Chase site is that I have sent them 3 messages over their secure system in the past three days and received an "acknowledgement" of each, but not clear and reliable answers with regard to the current cap on the "double miles" for tax payments promo. Disappointing, since it is a matter of some importance (I want to be certain that if one pays $5K, which I am about to do with each of two cards in just a bit, one will get 10K miles in the end) and in the past I have been very satisfied with their responsiveness to such communications. CSRs on the phone are uncertain as to the answers, and I would much prefer to have written "commitments" from Chase reps rather than rely on what they may say over the phone. (One told me that max I could pay and take full advantage of this promo was $2500, for which I would get a total of 5K. Wrong, I think, and she may have been confused between T&C of this promo and another involving "double miles" for college-related expenditures using the card.)

What would be best is if they would not consign some of the most important details to the very small print footnotes and if they would get people who could communicate clearly to write their copy.

https://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/index4.cfm?src=em_1_und

https://www.chasepayyourtaxes.com/index4.cfm?src=em_1_und

Hmmm, don't know if this makes me happy :) or sad :(. We are being given the opportunity to reap double miles for paying our taxes with our Chase card:), but the offer is a capped rather than uncapped one like ones in the past.:(

Now, same confusion on my part as in the past.:confused: How are we to understand, "The maximum reward accumulation for this promotion is 15,000 miles." Does that mean that the maximum benefit to be gained comes with a tax payment of $7,500, which will mean 15K of miles added to one's MP account (the routine 1 mile/$1 plus the an extra or "double" mile/$1)? Or does it mean the maximum benefit comes with a tax payment of $15K? (Am I obtuse, and thus I am uncertain about what is understandable on its face, or is it that those who design these promos are not so good at stating the T&C with unequivocal clarity?)

Thanks pgary for bringing this to our attention.