You can still pay the ATO by credit card until 30 June 2027. Here is how to earn more on it
The ATO will keep taking credit cards until 30 June 2027. What changed, who it affects, and how to earn extra points on your tax bill, with or without an ABN.
A week ago the ATO said it would stop accepting credit cards after 30 November 2026. On 9 October the government stepped in. You can now keep paying your tax by credit card until 30 June 2027. This will help small businesses who have been paying the ATO directly to manage their cashflow – it’s the right call…
The short version
- The ATO will keep accepting credit card payments until 30 June 2027, not 30 November 2026.
- The government will cover the card costs in the meantime, so there is no surcharge for paying the ATO by card.
- The longer-term plan after June 2027 has not been confirmed yet.
- Paying the ATO directly does not earn full points. Paying through Sniip is a full points earn – Points Booster adds points on top, with or without an ABN.
What is actually changed
On 1 October 2026, the ATO announced it would stop accepting credit cards after 30 November 2026. The reason the ATO gave was that it could not absorb the card costs , and as surcharges are now banned, it would drop credit card payments altogether.
The reaction was quick. Small business groups and Opposition Party spokespeople pushed back on how much this decision would hurt small business owners. It was seen as particularly hypocritical given that many of those small businesses didn’t have the option of removing card payments, but would be forced to absorb them. . On 9 October 2026, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the government would cover the costs so the ATO can keep accepting credit cards until 30 June 2027. He said the extra time lets the ATO consult with businesses and get it right.
Paying the ATO directly vs paying through Sniip
You can pay the ATO directly by card until June 2027. If you are someone who uses credit cards to earn loyalty points, it is important to remember you will never earn full points this way.
When you pay your ATO bill through Sniip, you get full points – every time. If you want extra points, you can switch on Points Booster. For a large tax bill, that can be a big pile of points on one payment .
Sniip also works for individuals. Most of the services that let you pay the ATO by card are built for businesses and therefore require you to enter an ABN. That leaves out the employee with an investment property, the retiree on quarterly PAYG instalments, or anyone who ended up owing tax this year. We built Sniip for households as well as businesses.
No ABN, no worries
Pay your personal or business tax bill by card through Sniip. No ABN needed.
See how it worksHow to pay your tax through Sniip
Sniip lets you pay bills with the payment method you prefer, including a credit card, even where the biller does not accept cards directly. The ATO is one of those billers.
- Add your ATO bill using the BPAY biller code and your reference number.
- Choose the card you want to pay with and switch on Points Booster.
- Confirm. The ATO receives the funds by BPAY, the way it normally would.
Fees are shown before you confirm, including the processing fee and any Points Booster fee. You see exactly what the extra points cost before you pay.
Worth knowing. Payments take time to clear. Pay a couple of business days before your due date so the ATO receives the funds on time.
FAQs
The information in this article is general in nature and does not take your objectives, financial situation or needs into account. Sniip is not affiliated with the Australian Taxation Office. Fees, conditions and eligibility criteria apply. Check your card’s terms for how bill payments are treated.
Pay your bills, keep your points
Pay any BPAY or non-BPAY bill with the card of your choice and still earn your card’s rewards.