At a Glance

If you’re lucky enough to have someone who will help you financially, it is possible for them to pay your credit card bill. This can happen online, over the phone, via mail, or other ways, as long as the person has the proper account information.

Managing your own finances responsibly is always the best way to go, but if you’re in a pinch, reaching out for help doesn’t hurt. Read on to learn more:

In this article, you’ll learn:

Why someone would pay your credit card bill

It probably won’t happen often, but it is possible for someone else to pay your credit card bill.

For credit card issuers, the most important thing is that they get paid on time. Ultimately, they don’t really care where that payment comes from as long as it’s legal and the payment is applied to the right account.

Most of the time, cardholders pay their own card bill, but because there aren’t rules against someone helping to ensure your bill is paid, it may happen because they are:

  • Paying in your name to help you build credit or avoid a late fee.
  • Paying on your behalf if you’re sick, hurt, or otherwise unable to pay the bill on your own.
  • Paying as part of the financial power of attorney they’ve been granted.
  • Providing assistance if you’re unemployed or struggling financially and can’t afford the bill on your own.

How can someone else’s credit card bill be paid?

If someone wants to help you pay your credit card bill, there are several ways they can do so. First, make sure they know your:

  • Card issuer
  • Account number
  • Amount due (or minimum amount due)

You can find this information on your billing statement or in your digital account portal. Then, they can:

1. Pay online

This is probably the fastest and easiest way for someone to pay your bill. The person starts by logging into their own financial institution and inputting the information needed to add the card issuer as a payee (including your account number). If they will pay the bill regularly, they can set up autopay.

Or, if you share your credentials, they can log into your credit card account and pay directly through the portal. They can also likely set up autopay thereby entering their financial institution information, such as their account and routing numbers.

2. Pay via phone

Anyone is able to call the number on the back of your credit card, and there’s typically a “make a payment” option that will get them to a customer service representative who can help them make a payment on your behalf.

Note that most issuers have security measures in place for phone payments, such as asking for a security password or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Make sure the person calling in to make the payment has the information necessary to access your account and make the payment.

3. Pay by mail

Your credit card statement will include a mailing address and the due date in addition to how much you owe. Someone can mail a payment to your account, but make sure they allow the payment time to be delivered and processed to avoid it being reported as late.

You can usually pay by check or money order via mail.

4. Pay by visiting a branch

If there’s a branch of the card-issuing bank near the person making the payment, they can visit the branch and typically pay in cash. They will likely still need your account number and/or other personal identifying information so the account can be identified and verified for payment.

5. Pay via cash

You can pay in cash at a local branch, but issuers don’t typically want cash via the mail.

6. Pay through check

If you’re paying through mail, issuers typically prefer check or money order.

Is paying someone else’s credit card bill a gift?

The International Revenue Service (IRS) considers most things you give away, even to a third party like a credit card company, a gift (assuming the cardholder doesn’t repay you). That means taxes could potentially be due from you, not the person who paid your bill. However, this depends on the situation and how much they give you.

Note that it can be complicated, so you may want to check with the IRS about your specific situation to understand any rules and regulations.

1. Loan vs. gift

Technically, anything you transfer to someone else without receiving full value for it in return is considered a “gift” by the IRS. This includes paying cash, check, or transferring money to pay off someone’s credit card without the intent to receive payment back.

If it is expected that you will pay the person back after they pay off your card, this is considered a loan. However, the IRS also states that repayment must include interest equal to the federal rate. The interest on the loan is considered taxable income and it must be reported.

The exception is that you don’t have to charge interest on loans under $10,000, so if someone pays your creditor less than this, you’re probably in the clear. $10,000 also falls within the annual exclusion for gift tax purposes.

2. Gifts to friends and family

The good news is, the IRS allows someone to gift/give away up to $15,000 per person per year without paying taxes. So, if someone pays off your credit card debt and it’s less than $15,000, it’s not taxable and interest isn’t an issue.

The IRS also offers a several million dollar lifetime tax exclusion, so unless someone is giving away more than $11 million in their lifetime, they don’t need to worry about taxes on the gift money they use to pay off your debt.

3. Others

If you pay off your spouse’s credit card, it’s not a gift regardless of how much it is. You can give any amount to your spouse tax-free.

FAQs

Yes, you can pay off a credit card with another credit card via a balance transfer or a cash advance. These can be considered in a pinch, but know that you may owe fees or interest and there may be other, better ways to do so.

There are two ways: The person can add the name of the credit card company as a payee in their bank account, including the account number of the person whose bill they want to pay. Or, they can pay the bill directly onl8ine by using your login information to access your online account.

While you’re not required to pay off your spouse’s credit card debt, you can do so if you choose.

It is possible to transfer money from your credit card to your or someone else’s bank account, but you’ll likely owe transfer fees so it should be avoided if possible.

Yes, being on someone else’s credit card as an authorized user can help build and establish your credit if the card is used responsibly and it’s paid off each month. However, it can also hurt your score if you’re on an account that’s not in good standing, such as having a high credit utilization or missed payments.

You can use someone else’s credit card if you receive permission from the cardholder and the cardholder agreement allows it. However, unless the card owner has explicitly granted you permission to use their card, even a small purchase is considered fraud and illegal.