Visa Gift Card...

[reallynervous]

My dh's employer does quarterly gifts for participating in health programs. It is a program where each quarter you can earn a reward for doing a walking program, weight loss program, etc..

They give the reward on a "Visa gift card". I was thinking these were just like another gift card, once used they are done. However, dh told me that the card is one that they will add his next quarter reward (if he would earn one) onto the same card. The Card says Visa Gift Card on it. It has dh's name and his employer's name on it.

So, is this considered a credit account? I hope it is not as I don't want dh to have to list it as we are hoping his employer doesn't need to find out about the BK filing. For instance, dh might get approved for a $50 reward for his walking program this quarter. If so, they will put $50 on the gift card.

Also, would the $50 need to be included as income for the month?

Thanks for any info you might know. It is such a nice thing the company is doing (hopefully to be offset by a reduction in their health care premiums), but for us right now it could be an unfortunate thing, I guess.

reallynervous

[CATCHMEIFYOUCAN]

I'm assuming it is one of those gift cards that you are allowed to reload and reload. I wouldn't mention it if it can't be tracked in anyway. It's only $50.

But, if the company does what my company did, they will have already included that as income on his paystubs !

The company would issue an american express gift card of $50, but you would see that on your paystub!

Best of Luck, CMIYC

[lrprn]

But, if the company does what my company did, they will have already included that as income on his paystubs !

My company gave me a gift certificate for $150 as a thank you for doing a really good job with a difficult client. It showed up as an income line item on one of my paycheck stubs that had to be included in my six-month lookback for our filing. Our lawyer said that since it was on the stub, the $150 had to be counted into our income total.

Hope your husband won't run into this problem, but if he does, then as goofy as it seems, he will have to include the $50 and whatever other reward $$ that may be showing on the last six months of paycheck stubs as income when you file.

[reallynervous]

Thanks for the feedback.

So, if it is included on his paycheck, then it would be included in the gross total pay figure on his stubs which is what we use for the filing, right?

I am not as concerned about having to count it as income as I guess it is in a way and $50 won't affect us much. I was more concerned that we would have to list it as one of our accounts and was hoping we didn't have to do that.

So, his name being on it is probably more to identify to them which account is his to add additional reloads to it (vs paying for a new card each quarter)?

Does that sound right?

Thanks,
reallynervous

[lrprn]

So, if it is included on his paycheck, then it would be included in the gross total pay figure on his stubs which is what we use for the filing, right?

Right.

I was more concerned that we would have to list it as one of our accounts and was hoping we didn't have to do that.

I don't see why you would list a renewable gift card as an account, but check with your lawyer to be certain.