Citibank made the frequent-flier miles taxable

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Max

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Citibank is sending tax forms to customers who received thousands of airline miles as a reward for opening a checking or savings account.  And to add insult to injury, Citibank chose to value those miles at a hefty 2.5 cents apiece, making a bad situation even worse.

Why is Citibank doing this?
Surely, Citibank’s cost to purchase the miles was significantly less than that. And while it is possible to get 2.5 cents of value or more out of a mile, most experts would agree that it is an aggressive valuation.
Somewhat ironically, the difficulty in placing a value on miles is the primary reason that the IRS has historically not taxed them. (It also explains why you should always favor a business credit card that awards point/miles rather than a cash rebate).

What about miles earned from credit card bonuses?
Fortunately, Citi seems to be the only bank doing this at the moment and has limited this practice to bonuses awarded for checking and savings accounts. This practice has not extended yet to credit card bonus offers. The distinction, as clarified by the IRS, apparently is this – credit card sign up bonuses are almost always tied to a purchase requirement, and thus can be considered similar to a rebate:

… in those cases, miles [received for using a credit card] wouldn’t be taxable because they’re more like a rebate.

“A common analogy… is buying a $500 television at a retail store and receiving a $50 manufacturer’s rebate. It’s not income, just a deemed reduction of the cost of the television.”

In contrast, awards associated with opening an account are similar to a gift or award: “When frequent-flier miles are provided as a premium for opening a financial account, it can be a taxable situation subject to reporting under current law,” said Michelle Eldridge, an IRS spokeswoman.

Disclaimer:  Before taking any action, consult a tax professional to assess your own personal situation.

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