Rent, property taxes, and utility bills are often Canadians' largest monthly expenditures, yet historically they yielded $0 in rewards. In 2026, platforms like [Chexy](Chexy Official Portal ↗ let you run these major expenses through your favorite rewards credit card, earning valuable cashback/points and unlocking a powerful cash flow option.
⚠️ Important Consideration
Updated October 7, 2026: Starting October 22, 2026, Scotiabank pays only its regular 1% rate (instead of 4%) on rent (MCC 6513) and tax payments (MCC 9311) charged to the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+, including payments made through Chexy. After Chexy's 1.75% fee that is a net loss. Utilities, insurance, phone and internet, daycare, tuition, car leases and gym payments still earn 4% (up to $25,000 per year). The recommendations and math below reflect this change.
What is Chexy and How Does It Work?
Chexy is a trusted Canadian payment platform that acts as a secure bridge between your rewards credit card and your rent or bills. When you sign up through the [Chexy Platform](Chexy Official Portal ↗ your monthly rent is charged to your card, and Chexy automatically sends a standard Interac e-Transfer directly to your landlord on rent day.
- Earn rewards on bills that normally earn nothing. Utilities, insurance and phone bills can still earn up to 4% on some cards; rent and tax payments earn less on most cards (see below).
- Create a consistent, automated payment schedule that landlords receive as standard, friction-free bank e-Transfers.
- Satisfy hefty minimum spend requirements on premium credit card welcome bonuses quickly on expenses you have to pay anyway.
The Double Win: Cashback + "The Credit Card Float"
Beyond securing cashback, routing your recurring bills through a credit card via [Chexy](Chexy Official Portal ↗ opens up another huge financial advantage: **The 30-Day Credit Card Float**. Normally, paycheck balances must immediately clear before rent day. By shifting these payments to a credit card, you delay that capital outflow by up to a month (your card's grace period).
⚠️ Important Consideration
Important Cash Flow Practice: Shifting rent and big bills to a credit card is only a winning formula if you pay your statement in full on or before the due date. Running a high-interest balance will quickly wipe out any cashback or points earned. Treat this as an interest-free float buffer, never as long-term debt.
Managing Massive Costs: Property Taxes, HELOCs, and Sinking Funds
For property taxes or large semi-annual expenses, the sudden lump sums can strain your checking account. Many smart homeowners combine their credit cards via [Chexy](Chexy Official Portal ↗ with a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) to smooth out their cash flow and maximize rewards:
- 1.Pay the lump-sum property tax or insurance premium with your rewards credit card through Chexy to earn points on the entire monumental bill.
- 2.Allow the card balance to sit safely during the interest-free grace period.
- 3.Use a low-interest HELOC (paying standard prime-adjacent interest) to pay off the credit card statement, completely avoiding high credit card interest charges (19.99%+).
- 4.Repay the HELOC balance comfortably with incoming monthly cash flow over the next 2 to 3 months.
This tactical combo gives you a full month of interest-free float on your credit card, earns thousands of points on essential expenses, and preserves your liquid emergency cash by financing the rest through a cheap HELOC instead of paying high credit card finance fees.
Which Card to Pair With Chexy After October 22, 2026
Chexy charges about 1.75% on Canadian credit cards, so your card has to return more than that to come out ahead. For years the go-to pairing was the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite+, which paid 4% on recurring payments. That changes on October 22, 2026: rent (MCC 6513) and tax payments (MCC 9311) drop to the card's regular 1% rate, no matter which payment platform you use. Utilities, insurance, phone and internet, daycare, tuition, car leases and gym payments made through Chexy still earn 4% on the Momentum (up to $25,000 in category spending per year).
For rent and property tax, the strongest options are now cards that pay 2% to 3% on bills. Chexy charges your card the bill plus the 1.75% fee, so rewards are earned on the full charged amount:
- TD Cash Back Visa Infinite ($139 annual fee): 3% on recurring bill payments. Chexy reports a $15,000 annual limit on the 3% bills rate.
- Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card ($0): 2% if you choose Recurring Bill Payments as one of your 2% categories.
- Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard ($0): 2% for Rogers, Fido or Shaw customers, up to a $61,000 annual cap (1.5% otherwise, which loses money after the fee).
- CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite ($120): 2% on recurring payments.
- New-card welcome bonuses: large rent payments can help you hit minimum spend requirements, which is often worth far more than the fee.
✅ Pro Tip
Pairing Math on $2,000 Rent: Chexy charges $2,035 ($35 fee). A 3% bills card earns $61.05, a net gain of about $26/month, until the card's annual bills limit is reached. A 2% card earns $40.70, a net gain of about $5.70/month. The Scotia Momentum after October 21, 2026 earns $20.35 (1%), a net LOSS of about $14.65/month (about -$176/year).
Is Chexy Worth the Processing Fee?
Chexy charges a processing fee for credit card payments (1.75% for Canadian cards). It is worth paying only when your card earns more than the fee on that payment type, or when the payment helps you earn a welcome bonus. Here is how a 3% bills card compares with the Scotia Momentum after the October 22, 2026 change:
| Expense Category | Monthly Bill | Chexy Fee (1.75%) | Net with 3% Bills Card | Net with Scotia Momentum (from Oct 22, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent / Housing | $2,000 | $35.00 | +$26.05/mo | -$14.65/mo (earns 1%) |
| Property Taxes | $1,000 | $17.50 | +$13.03/mo | -$7.33/mo (earns 1%) |
| Utilities & Insurance | $500 | $8.75 | +$6.51/mo | +$11.60/mo (still earns 4%) |
💡 Strategy Highlight
Before making any big payment, use our Credit Card Optimizer to make sure you have the exact right card to beat the processing fee. Pairing a high-tier cash back card with solid budgeting from our tools turns your largest unavoidable expenses into a consistent monthly bonus.
