ATO (tax office) payments by credit card

[andrewf]

I'm not aware of any other credit card that even matches the earn rate of Westpac's Altitude Black Amex or Singapore Airlines Platinum Amex for ATO transactions (both earn 1.5 KF points per $).

The only other Aussie cards that can earn KF points (directly or by transfer) are those issued by Amex (direct), ANZ, Bank SA, Citibank, HSBC and St George. Most earn 0 or 0.5 pts per $ with ATO. I think the next best is ANZ platinum Amex with 1 KF pt per $.

"Bex is better" according to an old advertisement.
The best Kris points come from Westpac Altitude Black and Westpac KrisFlyer Amex when dealing with the ATO.
Non ATO for KrisFlyer points goes to Citi Select and it is an easy to use Visa card.

Thanks for that guys. I already have a Earth black on a significantly reduced annual fee and was having a standoff with Westpac about the fees if i got an additional Altitude, but if it is the best earn then i will suck it up and pay the full fee.

 

[Jack_OC]

Non ATO for KrisFlyer points goes to Citi Select and it is an easy to use Visa card.

That's somewhat debatable, depending on where you spend most of your money. There's another thread on this, but to quickly summarise:
- Select earns 1.33 KF pts/$ domestically
- Amex Plat Edge earns 3 KF pts/$ in supermarkets, 2/$ in petrol stations, 1/$ at most other merchants and 0.5/$ on utilities.
- Westpac Black or SQ Amex earns 1.5 KF pts/$ everywhere

I currently have all three of these cards, and for me, Select only wins for overseas spend (3.33 pts/$) or where Amex isn't accepted.

 

[cove]

Everyone has different circumstances Jack3193 so we use Select for lots of purchases where a Visa or MasterCard can be used.
Supermarket can be a special situation where multiple points per dollar are earned or you pay 95% by using Gift Cards from RAC.
1.33 points on Visa for the non supermarket stuff in Australia is very good for me as that is a lot for us.

 

[legroom]

Everyone has different circumstances Jack3193 so we use Select for lots of purchases where a Visa or MasterCard can be used.
Supermarket can be a special situation where multiple points per dollar are earned or you pay 95% by using Gift Cards from RAC.
1.33 points on Visa for the non supermarket stuff in Australia is very good for me as that is a lot for us.

Given that I started the other thread, I have to say I am with Cove on this.

My own spend on Select fully justifies the (hefty) fee.

Each will have to juggle his/her own values depending on your own spending pattern.

 

[Jack_OC]

Given that I started the other thread, I have to say I am with Cove on this.

My own spend on Select fully justifies the (hefty) fee.

Each will have to juggle his/her own values depending on your own spending pattern.

To be fair, I didn't make any comment (in this thread) on whether or not the fee is justified. I just pointed out that there are other cards with higher KF earning potential for many transactions - I thought it was worth mentioning that, since I assume anyone interested in this thread has options other than Select available to them!

 

[cove]

Each AFF member needs to tailor their credit card rewards system to their own expenditure pattern.
There is no one deal fits all in our diverse membership.

 

[legroom]

To be fair, I didn't make any comment (in this thread) on whether or not the fee is justified. I just pointed out that there are other cards with higher KF earning potential for many transactions - I thought it was worth mentioning that, since I assume anyone interested in this thread has options other than Select available to them!

Everything you wrote earlier was correct and any sensible person should do the same: max AMEX where possible (with no surcharge) followed by Select.

As I would expect from my honorary accountant !

 

[burmans]

Frankly I think both Jack3193 and cove are partially correct

Westpac Black or SQ Amex are best where you can use Amex
Plat Edge however is good for supermarkets/petrol station
Select is good for overseas spend

Then where you cant use Amex and its not a supermarket/petrol station Select becomes the general card. This is pretty much how I use, if a "special category" use the appropriate card as above, then use the Select if not.

 

[DTM1]

I use my black amex for all AU spend which accepts Amex (inc ATO). I use my Citi signature for everything else domestically (could not see the dif in fees between signature and select making any sense at all). For o/s spend, I have a Sin-issued credit card which earns SQ KF miles. Th ebeauty of the Sin cc is that competition in sin between ccs is so strong, that almost no cards charge any o/s transaction fee or conversion fee. The wonders of real competition in the cc space...

 

[madrooster]

For those who haven't noticed, the merchant rate for MC/Visa has dropped by 0.06% to 0.42% effective 01/09/2013.

 

[cove]

Well madrooster you really know how to put a smile on my face. That new rate is a beauty for Visa and MasterCard payments.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

For those who haven't noticed, the merchant rate for MC/Visa has dropped by 0.06% to 0.42% effective 01/09/2013.

Now, if only there is a cost effective way to get 1.5 QF pts/$1...

 

[Deleted User]

For those who haven't noticed, the merchant rate for MC/Visa has dropped by 0.06% to 0.42% effective 01/09/2013.

Great to see, but for those where the fee is tax deductible, it's a bit ho hum

 

[cove]

With direct Amex cards effectively off the game we have some excellent opportunities with Visa and MasterCards as well as big 4 Banks card combinations.

 

[burmans]

For those who haven't noticed, the merchant rate for MC/Visa has dropped by 0.06% to 0.42% effective 01/09/2013.

Shame they can't get a reduction in the Amex rate!

 

[sumthinfornuthin]

This card doesn't do KF points...

Sorry, was not looking carefully enough....1.5 QF points per dollar

 

[PLANT]

Hey Cove u voting chicken man for points all in one payment or would the credit cards implode?

 

[cj0325]

Interesting note on my latest Citibank Signature Statement; issued 4/9 for period ending 3/9:
Important information about your credit card account (Account)

This notice of variation is provided to you with your September 2013 statement of Account and sets out a change to your terms and conditions. Please read it carefully and retain it for your records.

Changes to Citibank Rewards and Citibank Qantas Rewards Program Terms and Conditions

Effective 1 November 2013, the definition of Eligible Transaction shalf be replaced by:

Eligible Transaction means any Retail Purchase which is made by the use of a Card or any other means permitted by Citibank, excluding (but not limited to) transactions by way of Cash Advances, Balance Transfers, Special Promotions, fees, purchases of foreign currency and travellers cheques, foreign exchange and ATM/ Bank charges, interest charges, finance charges, government charges, payments to the Australian Taxation Office, insurance charges, payments
to Citibank loan accounts (mortgage etc), purchases in excess of limits on the Account. transactions made in operating a business and if the Account is more than $10,000 in credit only, all other transactions.

Please do not hesitate to contact us on 132484 if you have any questions regarding this notice and we will be happy to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


I look the liberty of underlining the "payments to the Australian Taxation Office" section.

 

[cove]

When we get back to Australia on Sunday I will have to start thinking about ATO but it can wait.
It is Book Of Mormons show tonight in London instead.
We are heading home in Suites so that works really well for longhaul to Singapore.

 

[legroom]

Interesting note on my latest Citibank Signature Statement; issued 4/9 for period ending 3/9:
Important information about your credit card account (Account)

This notice of variation is provided to you with your September 2013 statement of Account and sets out a change to your terms and conditions. Please read it carefully and retain it for your records.

Changes to Citibank Rewards and Citibank Qantas Rewards Program Terms and Conditions

Effective 1 November 2013, the definition of Eligible Transaction shalf be replaced by:

Eligible Transaction means any Retail Purchase which is made by the use of a Card or any other means permitted by Citibank, excluding (but not limited to) transactions by way of Cash Advances, Balance Transfers, Special Promotions, fees, purchases of foreign currency and travellers cheques, foreign exchange and ATM/ Bank charges, interest charges, finance charges, government charges, payments to the Australian Taxation Office, insurance charges, payments
to Citibank loan accounts (mortgage etc), purchases in excess of limits on the Account. transactions made in operating a business and if the Account is more than $10,000 in credit only, all other transactions.

Please do not hesitate to contact us on 132484 if you have any questions regarding this notice and we will be happy to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


I look the liberty of underlining the "payments to the Australian Taxation Office" section.

Well, its sibling card - Citi Select - has been documented to be ATO-averse since March 2013.

If anything, Citibank is 6 months overdue in establishing a legal basis for its sudden change of mind in March.