Am I pushing it with Amex?

[Anonymous]

Report your new income; certainly your new employer will be providing you with paystubs.  So you'd use your tax return(s) to prove income in previous years, and your paystub to prove current income.

[joltdude]

Id update the income but wait until you have your first paycheck before doing so.. (or payday if Direct Deposit)

Still agree with taking things a bit slow.... Actually with the increase in income, your profile looks more reasonable .... Definitely Yielding a bit is not a bad idea.... Let some time pass.. get some CLIs even.... Keep up PIF...and see how it goes.... Esp since your age.. 

Can always pick up a card later in the year.. I doubt youll get Amex tax form but be easy on the CLIs for a bit... take your one 3x on a card you like (revolver) and wait 6 months... 

[AverageJoesCredit]

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@DangerNoodle wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

No one is answering OPs question.

OP is not doing anything wrong! He used his $15k income to apply. It's up to AMEX to decide if that income is enough for approvals, not us.

If OP can meet the spending and handle the AFs by sharing the cards with his/her parents, who cares how many cards he/she is applying for.  OP, if you want the card, go for it.  Make sure to update your income on your account.  Keep coming back and read a lot on this forum so you can stay responsible withi your cards and never fall into the black hole.

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This is the biggest thing I came here looking for advice on.

I'm starting this job on the 11th of this month, and while it is a $23,400 salary, it will be the first job I've had this year (left my previous job in December at a supermarket because it sucked, decided to pursue something that pays higher, finally landed a job at BofA), so realistically I will only be reporting the usual $15,000 on my tax return for 2018. What I don't want to do is end up getting an FR sometime this year or even through April 2020 (which I wouldn't rule out as a possiblity, especially considering my profile, age, and income) and only have $15,000 to prove via 4506-T even though I am getting paid $23,400.

Should I still report $23,400 to Amex even though the earliest tax return that would be shown on is 2019? Do they accept other proof of income besides a 4506-T? Or should I just stick to $15,000 because it is easily provable with a 4506-T?

I think I'm really overthinking this, but I just want to play it safe as Amex is my favorite CC issuer and I wouldn't want to ruin my relationship with them.

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I'm glad you are going to be make more money, always a good thing. However, just remember if that updating your income was the biggest thing you were looking for advice on , that's the question you should ask. Generalities will open up replies to many factors and though it was said we didnt answer your original question, I believe it was answered in the general advice given. Dealing with Amex has alot of factors and many people here have the experience to back it up. Best of luck on your new job and I wish you many years of success in life and in credit.

[Anonymous]

Since you are working at BofA, the  only additional card I would get is B of A cards. They have great employee deals. Like 2%  credit card interest.   Be careful. Jobs at Banks are not as safe as you think.  The first Mrs Backwoods started with mega bank right out of college moved up quickly to branch manager.  She got laid off in a merger. She then imediately got a job with medium sized bank  as District President. Two years later medium bank merged with her old mega bank .  They bridged her service time at mega bank. Medium bank's management was all from the mega bank. She bumped another District president  to be a District Preseident at Mega Bank.  She retired from that job last year or so. 

[UncleB]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Yes put your new income. If that's your job and that's your income, you should absolutely put it down.

I would apply for it. The worst they can say is no.

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Actually, that's not true.  If the OP pushes things too far he could lose all of his existing Amex accounts if they decide to do a FR. 

The chances of this are even higher if his parent's spending ins't consistent with his reported income.  That his parents are ultimately paying the bill will not matter to Amex since his parents aren't legally liable for the debt.

Other members have already well-covered the bases here, but I also want to point out that if Amex does request proof of income it will be up to them what to accept, and they very seldom accept pay stubs - they want the 4506-T (tax transcript).  It's been said more than once how this isn't fair (I'm not saying that it is) but it's generally what they require, and there's usually no way around it.

IMO it's easier to avoid the issue altogether and just play it safe for a while until the OPs credit has a little more history.  The Amex sign-up bonuses aren't going anywhere and will almost certainly still be around when the OP is better-suited to apply.

[Anonymous]

I see no reason to not apply if you actually can use the points.  IF your parents are doing the SUB spend for you what is the harm?  

[joltdude]

A: I would *not* go for a 3x CLI next go around, just chill a bit and keep it under the amount where they normally ask for the tax form and/or do an FR... so YES you are pushing it with a second 3x CLI...

-J
(I have another answer but that was being in the spirit of FSR. Op... your poking the bear)