FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - do I really not have to include UA miles/awards on my tax return?
Old Apr 18, 2017, 8:40 pm
  #2  
mherdeg
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,892
No tax consequences. US tax law treats the event "buying a ticket with frequent-flyer miles" as an action which reduces the purchase price of the ticket, kind of like using a coupon.

Your frequent travel (or credit card purchases or whatever) earned you a bunch of coupons which you redeemed; this is currently not considered income, neither when you receive the miles nor when you use them.
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