(Unsure why you quoted my post from another thread, it doesn’t seem germane to this discussion. Perhaps you would consider editing your post to remove the quote box.)

If by “sign on bonus” you’re referring to what is commonly referred to as SUB (sign up bonus, new account bonus, the miles or points one receives for meeting an initial spend (charge) threshold on a new credit card), a person certainly does DO SOMETHING to obtain those miles or points. They spent the time and energy to apply and then they charge the required minimum amount to the new credit card. Those points (or miles) are just as much of a rebate as ongoing charges, just at a significantly higher rate. (If a SUB is 60,000 miles for $3000 spend (charge) in 3 months, the SUB is an earned rebate at 20 miles per $ compared to ongoing earned rebate of 1 or 2 miles per $.)

BREAK

The entire discussion of taxability is interesting due to the fact that the UR Program Agreement specifically states “Points aren’t your property and have no cash value.” It’s inappropriate to income tax an individual on something they don’t own and has no cash value. Maybe some other type of tax, similar to renting a car or hotel room, but not income tax. Maybe that’s why airline miles and hotel points are rarely (if ever) 1099ed as most programs also specifically state that an individual does not “own” the miles or points.