$350
284% APY
1,000/hr for your time
Direct deposits totaling $500+ within 90 days.
Ease 7/10 · ~10 business daysNo expiration
Direct depositDetails
284% effective APY
$500 committed, about 90 days
Are bank bonuses taxable, and what forms arrive
Core · 5 min read · updated 2026-08-14
Yes, bank account bonuses are taxable income in the United States. Banks usually report them on Form 1099-INT as interest, sometimes on Form 1099-MISC as other income, and send the form in January for the year the bonus posted. Credit card welcome offers earned through spending are generally not taxable.
Which form you get
| Bonus type | Tax treatment |
|---|---|
| Checking or savings account bonus | Taxable. Form 1099-INT, sometimes 1099-MISC. |
| Brokerage transfer bonus | Taxable. Usually Form 1099-MISC. |
| Credit card welcome offer earned by spending | Generally treated as a rebate, not income, so no form. |
| Referral bonus you receive for referring someone | Taxable. Usually Form 1099-MISC. |
What it costs you
Multiply the bonus by your marginal rate. A $300 bonus in the 22 percent federal bracket plus a 5 percent state rate nets about $219. That is still an excellent return for fifteen minutes, but it should be the number you compare against, not the headline.
Banks sometimes fail to send a form for small amounts. The income is still reportable.
Keep a simple record
- Note the bank, the amount, and the date the bonus posted, for every offer you complete.
- In January, match the 1099s against your list so nothing is missed or double counted.
Offers that prove the point
Live offers from the tracker, updated as terms change.
$250
203% APY
500/hr for your time
Two direct deposits of $500+ in 75 days. Code CHECKING250.
Ease 7/10 · ~60 daysNo expiration
Direct depositDetails
203% effective APY
$500 committed, about 90 days
$400
162% APY
533/hr for your time
Direct deposit $1,000 within 90 days of opening.
Ease 7/10 · ~15 days after DDEnds in 8d
Direct depositDetails
162% effective APY
$1,000 committed, about 90 days
$110 cash bonus
134% APY
314/hr for your time
Open checking through the referral and maintain recurring direct deposits totaling at least $500 for 60 days. New members must meet LMCU eligibility rules.
Ease 7/10 · after the 60-day qualification periodNo expiration
Direct depositDetails
134% effective APY
$500 committed, about 60 days
Questions people ask
Are credit card sign up bonuses taxable?
Generally no, when earned by meeting a spending requirement, because the IRS treats them as a purchase rebate. Bonuses earned without spending, such as a referral payment, are taxable.
What if I never receive a 1099?
You are still expected to report the income. Keep your own record of every bonus and the date it posted.
Keep going
More guides
Start earning
Master bonus wall
Every account, one place
59+ bonus links across banks, brokers, cards, crypto, and cashback apps. Every button hits a cloaked /go/ redirect, so no personal token ever lands in your browser bar.