# Credit Card Points Hack - Get more Value from your Points **URL:** \ **Category:** Credit Cards\ **Tags:** cash, money-market-funds\ **Created:** [November 13, 2025, 8:03am UTC](https://community.clark.com/t/credit-card-points-hack-get-more-value-from-your-points/8570 "2025-11-13T08:03:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PFA\_in\_ATL](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.clark.com/pfa_in_atl/32/4661_2.png) [@PFA\_in\_ATL](https://community.clark.com/u/PFA_in_ATL)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 8:03am UTC](https://community.clark.com/t/credit-card-points-hack-get-more-value-from-your-points/8570/1 "2025-11-13T08:03:12Z")
Dear Clarkies, A listener recently called in with a gripe: _“Why can’t I get a check from my 2% cash-back cards anymore?”_ Specifically, they mentioned Wells Fargo Active Cash and Citi Double Cash. Clark’s response? This might be part of a growing trend, credit card companies nudging us to spend those rewards on stuff (hello, gift cards!) instead of cashing out. **My Old Strategy:** For years, I let my points pile up like a squirrel hoarding acorns. Then, when a big purchase or bucket-list experience came along, I’d cash in those points to soften the blow. **My New Hack:** Recently, I flipped the script. Here’s what I do with my Wells Fargo Active Cash card: - Use points to pay down part of my balance—say, $1,000m then pay the remaining balance from checking. - Move that same $1,000 from my checking account into a money market account at my credit union. - Tag that money for the big splurge or experience I had in mind. Why? Because when interest rates were north of 4%, that earmarked money is now growing instead of sitting idle. It’s like turning cashback into a mini-investment strategy! Just a little nugget from the peanut gallery. What do you think—smart move or overkill? Regards, Paul ---
**Author:** ![glasspilot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@glasspilot](https://community.clark.com/u/glasspilot)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2025, 11:26am UTC](https://community.clark.com/t/credit-card-points-hack-get-more-value-from-your-points/8570/2 "2025-11-13T11:26:22Z")
I subscribe to the K-I-S-S principal. Keep It Simple Stupid! I have 3 cards with rewards. When any of them get above $50 I just do a statement credit and forget about it. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.clark.com/jolly/32/4257_2.png) [@Jolly](https://community.clark.com/u/Jolly)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://community.clark.com/t/credit-card-points-hack-get-more-value-from-your-points/8570/4 "2025-11-14T23:15:39Z")
There might also be a potential tax liability to getting a check versus a credit on your credit card. ---
**Author:** ![Claytheman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Claytheman](https://community.clark.com/u/Claytheman)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.clark.com/t/credit-card-points-hack-get-more-value-from-your-points/8570/6 "2025-11-19T21:50:37Z")
I have the Citi double cash card and use regularly. I request my cash award to be directly deposited to my checking acct. because I like to keep up with that extra income. To me that is the same thing as waiting for them to send you a check. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.clark.com/jolly/32/4257_2.png) [@Jolly](https://community.clark.com/u/Jolly)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.clark.com/t/credit-card-points-hack-get-more-value-from-your-points/8570/7 "2026-01-20T18:36:55Z")
> [@Claytheman](#): > > because I like to keep up with that extra income. Yeah, I don’t know if that is a problem right now or will be in the future. But when it’s applied to your credit card balance, it just disappears. If you get a check, it may wind up being a tax liability. (And yes, I get that you may have never declared it or paid taxes on it. You can cheat or get your taxes wrong all you want – until you get audited.) ---
**Author:** ![Jolly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.clark.com/jolly/32/4257_2.png) [@Jolly](https://community.clark.com/u/Jolly)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 1:55am UTC](https://community.clark.com/t/credit-card-points-hack-get-more-value-from-your-points/8570/9 "2026-01-21T01:55:53Z")
That’s a Bold strategy! I highly recommend you keep doing that. (And for everyone else who doesn’t like unnecessary risk and conflict, I’d suggest you just get the credit and avoid any possible hassle.) ---
**Author:** ![ratbert2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@ratbert2k](https://community.clark.com/u/ratbert2k)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://community.clark.com/t/credit-card-points-hack-get-more-value-from-your-points/8570/10 "2026-01-21T02:09:28Z")
Or they could, I don’t know, [look](https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/110614/are-credit-card-rewards-considered-taxable-income-irs.asp) [it](https://www.amegybank.com/personal/community/amegy-insider/credit-card-rewards---taxes--what-businesses-should-know-/) [up](https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/articles/are-credit-card-rewards-taxable) [online](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/are-credit-card-rewards-taxable/). ---
**Author:** ![FmMaj9\_NoName](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/community.clark.com/fmmaj9_noname/32/4721_2.png) [@FmMaj9\_NoName](https://community.clark.com/u/FmMaj9_NoName)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.clark.com/t/credit-card-points-hack-get-more-value-from-your-points/8570/11 "2026-08-19T15:13:50Z")
No, there is no tax liability. The money you’e receiving is “cash back,” so it’s basically a small refund of your spending. It is not considered income.