How to pay the ATO with Amex in 2026

Can you earn points paying the ATO with Amex?

Short answer: Pay the ATO through B2Bpay with your American Express card and you earn Membership Rewards points at your card's standard rate, plus B2B Points on the Earn Plus or Earn Max plan. B2Bpay pays the ATO on your behalf using your payment reference number (PRN), and you can keep the cash for up to 55 days depending on your card.

Why most business owners miss out on points when paying the ATO

Your tax bill is likely one of the larger regular payments your business makes, yet it often earns nothing. Paid by bank transfer or BPAY, your BAS, PAYG or income tax instalments earn no points at all. Paid directly by card, many cards earn reduced or no points on government payments, and the ATO has said it will stop accepting credit cards after 30 June 2027. So even if your card has a generous earn rate, those points can stay out of reach at tax time.

How paying the ATO by credit card works through B2Bpay

B2Bpay is a payment platform built for Australian businesses. It lets you pay suppliers, bills and government obligations, including ATO liabilities, by credit card, even when the biller doesn't accept cards directly.

You pay B2Bpay with your card, and B2Bpay settles the amount with the ATO on your behalf by bank transfer, with your PRN attached. A platform fee applies and is shown upfront before you confirm, so there are no surprises when your statement arrives.

1. RegisterSign up at the B2Bpay sign-up page with your ABN. There is no joining fee.
2. Add your AmexAdd your American Express card to My Wallet.
3. Add the ATO as a billerEnter your payment reference number exactly as it appears on your BAS or notice of assessment.
4. Enter the amount and confirmThe platform fee is displayed before you confirm. B2Bpay charges your card and pays the ATO.

The ATO gets paid on time, you keep your cash in the bank a little longer depending on your card's interest-free period, and your card earns points as if you'd used it anywhere else. Step-by-step detail is in how to pay the ATO by credit card.

The double points angle: Amex plus B2Bpay

This is where it gets interesting for Amex cardholders.

When you pay through B2Bpay with your American Express card, your card earns Membership Rewards points at its standard rate. Amex treats the payment like any other purchase, so your card rewards build as normal, subject to American Express's terms for your card.

On top of that, on the Earn Plus or Earn Max plan you earn B2B Points, which you can convert to the reward partner of your choice: Qantas Points, Velocity Points or Avios.

That's points from two separate loyalty programs on a single ATO payment. For a business with a significant quarterly BAS, or an annual tax bill running into tens of thousands of dollars, that's a big points haul compared with a bank transfer that earns nothing. More on conversion is in Velocity Points, Avios and Société Points.

What ATO payments you can make

B2Bpay handles a broad range of ATO payment types, including:

• Business activity statements (BAS)
• PAYG withholding and instalments
• Company tax
• GST
• Fringe benefits tax
• Other ATO obligations with a payment reference number (PRN)

If the ATO has issued you a PRN, you can generally pay it through B2Bpay. If you're unsure, call 1300 205 575 and the team will confirm before you pay.

What about BPAY?

BPAY is one of the most common ways businesses pay the ATO. It's simple, reliable and widely used. The problem is that it earns you nothing.

When you pay by BPAY, the money moves, the ATO gets paid, and that's the end of it. For a one-off small payment that might not matter much. But across a year of BAS lodgements, PAYG instalments and company tax, you're sending a lot of money somewhere that gives nothing back.

With B2Bpay you pay by credit card instead, and B2Bpay settles the debt with the ATO on your behalf. You earn your card's reward points on the full amount, plus B2B Points on top. A platform fee applies, and for cardholders with strong earn rates (Amex cardholders in particular), the points value often stacks up well against that fee.

If you pay the ATO by BPAY out of habit, it's worth running the numbers with the points calculator. The switch is simple, and the rewards add up faster than most people expect. The fee is generally a business expense; confirm with your accountant.

Cash flow and the interest-free days advantage

Beyond points, there's a practical cash flow benefit.

If your card offers up to 55 days interest-free on purchases, paying your ATO liability through B2Bpay means you meet the ATO's due date while keeping the funds in your business account a little longer. That breathing room can matter when cash timing is tight between quarters. See 55 days interest-free explained.

This isn't a reason to delay payments or let debt build up on your card. If you won't clear the balance in full, the interest will outweigh any points benefit. But for businesses that pay their card in full each month, it's a sensible way to extend the working capital cycle on a payment you're making regardless.

Accounting integration makes it simple

B2Bpay connects with Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks, so your ATO payments reconcile cleanly without manual data entry. You get a payment record, and it flows through to your accounts automatically. See paying bills from Xero, MYOB and QuickBooks.

What happens when the ATO stops taking credit cards?

The ATO has said that after 30 June 2027 it will no longer accept credit cards directly. Payments through B2Bpay are unaffected, because the ATO receives a bank transfer from B2Bpay rather than a card payment. You can keep paying your tax by Amex and keep earning. Read ATO credit card changes 2027.

Make every tax payment work for you

Tax bills are one of the few certainties in business, so there's no reason to let that money move without getting something back. Paying the ATO through B2Bpay with an eligible Amex card means you earn your usual Membership Rewards points, plus B2B Points on top, and if you clear your card in full each month, a bit of extra room on cash flow too. It's a small change to how you pay, but across a year of BAS, PAYG and tax instalments it adds up to a real return on money you were spending anyway.

Latest Amex Business Card offers

Looking for high-value American Express Business Card offers in Australia? With B2Bpay you can unlock more value from your American Express Business Card by earning rewards on business payments that typically don't earn points when paid directly.

Learn more

Start earning B2B Points today

Join B2Bpay for free to pay all your business bills and be rewarded along the way.

Get started Call 1300 205 575