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How to earn points when you pay the ATO by credit card
Compare credit cards that earn reward or frequent flyer points when you pay your tax bill. Plus, how to make payments and what it'll cost you.
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If you want to make a payment to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) using a credit card, you have the option of paying online or over the phone with an American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit card. A small number of credit cards even earn points for spending with the ATO or other government bodies, usually at a reduced rate when compared to the points you earn for everyday purchases.
Before pulling out a credit card to pay your taxes, use this guide to check whether or not you can earn rewards or frequent flyer points in the process. You can also compare cards that offer points for ATO payments and learn more about the fees and restrictions so that you can decide whether using a credit card is worth it.
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NAB Qantas Business Signature Card
Earn 100,000 bonus
Qantas Points
Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply
NAB Credit Card Offer
Collect 100,000 bonus Qantas Points with a NAB Qantas Business Signature Card and manage your business expenditure under a single account.
- 100,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $4,000 within the first 60 days
- Annual fee of $295 per card
- 18.5% p.a. purchase interest rate with up to 44 days interest-free
- Must have a registered ABN/ACN and must be registered for GST with a turnover of at least $75,000 per year
What's in this guide?
How can I tell if my credit card earns points for tax payments?
There are two main ways you can check whether or not your card offers points for payments to the ATO:
- Check the reward program terms and conditions. Look at the credit card’s earn rate details or go to the reward program terms and conditions for a list of transactions that are not eligible to earn points. If “government charges” or “ATO payments” are on the list, then you won’t earn points for your tax payment.
- Contact your credit card company. Call, email, use an online chat service or leave a message on social media asking the credit card company whether or not your card earns points for ATO payments. If you decide to use social media, make sure you don’t share any personal details and only mention the name of the card (rather than your account information).
Which credit cards offer points for payments to the ATO?
To help you weigh up your options, this table shows credit cards that will earn you points when you make a payment to the ATO – including the amount of rewards you’ll get for every dollar you spend.
| Credit Card | Points per $1 for government charges | Other notes |
|---|---|---|
| American Express cards: | 1 point per $1 spent | The American Express Platinum, Essential and Explorer cards all list an earn rate for payments to government bodies, including the ATO. The American Express Platinum Edge does not specifically list payments to government bodies as eligible or ineligible for earning points. |
| 0.5 points per $1 spent | These American Express cards all list an earn rate for payments to government bodies, including the ATO. | |
| American Express David Jones credit cards: | 1 point per $1 spent | The American Express David Jones credit cards don’t specifically list payments to government bodies as eligible or ineligible for earning points. |
| American Express business cards: | 1 point per $1 spent | These American Express cards all specifically list an earn rate for payments to government bodies, including the ATO. |
| 0.5 points per $1 spent | These American Express cards all specifically list an earn rate for payments to government bodies, including the ATO. | |
| ANZ | 0.5 ANZ Reward Points for every $1 spent on taxation payments | These ANZ cards specifically list this earn rate for “taxation payments”. |
| Bank of Melbourne | 0.5 Amplify points per $1 OR 0.25 Qantas points* *Requires opt-in to the Qantas program | These earn rates are specifically listed for government payments, which includes those made to the ATO. |
| BankSA | 0.5 Amplify points per $1 OR 0.25 Qantas points* *Requires opt-in to the Qantas program | These earn rates are specifically listed for government payments, which includes those made to the ATO. |
| Commonwealth Bank | 1 point per $1 spent | The CommBank Awards program terms and conditions state that payments to the ATO won’t earn points unless they are made with a Business Awards or Business Platinum Awards card. |
| NAB |
| These earn rates are specifically listed for payments made to the Australian Taxation Office. |
| St.George | 0.5 Amplify points per $1 OR 0.25 Qantas points* *Requires opt-in to the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program | These earn rates are specifically listed for government payments, which includes those made to the ATO. |
Compare credit cards that earn points for ATO payments
How can I pay the ATO with a credit card?
You can use a credit card to pay the ATO through the Government EasyPay website or phone service, via your MyGov account or through BPAY. You'll find details on each option below, but before you get started, make sure you have the following handy:
- A valid Visa, Mastercard or American Express card.
- Your payment reference number (PRN) or electronic funds transfer (EFT) code. This number can be found above the bar code on your payment slip or debt notice, or online via myGov.
How to pay the ATO using the Government EasyPay service
This secure payment service is provided by the ATO and the Reserve Bank of Australia. It allows you to make online payments as either an individual or a business using the following steps.
- Go to the ATO website's "How to pay" page and scroll down to the credit/debit card section.
- Click "Pay now with the Government EasyPay service" to be taken to the secure payment website.
- Enter your Payment Reference Number (PRN), the amount you're paying and your card details, then follow the prompts to complete the payment.
Alternatively, you can call the Government EasyPay phone service on 1300 898 089 and provide your details over the phone.
How to make an ATO payment through myGov
If you're an individual or sole trader, you can pay your tax bill through your myGov account (as long as you have linked it to the ATO).
- Log in to your myGov account.
- Select the "Australian Taxation Office" link.
- Click on the "Tax" column, select "Payments" and then "Payment Options".
- Select the card payment option and follow the prompts to complete the payment.
How to use a credit card for BPAY payments to the ATO
If your credit card allows BPAY payments, you can use the following steps to pay the ATO:
- Log in to your credit card's Internet Banking service and select the BPAY option.
- Fill in the payment details, including the BPAY Biller Code and Reference Number located on your ATO payment slip or debt notice.
- Follow the prompts to complete the transaction.
Keep in mind that most credit card issuers treat BPAY transactions in a similar way to cash advance transactions. When this is the case, you could be charged a cash advance fee and the cash advance interest rate from the time the transaction is made. You also usually don't earn points for BPAY payments from a credit card.
What is the credit card fee for ATO payments?
When you use your credit card to make a transaction with the ATO, you'll be charged a card payment fee. The cost is calculated as a percentage of your payment, with the following rates for different card types:
- American Express: 1.45%
- Australian Visa credit card: 0.93%
- Australian Mastercard credit card: 0.73%
- Australian Mastercard debit card: 0.18%
- Australian Visa debit card: 0.38%
- International Visa or Mastercard: 2.2%
You can avoid these card payment fees by paying the ATO through bank transfers or BPAY payments. However, BPAY payments made from a credit card usually aren't eligible for points.
Other important details about using a credit card and earning points for tax payments
If you’re planning to use a credit card for your ATO payment, make sure you also keep the following in mind:
Credit card reward point exceptions
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence online that suggests some people have earned rewards for ATO payments on other credit cards – including some that state government payments are not eligible for rewards.
However, reward program terms and conditions usually note that there could be variations. They also typically reserve the right to make changes or exclude transactions from earning rewards.
So, while there may be times when you do earn points on ATO payments with a card that does not define them as "eligible transactions", it could be risky.
Business payments on personal credit cards
If you're planning to use a credit card to pay your ATO debt for a business, keep in mind that most personal credit cards have restrictions around business spending (including personal business spending). So, for example, if you run a small business and pay with your personal credit card, the transaction may not be eligible to earn any points.
ATO payments deadline
Additional fees and penalties may apply if you don't settle your bill with the ATO by the due date listed on your bill or Tax Assessment Notice. Keep in mind that transactions done outside regular office hours are processed the following business day. This includes payments made after 6pm (Sydney time) on weekdays, as well as those made on weekends or public holidays.
If you're having trouble paying the full amount owed, call the ATO on 13 28 65 (for individuals) or 13 72 26 (for businesses) to discuss your options. You can also request a payment plan through a registered tax agent or via myGov.
Credit card surcharge tax deductions
The ATO card payment fee may be tax deductible under some circumstances. For example, if you're paying a tax bill for your business. Claiming the fee as a tax deduction could also help make earning points worth it. You can check with your accountant to find out if you’re eligible to claim this cost.
Is earning points on a tax payment worth it?
The cost of the ATO card payment fee means that the value you get from any points is likely to be worth less than what you spend to earn them. However, if you really want to earn points for your tax payment, you can work out the exact value by considering the following details:
- The surcharge you’ll pay based on the card you use
- The amount of points you’ll earn based on your tax payment
- Your reward balance and/or any rewards you’re saving up to redeem
Example: Working out if paying your tax bill with a credit card is worth it
Say you had a tax bill of $10,000 and wanted to pay with an American Express credit card that offers 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent with the ATO. Here’s how the costs and points would break down:
- ATO card payment fee: $145 (based on the 1.45% charge for Amex transactions)
- Points earned: 5,000 Qantas Points
In terms of rewards, these points could get you a $25 David Jones digital gift card (from 4,790 points), or be saved up for flights or other high-value frequent flyer rewards.
If you really needed an extra 5,000 Qantas Points, earning them in this way would be cheaper than buying them, with the Qantas Frequent Flyer program offering 5,000 points for $208. So in this case, the value of the points really depends on how much you want them.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll typically get more value per point if you use an Australian Mastercard or Visa credit card that offers points for ATO payments. This is because the ATO payment fee is much lower for these types of credit cards compared to American Express cards.
Either way, looking at the total cost of the payment fee and the amount of points you’ll earn based on your tax debt and credit card will help you decide if it’s worth it.
FAQs about earning points for credit card payments to the ATO
If you want to know more about credit cards that earn points for ATO payments and other government charges, you’ll find answers here to some of the most common questions. Or, if you have another question, get in touch with us by filling out the comment box below.
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Ask an Expert
Hi there,
I am looking for an Australian Business Credit Card that ATO credit card surcharge deductible. For example, if I’m paying my business tax bill and claiming the fee as a tax deduction could also help making earning points.
Hi Christina,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
There are business credit cards earning points for ATO payments from our comparison table above. You can use the table to help you find the card that suits you. You can press the “Go to site” button of your preferred card if you are ready to apply. Please make sure though to read the eligibility criteria, features and details of the card, as well as the relevant PDS/ T&Cs of the card before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you.
With most credit card payments to the ATO attracting a surcharge make sure you do your sums before deciding how to pay. It’s also worth considering fee-free options – such as BPAY or a direct transfer from your everyday bank account – so that you can find the most convenient and affordable way to pay your tax bill.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Can I use my ANZ visa card or Westpac Amex card to pay BAS?
Thanks
Hi Judy,
Thank you for your inquiry.
You can make a payment by credit card or BPAY. To find out more, please read ATO’s how to pay guide to learn more about how you can pay with BPAY or credit card and debit card.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold
I am looking for a visa or mastercard to use to make payments with the ATO to earn qantas frequent flyer points. I understand not all cards do this and are being limited. What cards do you know of that are on offer for this service ?
Thank you
Hi Beth,
Thanks for your inquiry. Please note that we are not affiliated with any company we feature on our site and so we can only offer you general advice.
The range of CommBank Business Awards credit cards is currently the only option that states ATO payments made with the Mastercard will earn points. Unfortunately, most other banks no longer allow cardholders to earn rewards points on ATO payments. The providers listed on this page are currently the only ones in Australia that allow cardholders to earn points on tax payments.
If you wish to explore other options, please check our list of frequent flyer credit cards. (Please note that these cards do not earn points for ATO payments).
Cheers,
Rench
Hi
Im with nab at the moment and i convert all my points to qantas ff, can you advise the best card for making large payment to the ato for maximum qantas ff points?
thanks
Hi Brett,
Thanks for your question.
Currently, Westpac’s Altitude Black (AMEX) lets you earn 1.5 points per $1 paid to the ATO. Unfortunately, starting 1 July 2017, this card will no longer earn points for ATO payments.
After the changes in the coming months, most credit cards that earn rewards points to the ATO will generally earn just .5 points per $1. You can refer to the list above.
Cheers,
Anndy
My bill is greater than my card limit. If I transfer funds to my credit card so I have a credit balance. Can I use those funds to pay the ATO and earn the extra reward points.
Hi Dean,
Thank you for your question.
Generally, transferring funds to your credit card will not increase your credit limit, it will be treated as an overpayment. If banks accept payment from you in excess of your outstanding balance, your available credit limit will not be increased by the amount of the overpayment and it does not necessarily mean that bank will authorize transactions for an amount in excess of your credit limit.
It would be best to check with your bank before making an overpayment.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Liezl