When making a purchase or payment $500 or larger, consider opening a new credit card account with a cash back sign-up offer of $200 or more.

You could earn hundreds of tax-free dollars a year by planning your credit card applications the smart way.

Since the sign-up offers usually require spending a certain minimum amount on the card, plan your larger purchases by getting a new credit card account.

Many of card’s bonus can only be redeemed for travel or store purchases. The offers below give the cardholder account holder actual cash in the form of a tax-free rebate, i.e. statement credit.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• $800 cash back (80,000 points) after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
• Bonus points on travel and dining, includes delivery and takeout
• 1% other eligible purchases
• Cash back is received in the form of Ultimate Rewards points (100 points = $1) redeemable as a statement credit.
• $95 annual fee (waived for first year)

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

• $600 cash back (60,000 points) after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
• Double bonus points on travel and dining, includes delivery and takeout
• 1% other eligible purchases
• Cash back is received in the form of Ultimate Rewards points (100 points = $1) redeemable as a statement credit.
• Points worth 50% extra if redeemed for travel and other select categories
• $300 annual travel credit
• $550 annual fee (waived for first year)

Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card

• $500 cash back (50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
• 2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining
• 1.5 points on other eligible purchases
• Preferred Rewards members earn 25% to 75% more points per purchase
• Get cash back when you redeem the points you earned (100 points = $1).
• $95 annual fee

BBVA Select Credit Card (limited availability)

• $500 cash back (50,000 points) after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
• 4x points on entertainment purchases
• 3x points on dining purchases
• 2x points on travel purchases
• 1 point on all other eligible purchases
• Get cash back when you redeem your points (100 points = $1).
• $99 annual fee (waived the first year)

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

• $300 cash back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months.
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months.
• Everyday Cash Back: 6% at U.S supermarkets (superstores like Walmart or Target don’t qualify) on up to $6,000 per year in purchases
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% at U.S gas stations and on transit (includes rideshares, parking, tolls, buses, trains, and more)
• 1% other eligible purchases
• Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars redeemable as statement credit.
• $95 annual fee (waived for first year)

Capital One® Savor® Rewards Credit Card

• $300 cash back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
• 4% cash back on dining and entertainment
• 2% cash back at grocery stores
• 1% other eligible purchases
• $95 annual fee

Star Trek Credit Card from NASA FCU

• $300 cash back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
• 2X rewards at gas stations
• 1X reward for other eligible purchases on card
• $39 annual fee
• Credit union membership required

Disney® Premier Visa® Card From Chase

• Get $300 statement credit with minimum spend $1,000 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
• 2% in Disney Reward Dollars on select purchases
• 1% in Disney Reward Dollars on all other eligible charges
• $49 annual fee

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

• Get $200 back (20,000 bonus points) with minimum spend $1,000 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
  
• 0% intro APR on purchases for first 12 months
• 4x points on dining, takeout, food delivery
• 2x points at grocery stores (including delivery)
• 2x points at gas stations
• 2x points on streaming service subscriptions
• 1 point on all other eligible charges
• Rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
• No annual fee

BMO Harris Bank Cash Back Mastercard®

• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers (made within first 90 days) for first 12 months (3% fee)
• 2% on eligible gas and grocery purchases (maximum $2,500 combined, then 1%)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No annual fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• 0% Intro APR on purchases for first 15 months after account opening
• Earn 5% cash back for travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Get 3% cash back at restaurants (includes takeout and delivery)
• Get 3% cash back on drug store purchases
• 1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases
• No minimum amount when redeeming for cash back
• No annual fee

Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card

• Earn 20,000 bonus rewards points (redeemable for $200 cash back) after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
  
• 0% Intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. Balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum
• 3% cash back on dining purchases, such as delis, fast food, coffee shops, casual restaurants and fine dining
• 3% cash back at gas stations, rideshares, and transit
• 3% cash back on popular streaming service subscriptions
• 3% cash back on airlines, hotels, homestays, car rentals
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
• Rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
• No annual fee

American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card

• Get $200 back after you spend $1,000 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
  
• 0% intro APR on purchases for first 15 months
• 3% cash back on groceries at supermarkets ($6,000 limit)
• 2% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations
• 2% cash back at select department stores
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
• Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
• No annual fee

American Express Cash Magnet® Card

• Get $200 back after you spend $1,000 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
  
• 0% intro APR on purchases for first 15 months
• 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases
• Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
• No annual fee

Bank of America® Cash Rewards Visa® Card
MLB™ World Mastercard® from Bank of America

• Get $200 online cash rewards after a spend of $1,000 with first 90 days
  
• Introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers for first 12 billing cycles
• 3% cash back on category of your choice
• 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
• 1% rewards on all other eligible purchased items
• Get the logo of your favorite Major League Baseball team on the card
• No annual fee

Capital One® Quicksilver Rewards Card

• Get $200 back after you spend $500 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
  
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for first 15 months
• 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases
• Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
• No annual fee

Capital One® SavorOne® Rewards Credit Card

• $200 cash back after you spend $500 in purchases on your new card within the first 3 months
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
• 3% cash back on dining and entertainment
• 2% cash back at grocery stores
• 1% other eligible purchases
• no annual fee

Elements Financial CU Signature Rewards Visa® Card

• Get $200 cash bonus after you spend $1,000 on 10 or more purchases with new card within first 3 months
  
• Introductory 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months
• 1.5% cash back and rewards on eligible everyday purchases
• No balance transfer or foreign transaction fees
• No annual fee
• Credit union membership required

Rotary International Cash Rewards Visa Signature® credit card from Bank of America

• Get $200 cash back after you spend $1,000 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
  
• Introductory 0% APR for 12 months for purchases and balance transfers
• 3% cash back on category of choice, such as gas, online shopping, drug stores, home improvement & furnishings, dining or travel
• 2% cash back at eligible grocery stores and wholesale clubs
• 1% rewards on all other eligible purchased items
• No annual fee

Use Credit Card Bonuses Wisely

Apply these common sense rules before applying for too many credit cards at once.

Use the signup bonuses with a definite purpose.
Before you pick a program, explore each one in depth.

Apply for a maximum of two cards per year.
You may earn more rewards by signing up for more, but that could limit your ability to earn bonuses in the future.

Pay your balance in full every billing period.
Banks rely on the fact that they earn more in interest and fees than what they give back in bonuses or rewards.

Avoid cards with annual fees.
They cost more than the services they provide and closing an account limits your buying power.