Tax season is in full swing, and if you’re staring down a balance due, you might be wondering whether it’s worth putting that payment on a credit card.
It’s a question we get every year here at TPG, and the answer is: It depends.
I’m paying my taxes with this card to hit its welcome bonus, which is worth about $1,388 according to TPG’s March 2026 valuations.
The case against: Most payment processors charge fees that typically range from about 1.75% to nearly 3%, which can quickly eat into the value of your rewards. And if you carry a balance for too long, interest charges could surpass the value of the rewards.
Ultimately, whether it’s worth it comes down to your specific situation, but given the potential upside, it’s always worth running the numbers before you pay.
If you want a new card that you can make a payment with right away, check out these cards that provide instant card numbers upon approval. And if you have a bit more time, these are the cards with the best welcome offers this month (spoiler: there are some really good ones).
Nobody likes a big tax bill, but if you’re going to pay it anyway, you might as well get something back.
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