Best card for
Best credit card for Government / tax
Which card to use for Government / tax in India - all 187 cards ranked
by what you actually get back on ₹20,000, after caps, exclusions and fees.
Top cardson ₹20,000
1
Biz Black Metal Edition Credit Card
Pay directly
hdfc.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
₹665
665 pts · 3.33%
2
PVR INOX Kotak
Pay directly · 1 free PVR ticket (≤₹300) per ₹10,000 of monthly billed spends - UNCAPPED ticket count
kotak.com · 22 Aug 2026
₹600
3%
3
HSBC Premier
Pay directly · Utilities/rent/wallet/govt/education/insurance/jewellery: points capped · cap cumulative ₹1,00,000 spend/month across these categories
hsbc.co.in · 22 Aug 2026
₹600
600 pts · 3%
4
Air India SBI Signature Card
Pay directly
sbicard.com · 1 Oct 2026
₹480
800 pts · 2.4%
5
YES Bank Marquee
Pay directly
yes.bank.in · 20 Aug 2026
₹450
1,800 pts · 2.25%
6
SC Ultimate
Pay directly · 3 RP / ₹150 on utilities, supermarkets, insurance, schools, govt (2%)
av.sc.com · 20 Aug 2026
₹399
399 pts · 2%
7
SpiceJet Axis Bank Voyage Black
Pay directly
axis.bank.in · 30 Sep 2026
₹300
600 pts · 1.5%
8
Titan SBI Card
Pay directly
sbicard.com · 25 Sep 2026
₹300
1,200 pts · 1.5%
9
Adani One ICICI Signature
Pay directly
icici.bank.in · 30 Sep 2026
₹300
300 pts · 1.5%
10
Hello Cashback
Pay directly · 3% cashback on online spends up to Rs 10,000 · cap Rs 300 a cycle (3% of the first Rs 10,000 online), within the card Rs 1,500
idfcfirst.bank.in · 30 Sep 2026
₹300
1.5%
Best with no annual fee3
1
FIRST WOW!
Pay directly
idfcfirstbank.com · 25 Sep 2026
₹200
400 pts · 1%
2
CUB SalarySe Level UP Credit Card (Lifetime Free)
Pay directly
cityunionbank.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
₹200
1,000 pts · 1%
3
LIC Axis Bank Signature
Pay directly
axis.bank.in · 30 Sep 2026
₹190
200 pts · 0.95%
Best if you pay directly3
1
Biz Black Metal Edition Credit Card
Pay directly
hdfc.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
₹665
665 pts · 3.33%
2
PVR INOX Kotak
Pay directly · 1 free PVR ticket (≤₹300) per ₹10,000 of monthly billed spends - UNCAPPED ticket count
kotak.com · 22 Aug 2026
₹600
3%
3
HSBC Premier
Pay directly · Utilities/rent/wallet/govt/education/insurance/jewellery: points capped · cap cumulative ₹1,00,000 spend/month across these categories
hsbc.co.in · 22 Aug 2026
₹600
600 pts · 3%
Cards that earn nothing here107
HDFC Infinia Metal
Government transactions earn 0 points (w.e.f. 1 Jan 2023).
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
HDFC Diners Club Black Metal
Government transactions earn 0 points (w.e.f. 1 Jan 2023).
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
HDFC Diners Club Privilege
Government transactions earn 0 points (w.e.f. 1 Jan 2023).
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
HDFC Millennia
Government transactions earn nothing.
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Swiggy HDFC Bank
No cashback on government transactions.
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Tata Neu Infinity HDFC
Government transactions earn no NeuCoins.
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
HDFC Regalia Gold
Government transactions earn 0 points (w.e.f. 1 Jan 2023).
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Tata Neu Plus HDFC
Government transactions earn no NeuCoins.
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
HDFC Regalia
Government transactions earn 0 points (w.e.f. 1 Jan 2023).
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Marriott Bonvoy HDFC
Government transactions earn nothing.
hdfc.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
PIXEL Play
Government related transactions earn nothing.
hdfc.bank.in · 21 Sep 2026
HDFC MoneyBack+
No CashPoints on fuel, EMI, rent payments, government-related transactions or wallet/gift/prepaid card loads and voucher purchases.
hdfc.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
HDFC Freedom
No CashPoints on fuel, EMI, rent payments, government-related transactions or wallet/gift/prepaid card loads and voucher purchases.
hdfc.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
IndianOil HDFC Bank
No reward point accrual on rental and government category payments.
hdfcbank.com · 25 Sep 2026
HDFC PIXEL Go
No CashPoints on fuel, wallet/gift/prepaid card loads, rent, government-related transactions or EMI transactions.
hdfc.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
PhonePe HDFC Bank Ultimo Credit Card
No reward points on card bill payments/charges, government payments, rental transactions, education fees, or insurance.
hdfc.bank.in · 30 Sep 2026
PhonePe HDFC Bank Uno Credit Card
No reward points on card bill payments/charges, government payments, rental transactions, education fees, or insurance.
hdfc.bank.in · 30 Sep 2026
Axis ACE
Government services excluded.
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Axis Magnus
Government spends excluded (current category list).
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Flipkart Axis Bank
Government services excluded (current category list).
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Airtel Axis Bank
Government services excluded.
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Axis Bank Cashback
Government-institution MCCs excluded from cashback.
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Axis Atlas
Government spends excluded.
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Axis Privilege
Government services excluded.
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Axis Reserve
Government institutions excluded from EDGE earn (Sep 2023). Since 20 Jun 2025 Axis identifies exclusions by spend category, not MCC; codes here are from the last bank-published MCC tables.
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Axis Burgundy Private
Government spends earn nothing (Apr 2024; bank publishes categories only for this card).
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Axis Magnus for Burgundy
Government spends excluded (current category list).
axis.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Axis MY Zone
Utility & Telecom, Rent, Wallet, Government spends, Insurance, Gold & Jewellery and Fuel earn no rewards
axis.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
Axis Select
Insurance, rent, fuel, educational services, utilities & telecom, wallet, gold/jewellery, government services, gift cards and bridge/road/toll fees earn no EDGE REWARD points
axis.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
Axis Horizon
Transportation & tolls, utilities and telecom, insurance, educational institutions, government institutions, wallet/gift cards, rent and fuel earn no EDGE Miles
axis.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
IndianOil Axis Bank Credit Card
Insurance, gold/jewellery, wallet, rent, utilities, government institutions and education earn no EDGE REWARDS
axis.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
Axis Rewards
Transportation & tolls, utility and certain telecom, insurance, educational institutions, government institutions, wallet/wire transfer, rent and fuel MCCs earn no reward points
axis.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
Axis Bank Neo
No EDGE REWARD points on utilities and telecom, education, insurance, government, wallet loads, rent, fuel, gold and jewellery, or gift cards.
axis.bank.in · 1 Oct 2026
Fibe Axis Bank Credit Card
No cashback on rent, insurance, education or government service payments.
axis.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
Axis Bank Supermoney RuPay Credit Card
No cashback on fuel, jewellery, wallet load, insurance, education, government services or rent.
axis.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
Google Pay Flex Axis Bank Credit Card
No Stars on government and government institution payments and fees.
axis.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
SBI Cashback Card
Government transactions excluded from Apr 2026.
sbicard.com · 22 Aug 2026
SimplyCLICK SBI Card
Government transactions excluded w.e.f. 1 Jun 2024.
sbicard.com · 22 Aug 2026
SBI Card PRIME
Government transactions excluded w.e.f. 1 Jun 2024 (bank card list).
sbicard.com · 22 Aug 2026
SBI Card ELITE
Government transactions excluded w.e.f. 1 Jun 2024 (bank card list).
sbicard.com · 22 Aug 2026
Flipkart SBI Card
Government transactions: 0% cashback.
sbicard.com · 22 Aug 2026
IRCTC SBI Card
Government transactions excluded w.e.f. 15 Jul 2024.
sbicard.com · 22 Aug 2026
PhonePe SBI SELECT BLACK
Government spends earn nothing (bank T&C MCC list).
sbicard.com · 22 Aug 2026
SBI SimplySAVE
Government transactions excluded w.e.f. 1 Jun 2024 (bank card list).
sbicard.com · 22 Aug 2026
SBI Card MILES
Government and quasi-cash transactions earn nothing.
sbicard.com · 21 Sep 2026
SBI Card MILES Prime
Government and quasi-cash transactions earn nothing.
sbicard.com · 21 Sep 2026
SBI Card MILES Elite
Government and quasi-cash transactions earn nothing.
sbicard.com · 21 Sep 2026
Reliance SBI Card PRIME
Government-related transactions no longer earn reward points (w.e.f. 15 June 2024).
sbicard.com · 25 Sep 2026
SBI Card PULSE
No reward points on government-related transactions (from 1 Jun 2024).
sbicard.com · 26 Sep 2026
IRCTC SBI Card Premier
Government related transactions stopped earning Reward Points w.e.f. 15 July 2024.
sbicard.com · 2 Oct 2026
Kotak League Platinum
Government MCCs excluded from rewards/milestones. Bank notes the list is not exhaustive - all network MCCs in the category count.
kotak.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Kotak Urbane Gold (discontinued)
Government MCCs excluded from rewards/milestones. Bank notes the list is not exhaustive - all network MCCs in the category count.
kotak.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
IndianOil Kotak
Government MCCs excluded from rewards/milestones. Bank notes the list is not exhaustive - all network MCCs in the category count.
kotak.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Kotak Air+ Prime
Government spends earn nothing.
kotak.bank.in · 21 Aug 2026
Kotak Air
Government spends earn nothing.
kotak.bank.in · 21 Aug 2026
Kotak Air+
Government spends earn nothing.
kotak.bank.in · 21 Sep 2026
Kotak Cashback+ Credit Card
Cashback not applicable on Rent, B2B transaction, Utilities, Insurance, Education and Government, Wallet, Online skill-based gaming, and EMI.
kotak.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
Kotak Cashback+ Prime Credit Card
Cashback not eligible on following spend categories: Rent, B2B transaction, Utilities, Education and Government, Wallet, Online skill-based gaming, and EMI. (Insurance is NOT in this list for the Prime variant - see notes/gaps: insurance earns base 0.5% cashback up to Rs25,000/cycle per the bank's own page.)
kotak.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
Kotak UPI RuPay Credit Card
w.e.f. 1 June 2025: Insurance, Government and Online skill-based gaming transaction categories also discontinued from earning reward points.
kotak.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
Kotak Solitaire Credit Card
No Air Miles on rent, wallet, fuel, utility/telecom, insurance, education, government (except tax payments), digital gaming, and international spends.
kotak.bank.in · 30 Sep 2026
Amazon Pay ICICI
Tax-related payments earn nothing (bank wording is "any Tax-related payments"; broader government MCCs are only on the indicative restricted list).
icicibank.com · 22 Aug 2026
ICICI Emeralde Private Metal
Government payments/services and tax payments (any medium) earn nothing on EPM.
icicibank.com · 22 Aug 2026
HSBC Live+
Government: 0% cashback.
hsbc.co.in · 22 Aug 2026
HSBC TravelOne
Government and tax payments: no reward points.
hsbc.co.in · 22 Aug 2026
HSBC RuPay Cashback
Government: no cashback.
hsbc.co.in · 22 Aug 2026
HSBC Taj Credit Card
No reward points on education and government-related transactions, including tax payments.
hsbc.co.in · 25 Sep 2026
RuPay Platinum
No reward points on utilities, tax payments, rent, jewellery, insurance, fuel, money transfers and financial institutions.
hsbc.co.in · 1 Oct 2026
Visa Platinum
No reward points on utilities, tax payments, rent, jewellery, insurance, fuel, money transfers and financial institutions.
hsbc.co.in · 1 Oct 2026
Scapia (Federal Bank)
Government services excluded - the issuer prints the RANGE "9099 to 9999".
res.cloudinary.com · 22 Aug 2026
IndianOil RBL XTra
Government services earn nothing (bank also lists 1490/2490/2995/7800).
webassets.rbl.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
RBL Play (BookMyShow)
Government services excluded.
webassets.rbl.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
AU LIT
Government transactions earn nothing.
au.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
Uni GoldX
Government services earn nothing (categories only).
media.bobcard.co.in · 21 Sep 2026
AU Zenith
Government earns nothing.
au.bank.in · 22 Aug 2026
BOBCARD Eterna
Government earns nothing.
media.bobcard.co.in · 22 Aug 2026
Shoprite Credit Card
Government services payments earn no reward points.
rbl.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
Nova Credit Card
Government services payments earn no reward points.
rbl.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
ELITE+
No reward points on government transactions (from 15 Jun 2026).
yes.bank.in · 25 Sep 2026
IRCTC BOBCARD
No reward points on government service payments.
media.bobcard.co.in · 25 Sep 2026
Premier
Spends on select MCCs (agriculture, contractors, passenger transport/toll/rail, rent, cleaning/personal-care services, government, education, hospitals, wallets, supermarkets/retail stores, insurance, charity, fast food) do not earn reward points, per BOBCARD's Annexure 1 MCC list.
media.bobcard.co.in · 30 Sep 2026
Select
Spends on select MCCs (agriculture, contractors, passenger transport/toll/rail, rent, cleaning/personal-care services, government, education, hospitals, wallets, supermarkets/retail stores, insurance, charity, fast food) do not earn reward points, per BOBCARD's Annexure 1 MCC list.
media.bobcard.co.in · 30 Sep 2026
Easy
Spends on select MCCs (agriculture, contractors, passenger transport/toll/rail, rent, cleaning/personal-care services, government, education, hospitals, wallets, supermarkets/retail stores, insurance, charity, fast food) do not earn reward points, per BOBCARD's Annexure 1 MCC list.
media.bobcard.co.in · 30 Sep 2026
Snapdeal BOBCARD
Spends on select MCCs (agriculture, contractors, passenger transport/toll/rail, rent, cleaning/personal-care services, government, education, hospitals, wallets, supermarkets/retail stores, insurance, charity, fast food) do not earn reward points, per BOBCARD's Annexure 1 MCC list.
media.bobcard.co.in · 30 Sep 2026
Cashback
Spends on select MCCs (agriculture, contractors, passenger transport/toll/rail, rent, cleaning/personal-care services, government, education, hospitals, wallets, supermarkets/retail stores, insurance, charity, fast food) do not earn reward points, per BOBCARD's Annexure 1 MCC list.
media.bobcard.co.in · 30 Sep 2026
Tiara
Spends on select MCCs (agriculture, contractors, passenger transport/toll/rail, rent, cleaning/personal-care services, government, education, hospitals, wallets, supermarkets/retail stores, insurance, charity, fast food) do not earn reward points, per BOBCARD's Annexure 1 MCC list.
media.bobcard.co.in · 30 Sep 2026
HPCL Energie
Spends on select MCCs (agriculture, contractors, passenger transport/toll/rail, rent, cleaning/personal-care services, government, education, hospitals, wallets, supermarkets/retail stores, insurance, charity, fast food) do not earn reward points, per BOBCARD's Annexure 1 MCC list.
media.bobcard.co.in · 30 Sep 2026
Prime
Spends on select MCCs (agriculture, contractors, passenger transport/toll/rail, rent, cleaning/personal-care services, government, education, hospitals, wallets, supermarkets/retail stores, insurance, charity, fast food) do not earn reward points, per BOBCARD's Annexure 1 MCC list.
media.bobcard.co.in · 30 Sep 2026
Signet
Fuel and Government Services MCCs earn no reward points.
federal.bank.in · 1 Oct 2026
Imperio
Fuel and Government Services MCCs earn no reward points.
federal.bank.in · 1 Oct 2026
Celesta
Fuel and Government Services MCCs earn no reward points.
federal.bank.in · 1 Oct 2026
Paisabazaar Paisaback
Bank's printed exclusion list: EMI, Utility, Fuel, Insurance, Rent, Wallet, Education, Jewellery, Govt services, Hospitals, Toll, Telecom equipment, Railways, Automotive shops. Hospitals, telecom equipment sales and automotive shops don't map cleanly to our category taxonomy and are omitted from the structured list above but are included in this note verbatim from the bank.
federal.bank.in · 1 Oct 2026
Imperium Platinum Credit Card
No Delight Points on government and tax payments (MCC 9311, 9399, 9405), per the Credit Card MITC.
idbibank.in · 1 Oct 2026
CUB CSK RuPay Platinum Credit Card
Government payments (MCC 9000-9999) earn no Reward Points.
cityunionbank.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
CUB SRH RuPay Platinum Credit Card
Government payments (MCC 9000-9999) earn no Reward Points.
cityunionbank.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
CUB CSK Master Platinum Credit Card
Government payments (MCC 9000-9999) earn no Reward Points.
cityunionbank.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
CUB SRH Master Platinum Credit Card
Government payments (MCC 9000-9999) earn no Reward Points.
cityunionbank.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
CUB CSK Master World Credit Card
Government payments (MCC 9000-9999) earn no Reward Points.
cityunionbank.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
CUB SRH Master World Credit Card
Government payments (MCC 9000-9999) earn no Reward Points.
cityunionbank.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
CUB Kavach RuPay Credit Card
Government payments (MCC 9000-9999) earn no Reward Points.
cityunionbank.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
CUB Kavach Master Credit Card
Government payments (MCC 9000-9999) earn no Reward Points.
cityunionbank.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
CSB Bank Edge+ Credit Card
Jewels are not awarded on government-related transactions.
csb.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
Edge CSB Bank Credit Card
Jewels are not awarded on government-related transactions.
csb.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
Eternal Credit Card
Government services transactions do not earn cashback
utkarsh.bank.in · 4 Oct 2026
Rhodium Credit Card
Government services transactions do not earn cashback
utkarsh.bank.in · 4 Oct 2026
SmartGen Credit Card
Government services transactions do not earn cashback
utkarsh.bank.in · 4 Oct 2026
superCard
Govt related transactions do not earn cashback
utkarsh.bank.in · 4 Oct 2026
Klick Credit Card
No YES Rewardz points on rent, wallet, fuel or government services
yes.bank.in · 2 Oct 2026
Questions
Which credit card is best for Government / tax?
Biz Black Metal Edition Credit Card is the best card for Government / tax. It nets ₹665 on a ₹20,000 spend. Pay directly.
Which cards give nothing on Government / tax?
107 of the cards we track earn nothing on Government / tax, including HDFC Infinia Metal, HDFC Diners Club Black Metal, HDFC Diners Club Privilege, HDFC Millennia, Swiggy HDFC Bank and 102 more.
Is a gift voucher better than paying directly for Government / tax?
No voucher route earns more here. Pay directly with Biz Black Metal Edition Credit Card for ₹665 on ₹20,000.