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How to earn points and cash back with Plastiq.com

How to earn points and cash back with Plastiq.com
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How to earn points and miles with Plastiq.com

Before going any further, we can confirm that this is a legitimate service recognized by the government. We’ve used it several times, and the Canada Revenue Agency lists this service on its website as a service provider that offers credit card payment for taxes.

What payments are authorized on Plastiq?

As an individual, you can pay many suppliers by credit card, via Plastiq.com:

  • Taxes (provincial and federal)
  • Municipal and school taxes
  • Condo fees
  • School fees
  • Hydro Quebec
  • Professional services (accountants, lawyers…)
  • Private schools
  • Professional associations (annual registration to an order for example…)

However, you cannot pay your credit card balances via Plastiq or send cheques to yourself or relatives (except in exchange for services).

As a business or professional, you can pay vendors or suppliers, even your contractors!

Table of authorized suppliers by card type

On Plastiq, you’ll find an English-language table summarizing the credit and charge cards that can be used with different suppliers, in both Canada and the U.S.!

Plastiq.com service fees

Of course, it’s not a miraculous service: there are fees for every transaction made on Plastiq.com. However, it is the Canada Revenue Agency’s lowest-cost credit card payment provider.

These fees are:

  • 2.9% for all credit cards
  • 2.49% to make a payment to the Canada Revenue Agency (electronic transfer)
Plastiq Payment

Example of a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) payment

Here’s a step-by-step guide to paying the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) via Plastiq. You’ll see that Plastiq is accepted as a payment method by the CRA.

First of all, you’ll need to add the CRA as a beneficiary, if you use your profile. It is also possible to pay without creating a file with Plastiq and pay ARC.

plastiq ARC FR

Then check the information carefully. You can see that payments to the CRA are made by EFT (electronic funds transfer). Your CRA file will be updated within 2-3 business days of receiving payment from Plastiq.

Plastiq ARC Cheque

You are now ready to make your payment to the CRA. As the ARC is already registered with Plastiq, you will be asked to fill in a number of fields (including the type of taxes you will be paying). You indicate on the calendar the date you want the payment to arrive at the CRA. Plastiq then automatically calculates the payment date for you.


plastiq cra config


You’ll be asked for other details, such as your SIN (which allows us to issue your payment to your CRA account) and your tax date.


plastiq cra details


Finally Plastiq will show you a summary before payment.

There you go! By clicking on the confirmation, your payment to the CRA is gone. We’ll keep you informed by e-mail of our progress. You will also be able to view it in the Plastiq management interface.

When to use the Plastiq.com service

In our opinion, it is advantageous to use the Plastiq.com service under 3 conditions.

The gain in points or cash rebates must be worth it

However, few cards offer more than a 2% return on your spend. Here, the charge is 2.49%.

That’s why you’ll need to have in your wallet one of the cards offering a 2% discount on all your expenses, or even more. Or a card whose points provide a sufficient return like the one shown below.

To unlock a welcome bonus

Many cards offer generous welcome bonuses (notably the National Bank World Elite Mastercard and Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +), provided you have made a minimum expenditure over a period of several months.

In some cases, the amount to spend can be several thousand dollars!

In this case, it may be worthwhile to use the Plastiq.com service. In this case, it’s worth the cost to avoid losing the opportunity to earn thousands of points!

To obtain the missing points for a trip

Are you a few hundred or thousands of points short for your next trip or on your Aeroplan account? Plastiq.com could be the solution to your problem.

Instead of buying gift cards for different businesses, you could, for example, pay your electricity, municipal taxes or income taxes in advance.

List of providers milesopedia members can vouch for

The milesopedia community, on the facebook group « milesopedia – Credit Cards and Rewards », has validated the use of these suppliers via Plastiq(discussion topic here).

City / CountryTypeNameAmex – MastercardBank transfer / Cheque
ALMASchool taxesCOMMISSION SCOLAIRE DU LAC-SAINT-JEAN – DAYCARE SERVICESAmex – MastercardTRANSFER
AlmaMunicipal taxesCity of Alma – TaxAmex – MastercardBank transfer
BouchervilleMunicipal taxesCity Of BouchervilleAmex – MastercardBank transfer
CANADAServicesEnergir – Gaz MetroAmex – Mastercard
CANADAServicesHydro-QuebecAmex – MastercardBank transfer
CANADAServicesSAAQAmex – MastercardCheque
CANADAFood PensionIncome QuebecAmex – MastercardCheque
CANADAProfessional OrderOrder of PharmacistsAmex – MastercardCheque
CANADAProfessional OrderOrdre Des Ingenieurs Du QuebecAmex – MastercardBank transfer
CANADAProfessional OrderOrdre des Ergothérapeutes du QuebecAmex – MastercardBank transfer
CANADAProfessional OrderCPA QuebecAmex – MastercardBank transfer
CANADATaxationCanada Revenue AgencyAmex – MastercardBank transfer
CANADATaxesIncome QuebecAmex – MastercardCheque
CANADACondominium feesCondo feesAmex – MastercardCheck
CANADAInsuranceNational Bank InsuranceAmex – MastercardBank transfer
CANADAInsuranceCo-Operators
CANADAInsuranceLa Capitale
CANADAInsuranceIntact InsuranceAmex – MastercardCheques
CANADAInsuranceCanada Life AssuranceMastercardBank transfer
CANADAInsuranceSSQ (Group)MastercardBank transfer
CANADAInsuranceUV Mutuelle (Life Insurance)MastercardCheck
Affluents School BoardSchool taxesAmex – MastercardCheque
DubergerDaycare / SchoolEverest elementary school (daycare fees and school supplies)Amex – MastercardCheque
GatineauMunicipal taxesVille De GatineauAmex – MastercardBank transfer
MirabelSchool taxesCSSMIAmex – Mastercard
MirabelMunicipal taxesVille de Mirabel – TaxAmex – MastercardBank transfer
MontrealSchool taxesSchool Board of MontrealAmex – MastercardCheque
MontrealMunicipal taxesCity of montrealAmex – MastercardCheque
MontrealDaycare / SchoolKids & CompanyAmex – Mastercard
Morin-HeightsMunicipal TaxesMunicipalité de Morin-Heights – TaxAmex – MastercardTransfer
QuebecSchool taxesCommission Scolaire Premiere SeigneurieAmex – MastercardCheque
QuebecSchool taxesCommission Scolaire des DécouvreursAmex – MastercardCheque
QuebecMunicipal taxesCity of Quebec – TaxAmex – MastercardBank transfer
RepentignyMunicipal taxesAmex – Mastercard
Saint-Bruno-de-MontarvilleSchool taxesCommission Scolaire des PatriotesAmex – MastercardBank transfer
Saint-Bruno-de-MontarvilleMunicipal taxesCity of St. Bruno De MontarvilleAmex – MastercardTransfer
Sainte-Agathe-des-MontsSchool taxesCommission Scolaire Des LaurentidesAmex – MastercardBank transfer
Sainte-Agathe-des-MontsMunicipal taxesVille de Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts – TaxAmex – MastercardBank transfer
Town of l’AssomptionMunicipal taxesAmex – MastercardBank transfer

Bottom Line

Please note that Plastiq purchases charged to a BMO card do not earn rewards points.

For example, the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard allows you to charge a single card. However, this expense will not count as an eligible expense for a welcome offer or earn BMO Rewards points.

Plastiq is a handy service that allows you to unlock welcome bonuses and earn points for payments you’ve made by cheque or via your bank account!

Just a reminder: don’t use this service if you can’t pay off your credit card balance! The interest charged (16 to 30%) far outweighs any rewards you might have earned!

Exclusive
Annual fee
$0 $150
No annual fee the first year
Our valuation
$150
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
First Year Annual Fee Rebate
$150 annual fee rebated
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With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.

  • Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
  • 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
  • 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
  • 1 point per dollar for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to airport lounges
  • Airline ticket upgrades

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000
Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 2xTravel
  • 2xBills & recurring payments
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$778
2nd Year Value$923

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$400
Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Trip CancellationUp to $2,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+2 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

How to pay a transfer tax with a credit card

The first thing to do is to check if your city accepts credit card payments. Some do. Alternatively, you can use a third party such as PLASTIQ or PAYSIMPLY, who will accept your credit card payment and forward the amount to the recipient by cheque or electronic transfer.

However, since there is a fee for this service, Milesopedia recommends using this strategy to unlock the bonus on a new credit card.

How to pay municipal or school taxes with a credit card ?

The first thing to do is to check if your city accepts credit card payments. Some do. Alternatively, you can use a third party such as PLASTIQ or PAYSIMPLY, who will accept your credit card payment and forward the amount to the recipient by cheque or electronic transfer.

However, since there is a fee for this service, Milesopedia recommends using this strategy to unlock the bonus on a new credit card.

Our featured card

Featured
Annual fee
$120
Our valuation
$990
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 110,000 points
Ends Sep 22, 2026
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Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points with the current offer:

  • Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
  • Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

You move up to Gold Elite status automatically when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card in a year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your Card.

Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

Annual fee

Primary card$120
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xMarriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 2xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,437
2nd Year Value$312

Travel insurance

Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

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Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.