How to Test Whether Your Utility Bills Code at 5× on Chase Ink
A simple $10 test protocol that can unlock thousands of points per year
Why Merchant Category Codes, Not Purchase Type, Determine Chase Ink 5x Earning
Chase Ink Business Cash earns 5× points on internet, cable, and cell phone purchases up to $25,000 per year. The critical detail: what triggers 5× is the Merchant Category Code (MCC), not what you're actually buying. Some municipal utilities use MCCs like 4813 (Telephone Communications) because they process through shared payment portals.
The $10 Test Protocol for Checking Your Utility's Merchant Category Code
Before paying a large bill, make a $10 partial payment via your utility's website using your Chase Ink card. Wait for the charge to post on your statement. If it shows up with 5× points, you're good to go. If it shows 1×, the utility codes as something else.
What to Log: Building a Reference Sheet of Tested Utility Merchant Codes
Keep a simple spreadsheet: Utility name, payment portal URL, MCC (from statement), point rate earned, date tested. This becomes an annual reference so you're not re-testing every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I test whether my utility bill earns 5x on Chase Ink Business Cash?
Make a $10 partial payment via your utility's website using your Ink card, then check your statement once the charge posts. If it shows 5x points, the utility qualifies; if it shows 1x, it codes as something else.
Why would a water or electric utility earn Chase Ink's telecom bonus?
What triggers 5x is the Merchant Category Code (MCC), not what you're actually buying. Some municipal utilities process through shared payment portals that use MCC 4813 (Telephone Communications), which happens to match Ink's bonus category.
Do results vary by city or provider?
Yes — run the test once per utility, per card. Results vary even between cities on the same water authority, so keeping a simple reference log (utility, portal URL, MCC, rate earned, test date) avoids re-testing every year.