Paying income tax doesn't qualify for welcome bonus?
Dec 20, 2023, 8:45 pm
#106
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Wyndham Diamond
Posts: 880
Most recent MR spending bonus (a week ago) posted 9 days after the purchase which pushed me "over the top". Definitely longer than usual Amex practice for MR bonuses- in my experience usually 2 or 3 days.
Interestingly, a bonus on a Delta card posted just 2 days after the "over the top" purchase was made.
Interestingly, a bonus on a Delta card posted just 2 days after the "over the top" purchase was made.
Mar 9, 2024, 7:16 pm
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,092
Yes, paying (or even overpaying) federal income tax is an excellent method of satisfying sign-up bonus (SUB) spend requirements. 
Paying USA income, property or other taxes with a credit card
Paying USA income, property or other taxes with a credit card
Last edited by SPN Lifer; Mar 9, 2024 at 7:22 pm
Mar 9, 2024, 7:39 pm
#109
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,965
Moderator action
I have moved your post into a thread discussing this specific question. Scroll back to review previous posts, and you will see mixed reports. Taxes should count, but if the automated system does not include them it takes some effort to persuade customer service to adjust even though there is nothing in the terms to exclude tax payments.
Mar 10, 2024, 8:36 pm
#111
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,537
For the Amex CHARGE cards (not credit cards) ie: Amex Plat Business, since there's no preset spending limit, has anyone had a problem with like a $15,000 charge for taxes? Is it best to contact Amex first to let them know about big charge coming? Or just try it and hope it doesn't get rejected?
Mar 11, 2024, 6:46 am
#112
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,907
For the Amex CHARGE cards (not credit cards) ie: Amex Plat Business, since there's no preset spending limit, has anyone had a problem with like a $15,000 charge for taxes? Is it best to contact Amex first to let them know about big charge coming? Or just try it and hope it doesn't get rejected?
Mar 11, 2024, 10:29 pm
#113
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NYC suburbs
Programs: UA LT Gold (BIS), AA LT Plat (CC SUBs & BD), Hilton Dia (CC), Hyatt Glob (BIB), et. al.
Posts: 3,311
For Biz Plat I and several others have reported been there, done that several times over the past few years, often for more than $15k, rare (if any) mentions of pre-notification or problems.
Mar 12, 2024, 9:51 am
#114
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA LTP, UA, DL, HH, Marriott/SPG
Posts: 586
Tax payments do count - some CSR's incorrectly think otherwise
I have always received the SUB after making tax payments. In our case, this was a first. P2 opened first biz plat a few months ago. Used it to pay for purchases. Then, P2 paid income tax, which sent the spend over the $15K. About 10 days after the tax payment posted, still no SUB. I called to inquire, and first agent says that system doesn't show $15K spend because tax payment doesn't count. When I asked how much it showed, she told me and I said that doesn't make sense (even if you exclude the tax payment, the number was too low). When I explained that the tax payment not only received 1.5x points but also the bonus points for the Synch offer (Spend $xxx in 3 months and get xx points), she said SUB is different. She went through and confirmed all the charges which confirmed $15K spend. She wasn't budging on the tax payment issue. I asked for a supervisor. He couldn't help either but said I needed to give 8-12 weeks and then call back (technically, the time frame is correct even though experience shows otherwise). Anyways, somewhere between 24-36 hours later, the SUB points posted. The length of time may have been a fluke, but regardless, the agent was mistaken (as I knew she was).
Mar 18, 2024, 8:55 am
#115
Join Date: May 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: Lotz
Posts: 1,535
I made a $13k tax payment on my Amex Biz Platinum with PayUSATax.com as I needed another $11k to meet my SUB minimum spend. The charge went through and earned 1.5x points but was not counted towards the minimum spend. The support case keeps getting opened and closed via chat. They keep pointing to the following:
"Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits. Eligible purchases to meet the Threshold Amount do NOT include fees or interest charges, purchases of traveler's checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, purchases of gift cards, person-to-person payments, or purchases of other cash equivalents."
Can you file a CFPB complaint for a business card? Is that the only option available for this? I wasn't sure if anyone else had found success with Amex support.
"Eligible purchases are purchases for goods and services minus returns and other credits. Eligible purchases to meet the Threshold Amount do NOT include fees or interest charges, purchases of traveler's checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, purchases of gift cards, person-to-person payments, or purchases of other cash equivalents."
Can you file a CFPB complaint for a business card? Is that the only option available for this? I wasn't sure if anyone else had found success with Amex support.
More important I 'm in semi-panic mode this morning because yesterday was my Gold Biz statement date and so I looked and only car insurance of the big items show earning points. All 2X. My property taxes do not, my pre-payments of electricity, gas and water do not, and it seems there are many other purchases not showing points ....yet. The major communality of those prepaid utiliies payments is they all use outside payment companies to process credit cards. I'm hoping this is just a slow process of crediting points and also that it will not affect the sub. So not saying the sky is falling.
***EDIT: After 2 more days past statement closing, all spending including property tax payment and utilities prepayment have been given points. So, don't panic if there's no points for the tax payment immediately at statement date.
Last edited by tassojunior; Mar 19, 2024 at 1:41 pm Reason: combine new subject
Mar 18, 2024, 12:01 pm
#116
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA LTP, UA, DL, HH, Marriott/SPG
Posts: 586
i once filed a small claims case on Chase (in 2008) over points. Their attorney agreed to my request when we got to the adjudication.
More important I 'm in semi-panic mode this morning because yesterday was my Gold Biz statement date and so I looked and only car insurance of the big items show earning points. All 2X. My property taxes do not, my pre-payments of electricity, gas and water do not, and it seems there are many other purchases not showing points ....yet. The major communality of those prepaid utiliies payments is they all use outside payment companies to process credit cards. I'm hoping this is just a slow process of crediting points and also that it will not affect the sub. So not saying the sky is falling.
More important I 'm in semi-panic mode this morning because yesterday was my Gold Biz statement date and so I looked and only car insurance of the big items show earning points. All 2X. My property taxes do not, my pre-payments of electricity, gas and water do not, and it seems there are many other purchases not showing points ....yet. The major communality of those prepaid utiliies payments is they all use outside payment companies to process credit cards. I'm hoping this is just a slow process of crediting points and also that it will not affect the sub. So not saying the sky is falling.