ATO (tax office) payments by credit card

[cove]

Today was a big Qantas points earn day. I could go Kris miles tomorrow.

 

[ninja-tim]

Don't know if the Amex Explorer & Business Accelerator card has been discuss here or not so here goes.

Is/has anyone started using the either to pay of ATO bills via Rewardpay? Pointshack has done a comparison on most/all cards that pay points on ATO payments and it got me thinking about getting the explorer card to pay off ATO bills.

Amex Explorer
$395 annual fee, $400 Travel credit annually, 100,000 sign up bonus points
$1=2 MR gateway points = 1.5 miles (SQ/VA/CX etc)
Uncapped
=1.6c per Miles when paying ATO via Rewardpay (2.4% surcharge + GST)


Amex Business Accelerator
$160 Annual fee, no bonus points
$1=2 MR ascent points=2 miles --> $50,000 spend cap then it decreases to $1=1 MR=1 miles uncapped
=1.2c per Miles when paying ATO via Rewardpay (2.4% surcharge + GST) up to $50,000 cap then converts to 2.4c per mile. (I think I worked out the 2.4c per mile correctly?)

Is the Explorer card the next best thing right now, especially for SQ miles on ATO and non-ATO spend?

 

[bbqwer]

Don't know if the Amex Explorer & Business Accelerator card has been discuss here or not so here goes.

Is/has anyone started using the either to pay of ATO bills via Rewardpay? Pointshack has done a comparison on most/all cards that pay points on ATO payments and it got me thinking about getting the explorer card to pay off ATO bills.

Amex Explorer
$395 annual fee, $400 Travel credit annually, 100,000 sign up bonus points
$1=2 MR gateway points = 1.5 miles (SQ/VA/CX etc)
Uncapped
=1.6c per Miles when paying ATO via Rewardpay (2.4% surcharge + GST)


Amex Business Accelerator
$160 Annual fee, no bonus points
$1=2 MR ascent points=2 miles --> $50,000 spend cap then it decreases to $1=1 MR=1 miles uncapped
=1.2c per Miles when paying ATO via Rewardpay (2.4% surcharge + GST) up to $50,000 cap then converts to 2.4c per mile. (I think I worked out the 2.4c per mile correctly?)

Is the Explorer card the next best thing right now, especially for SQ miles on ATO and non-ATO spend?

Here is the full list you need : Credit Cards that earn points with ATO tax payments - Point Hacks Guide

I would prefer St. George Amplify Signature Visa

 

[vicsta]

Don't know if the Amex Explorer & Business Accelerator card has been discuss here or not so here goes.

Is/has anyone started using the either to pay of ATO bills via Rewardpay? Pointshack has done a comparison on most/all cards that pay points on ATO payments and it got me thinking about getting the explorer card to pay off ATO bills.

Amex Explorer
$395 annual fee, $400 Travel credit annually, 100,000 sign up bonus points
$1=2 MR gateway points = 1.5 miles (SQ/VA/CX etc)
Uncapped
=1.6c per Miles when paying ATO via Rewardpay (2.4% surcharge + GST)


Amex Business Accelerator
$160 Annual fee, no bonus points
$1=2 MR ascent points=2 miles --> $50,000 spend cap then it decreases to $1=1 MR=1 miles uncapped
=1.2c per Miles when paying ATO via Rewardpay (2.4% surcharge + GST) up to $50,000 cap then converts to 2.4c per mile. (I think I worked out the 2.4c per mile correctly?)

Is the Explorer card the next best thing right now, especially for SQ miles on ATO and non-ATO spend?

Don't think so. They pay only 0.5 points per dollar as ATO

 

[albyd]

If you pay via rewardpay, you should get 100% points. Whilst I think 2.4% is too much, it might just be at a level Amex is comfortable with to pay points on RewardPay. There are reports on the explorer thread that those with platinum charge cards are having their explorer cards linked to Ascent Premium (although missing the sign up Gateway points) so that would be 2 'true' points per dollar bringing your Fiscal points cost to 1.2c/point. Not exactly in fast disappearing MC/Visa territory, certainly worth consideration for those who were using 1.5point bank Amex at 1c/point - keeps the game alive as long as you're only redeeming for premium seats.

 

[ninja-tim]

Here is the full list you need : Credit Cards that earn points with ATO tax payments - Point Hacks Guide

I would prefer St. George Amplify Signature Visa

Got the StG card, and I think they have an unofficial cap on ATO spend, as mentioned earlier in the thread. I think it's between 10-30k a month and if you go over they cancel your reward program or something. It's gives 0.75miles/$1 spend for ATO & Non-ATO.

I've also got the CBA Business Platinum which does pay ATO points at 1.5VA (1.11KF) miles/$ spend (no need to pay via Rewardspay) but capped at $100,000 spend annually.

The other option, which I don't have, is the Amex Velocity Escape (the Red card) pay 1VA mile(0.74KF) per $ spend (ATO is not specifically excluded in the T&Cs).

Don't think so. They pay only 0.5 points per dollar as ATO

If paying via RewardPay you get full Amex points: $1 spend = 2 MR gateway = 1.5 Miles @2.4% surcharge (with Tax deduction it brings it down to 1.68%).

ATO Spend
Comparing to Westpac Black: $1=0.6 miles at 1.45% surcharge (with Tax deduction it comes down to 1.015%).
Explorer card: $1=1.5miles @ 2.4% (1.68% with tax deduction), which means you pay an extra 0.665% surcharge for an extra 0.9 mile/$ spend (or extra 0.75 mile/$ spend with the Amex Velocity Escape)

I'm looking for a card to spend after the caps are reached and looking to maximise points before more cards get cut and also to replace my Westpac Black Amex for daily spend/ATO spend. I understand the Visa/MC option will net you cheaper points but it will be slower to getting to the amount of points I need/want.

 

[ninja-tim]

If you pay via rewardpay, you should get 100% points. Whilst I think 2.4% is too much, it might just be at a level Amex is comfortable with to pay points on RewardPay. There are reports on the explorer thread that those with platinum charge cards are having their explorer cards linked to Ascent Premium (although missing the sign up Gateway points) so that would be 2 'true' points per dollar bringing your Fiscal points cost to 1.2c/point. Not exactly in fast disappearing MC/Visa territory, certainly worth consideration for those who were using 1.5point bank Amex at 1c/point - keeps the game alive as long as you're only redeeming for premium seats.

Oh so not being connected to the Gateway program? Guess I will have to sign up to find out.
I also saw on that thread that a member wasn't given the bonus points after the minimum spend but called up querying it and was then awarded the bonus points after spending a bit more on the card.

 

[bbqwer]

True , have to be carefull with STG card, I think it is the last visa/MC earns SQ Miles. You can also purchase Coles mastercard to pay ATO ( $5 fees for $1000 card, there was promotion code $5 fees waived ), I managed to purchase $15k coles MC. All points posted at STG card, it was not Cash advance

 

[albyd]

bbqwer, did you buy the $15k Coles cards in one transaction? I tried to buy some with my Citi Prestige card during that offer but found my transactions weren't getting. Authorized. Coles reckoned it was the bank and Citi reckoned all was fine on their end. Assuming there was some security setting at Citi but curious to hear about experiences at other banks.
Re Explorer card - general rule experience is if you're an existing customer only get signup if you're creating a new reward program category (e.g. Ascent then set up an ascent Premium or Gateway card). The explorer thread reports some Platinum charge holders' explorer cards were automatically linked to ascent premium (but they missed the 100k gateway points) so for most unless coughing up the $1200 platinum charge annual fee will be 1.5:1 with Gateway and you might just get your sign up bonus.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Comparing to Westpac Black: $1=0.6 miles at 1.45% surcharge (with Tax deduction it comes down to 1.015%).
.

If business spend. If personal income tax then cannot be claimed.

 

[bbqwer]

bbqwer, did you buy the $15k Coles cards in one transaction? I tried to buy some with my Citi Prestige card during that offer but found my transactions weren't getting. Authorized. Coles reckoned it was the bank and Citi reckoned all was fine on their end. Assuming there was some security setting at Citi but curious to hear about experiences at other banks.
Re Explorer card - general rule experience is if you're an existing customer only get signup if you're creating a new reward program category (e.g. Ascent then set up an ascent Premium or Gateway card). The explorer thread reports some Platinum charge holders' explorer cards were automatically linked to ascent premium (but they missed the 100k gateway points) so for most unless coughing up the $1200 platinum charge annual fee will be 1.5:1 with Gateway and you might just get your sign up bonus.

Citibank always had a problem. No I did not done it in single transaction, I split it $3000 a day for the next 5 consecutive days. In regards to STG card, I always try to keep low profile, Dont want to ring any alarm bell. So far so good, no issue from STG Bank. I also set my max limit $10,000 / month for direct ATO payment.

 

[albyd]

Thanks bbqwer - always good to be aware of product limitations and work within the system to keep a good thing going.

I bought the Coles cards across my supps so bought a couple a day over the promo period. Citi otherwise never had any problem with large charges within my limit.

Over the Fathers day offer, I split my Coles purchases across all my supps so I could buy more in one day - was a bit fiddly. Might look at it again when they have another fee free offer - assuming Coles keep don't fiddle with it.

 

[MrHyde]

For those who want QF, is the Bankwest Platinum at 1.08c per point and a cap of 200K points per year, the best that is available. The Platinum card costs I think $160 per year.

Also, did anyone find out if Qudos will refund pro-rata the annual fee based on their upcoming changes?

 

[bbqwer]

I'm looking for a card to spend after the caps are reached and looking to maximise points before more cards get cut and also to replace my Westpac Black Amex for daily spend/ATO spend. I understand the Visa/MC option will net you cheaper points but it will be slower to getting to the amount of points I need/want.

I was in similar position, replaced WBC Altitude Black with AMEX Explorer ( gateway program merged with Ascent ) 2 ascent ppd, but did not receive 100k gateway bonus points.

 

[ninja-tim]

I was in similar position, replaced WBC Altitude Black with AMEX Explorer ( gateway program merged with Ascent ) 2 ascent ppd, but did not receive 100k gateway bonus points.

So on Explorer you receive 2 MR pts per $ spend and that converts to 1 MR = 1 mile?

Citibank always had a problem. No I did not done it in single transaction, I split it $3000 a day for the next 5 consecutive days. In regards to STG card, I always try to keep low profile, Dont want to ring any alarm bell. So far so good, no issue from STG Bank. I also set my max limit $10,000 / month for direct ATO payment.

I think that's a good idea. Will try to not spend too much ATO and other obvious business spend on the StG card.

 

[bbqwer]

So on Explorer you receive 2 MR pts per $ spend and that converts to 1 MR = 1 mile?

Yes Correct. Do you own amex Edge ? if not, get amex explorer and there is a good chance you will get 100k bonus points, and convert it straight to KF miles.
after that apply for amex EDGE for ascent reward. Call up AMEX and ask them to merged your amex explorer gateway program into ascent :mrgreen:

 

[Mark3000]

Citibank always had a problem. No I did not done it in single transaction, I split it $3000 a day for the next 5 consecutive days. In regards to STG card, I always try to keep low profile, Dont want to ring any alarm bell. So far so good, no issue from STG Bank. I also set my max limit $10,000 / month for direct ATO payment.

Maybe that's where I went wrong, I put $20 000 on St George and it didn't work for ATO

 

[bbqwer]

Maybe that's where I went wrong, I put $20 000 on St George and it didn't work for ATO

What happened ? STG card got cancelled ? Or points not rewarded ?

 

[Mark3000]

What happened ? STG card got cancelled ? Or points not rewarded ?

Points didn't come through, like they have in the past. I gave it a week and then asked private banker who said it's clearly not personal spend (even though it's my personal sole trader BAS and not from a business). He was nice enough about it and I got the impression maybe I'm lucky we have a good relationship and he stepped in to stop them cancelling my card. He said they are in the process of stopping points for ATO as per Westpac policy, like Westpac altitude MasterCard. I am tempted to do smaller amounts but don't want to risk annoying him and it hurt to pay the surcharge and get no points.
I wonder if we are getting close to the point where Westpac Amex at 0.5 points for 1.45% is going to be our best option.

 

[cove]

Don't bother with any 2.9 cent points unless you are so,so close to a reward redemption.