Disclaimer: My bias in direction of CardUp is actual, particularly given the way it has been a fail-proof resolution for me for the final 6+ years. However right here’s how the opposite choices at present stack up anyway, and how one can resolve for your self.
Since my latest article on how you should use CardUp to earn miles whereas paying your earnings tax to IRAS (that will in any other case not have earned you any rewards), a number of of you’ve reached out to me to ask if the financial institution cost services – Citi PayAll, SC EasyBill, UOB Fee Facility – could be higher.
The excellent news is, CardUp in all probability is aware of this as properly, which could clarify why they’ve launched promo codes to cut back the admin charge charges. However they’re not the one one, as the assorted banks have additionally run time-sensitive promo codes to attempt as they every battle so that you can pay your taxes by them.
So…as a shopper, what do you have to select?
Right here’s the most recent on present charges (after promo):
Cardup | Citi PayAll | SC EasyBill | UOB Fee Facility | |
Admin Price | 1.75% (Visa) 1.8% (AMEX – new) 1.9% (AMEX – current) 1.99% (MasterCard) |
2.6% (beforehand 2.2%) | As much as 1.9% (slight discount from 1.99%) |
1.9% – 2.3% (varies by playing cards)
(previously 1.7% – 2.2% for one-off, or 2.8% – 4.7% for month-to-month instalments) |
Downsides | Promo charges final till Aug 2024.
Can not use AMEX playing cards. |
Minimal spend of S$8,000 applies. | No choice for recurring funds i.e. you must pay your complete earnings tax in full without delay. | Promo charges finish the earliest i.e. on 30 June 2023. One-off solely i.e. you must pay in full. Fees and rewards (mpd) varies between UOB playing cards (examine right here). |
The most important trade-off with utilizing your financial institution cost facility is that they both require you to make your tax cost in full, or impose a minimal spend. But when that isn’t an issue for you, then right here’s the way you may wish to resolve:
For those who’re a UOB cardholder, utilizing the UOB Fee Facility is perhaps greatest for limitless miles, albeit at a 2% admin charge. However should you’re utilizing the UOB PRVI Miles, then CardUp will likely be a more sensible choice as you’ll pay decrease charges (1.75% vs. 2.3%) and earn a better 1.4 mpd slightly than simply 1 mpd.
For those who’re a Normal Chartered cardholder who can repay your complete earnings tax in full without delay, then the SC EasyBill may serve you higher.
For those who’re a Citibank cardholder, you will get 2 mpd once you select to pay through Citi PayAll in your tax transactions, and 1.6 mpd on all Citi PayAll non-tax transactions. The draw back? Each affords require a minimal spend of S$5,000 on non-tax transactions on a single card, which is unhealthy information for you guys who’re simply hoping to pay their taxes and nothing else.
For those who’re a HSBC cardholder, you’d be foolish to make use of your HSBC card now that HSBC has discontinued its Earnings Tax Fee Programme, and particularly excludes CardUp funds from incomes rewards.
In fact, if not one of the above financial institution cost facility choices swimsuit you, then you could wish to use CardUp as a substitute…which is what I personally do.
For those who’re questioning why I’ve not included iPayMy on this checklist, that’s as a result of they’re virtually just like CardUp (which I personally use) and at present cost a better charge for earnings tax funds made this 12 months, even after the promo charges. Additionally, the cardboard I take advantage of for earnings tax funds is a UOB card, which particularly excludes iPayMy so I can not earn rewards and haven’t been ready to make use of it there.
Use CardUp should you want recurring funds
For those who’re paying your earnings tax in month-to-month instalments, CardUp is the only option amongst all the above choices, as a result of you possibly can arrange recurring funds each month and nonetheless benefit from the promotional charges (except you’re utilizing a MasterCard):
Visa | MasterCard | |
Promo code | BBTAX24 | MCTAX24 |
Price cost | 1.75% | 1.99% |
Fee kind | One-off and recurring | One-off and recurring |
Expiry date | Have to be scheduled earlier than 31 August 2024 | Have to be scheduled earlier than 31 August 2024 |
You even have much more flexibility with regards to which bank card you should use with the service, slightly than being restricted to the financial institution’s personal playing cards. Apart from HSBC playing cards, you should use playing cards from actually each different issuer on CardUp – though you could wish to be sensible about which card you employ by checking right here first.
Which bank card do you have to use on CardUp?
Personally, I’ve used my UOB PRVI Miles with CardUp since 2017 as a result of it has been incomes me a candy 1.4 mpd all through all these years. There’s no competitors, particularly when the identical card solely will get me 1 mpd if I have been to undergo the financial institution’s cost facility as a substitute.
For many of us, 1.4 mpd is the candy spot with many playing cards providing that earn fee on CardUp, together with however not restricted to:
- UOB PRVI Miles
- UOB Visa Infinite Steel
- Normal Chartered Visa Infinite (on native spend >S$2k a month)
In any other case, the 1.2 mpd class additionally has the widest vary of mass-market playing cards that may be paired with CardUp:
- Citi PremierMiles
- DBS Altitude
- Maybank Visa Infinite
- Krisflyer UOB
For those who’re privileged sufficient to personal a by-invite-only high-end card just like the DBS Vantage, DBS Insignia, Citi ULTIMA or UOB Reserve, then you possibly can probably earn a better 1.6 mpd in your CardUp funds.
If that is your first time utilizing CardUp, use the code BUDGETBABE to save lots of S$30 off your first transaction with no minimal spend required. This lets you earn free miles on a cost of as much as S$1,154 (primarily based on CardUp’s common admin charge of two.6%).
Or use BBTAX24 to get the bottom 1.75% charges in your earnings tax funds.
In fact, except your cost on CardUp is exceptionally excessive, not one of the promo codes can battle with the S$30 financial savings you’ll get if and once you use BUDGETBABE as a substitute.
But when your CardUp cost is something greater than $3,500, then you definately’ll be higher off utilizing both of the above promo codes – relying on whether or not you maintain a Visa / MasterCard card.
Like this hack? Keep in mind to share it along with your family members to allow them to cease shortchanging themselves of miles they may have in any other case earned! 😉
Save in your CardUp funds once you use my affiliate promo codes BBTAX24 (in your earnings tax) or BUDGETBABE (for each different cost sorts).
With love,
Price range Babe