ATO (tax office) payments by credit card

[cove]

With call centres my biggest gripe is when I call where the phone I have used lacks a hands free option. Then some answer systems let you know the wait time is 5 minutes but don't tell you it is really 1 hour and 5 minutes. I am not troubled by Mumbai nor Manila answering as often the calls are handled much more quickly.
I did my usual 10,000 points for $54 at about 5am and it went thru sweetly.

 

[Kangol]

Has that been reduced from 0.75 points?

You might be thinking of the Black (0.75 QFF ppd on the Amex).
Altitude and Altitude Platinum are 0.5 QFF ppd on the Amex.

 

[Radio8tiv]

Just a quick update to those chasing QFF, Westpac BusinessChoice rewards Aquire Visa is still paying out .66ppd so less then 1c per point, even though it's not listed on other sites like the point hacks guide, it's what I use and worked again last month.

 

[CarltonBlues]

Cove, I hear you have used US Citi CCs with success - have you also tried any cards issued by Chase?

 

[cove]

I haven't needed to get a Chase CC but I did see that they were stating no foreign exchange fees like Citi US so it could be ok. Don't bother with a directly branded US Amex card as I tested that and it was too expensive. Currently the AA miles have been harder to redeem than previously so just be aware of this. The biggest reason I will be looking is because Qudos is stopping on November 30th. Seeing we will be in the US shortly I thought I might get a sign on with a new US CC.
I still find Kris Miles thru Westpac and Citi Prestige (Australia) to be great for travel overseas out of Perth for Los Angeles and London provided you are ok with the booking fees. We stop now at Crowne Plaza Changi for the evening so we avoid the 1 or 2am departure.
Looks like we will be going overseas a bit more frequently but stii for short breaks as Mrscove's parents need her to be around.

 

[boffman]

Currently the AA miles have been harder to redeem than previously so just be aware of this.

That's interesting - I've got a load of points stockpiled with Diners and had been thinking about redeeming on AA. Do you think that's just a Perth thing? (I'm Sydney)

 

[cove]

AA seats on domestic routes in the US have been a problem in first class at reasonable miles(Saver). The LAX-LHR has been ok. Getting out of Sydney has been difficult to get to LAX in business or first class.
If all else fails we can do many coast to coast domestic flights in Australia in business class as that is still really ok.
SQ Kris miles have been good for us for LHR or LAX so Westpac and ATO has worked sweetly.

 

[cove]

I have been trying to catch up to Mrscove with her Qantas points stash without much success. Every day I go another 10,000 points on a credit card that runs out of use on November 30th. Looks like Mrscove will be flying me around in the future unless I start using AA miles.

 

[pgsdiver]

Have just been approved for Bank Australia Visa. I'll test as soon as I get the card in my hand.
Here's hoping.
P
PS: Yes it was a drama to go through the application process.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Have just been approved for Bank Australia Visa. I'll test as soon as I get the card in my hand.
Here's hoping.
P
PS: Yes it was a drama to go through the application process.

I'll save you the anguish, it works.

 

[pgsdiver]

I'll save you the anguish, it works.

Interesting - I had to get the card anyway as part of our mortgage package, so that's a welcome bonus. It'll be good to get back on the gravy train. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Gold Member]

With the pending demise of the Qudos and Qang (Simpsons joke) Visa offering ATO 1:1 until December 1st, I've taken it upon myself to maximise my earn potential in the meantime. A quick call to the ATO yesterday and they've manually generated Q2's PAYG EFT/PRN payment eligibility since the MyGov ATO portal doesn't offer it yet let alone multiple (over)payments.

For the remainder of the month, I will manually pay $10K to the ATO using Q&Q card via the Optus Smart Pay Portal. At 0.54%, that's a $200K outlay yielding 200,000 QFF points for ~$1K spend (tax deductible makes it ~$500). That's a cost of 0.25c per QFF point. No credit card sign up stuff arounds (I'm looking at you cough1bank), chase ups and credit file hits. As usual, the ATO will refund the balance of over payment via cheque/EFT when I call them early December.

Now if only there was a way to ever use the QFF points other than adding to my vast collection of toasters. In fact I'm waiting for the day when QF announces that the online mall has been Enhanced by adding a fuel surcharge to all purchases. With the current price of oil and QF's hedging well placed for many years to come, what better way to build customer loyalty.

 

[cove]

Gold Member yes it is just a game. My youngest son is on board too. Mrscove is worried.

 

[MelbMan]

Yes Gold Member I hear what you say "No credit card sign up stuff arounds (I'm looking at you cough1bank), chase ups and credit file hits". Looking back on Credit Savvy I can see all the old card applications, still single figures in my case, and some reasonably paltry points involved.. CBA card with 40,000 sign on but beyond that the points offered were not attractive enough for other spending. The Jetstar MC was given a good pre late Oct hit... so the question now is what to replace this with. To just soldier on with the Virgin AMEX and take a tax deductible hit on the surcharge. Or perhaps a business card which still allows these payments.

You'd have to think there is some sort of opening here for a card provider somewhere???

 

[cove]

Getting 10,000 points per day for $54 is a little addictive and Mrscove is expressing concern that I have warped one of our sons.
Not satisfied with a mere 10,000 a day he has picked card sign ons for 100,000,75,000 50,000 and 30,000 that I know about in the last 60 or so days.
I think he is envious that I am ahead on getting a World CC issued.
There may come a day when he won't need to use his parents points/miles.
Of course he wants a US credit card now.

 

[unfunkable]

Hi Cove, sorry I must of missed it , but which card is this 10k going on again? Cheers

 

[cove]

Gold Member mentioned it on page 702. If you don't have this card don't bother as the end is nigh.

 

[cove]

Since receiving the note from a CC company that from the end of November there would be no more points from ATO I have filled a foolscap sheet with $10,000 daily payments. Will need to start on page two as youngest son is onboard as well.
Have never figured why my maximum daily figure is $10,000 and my son's card has the same restriction.
I am still waiting for my own World CC card and I am hoping it arrives before we go to the US. Of course I can use Mrscove's card if there is a delay.
I can see the card details on my bank log in but I need the card for the CCV and validity date.

 

[whatmeworry]

Since receiving the note from a CC company that from the end of November there would be no more points from ATO I have filled a foolscap sheet with $10,000 daily payments. Will need to start on page two as youngest son is onboard as well.
Have never figured why my maximum daily figure is $10,000 and my son's card has the same restriction.
I am still waiting for my own World CC card and I am hoping it arrives before we go to the US. Of course I can use Mrscove's card if there is a delay.
I can see the card details on my bank log in but I need the card for the CCV and validity date.

My guess it is an anti laundering measure.

 

[cove]

The other strange thing is I cannot transfer more than $50,000 into that credit card as there is a limit.
Not really sure what money laundering is seeing all we are doing is paying taxes that the fiscal fiend requires us to pay by a due date.
I try very hard to pay ahead of the due date.
We were out socially and I heard that the person sitting beside me was over a million dollars behind and was getting threatening calls from the ATO collections folks.
That would not be good for blood pressure readings is what I was thinking.