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Does one need to give maaser on cash back earned, as a percentage of the sum spent, through extensions such as Rakuten or Honey, or via debit/credit card offers?

Is it considered new income, and therefore qualifies for maaser, or do we consider it a discount on the original purchase and therefore (as far as I know) not obligated in maaser?

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Since the cash back is a proportion of the cash spent, it fits the definition of a rebate (from Wikipedia: a form of buying discount [...] paid by way of reduction, return, or refund that is paid retrospectively.) And one does not pay maaser on rebates.

Indeed Ask the Rav writes (here)

One need not separate ma’aser from rebates, even if they are cash back rebates.

Similarly, dinonline (here) writes

For a rebate, maaser has already been taken from the money, which is not considered a new income, and therefore there is no obligation to give maaser again.

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  • Would this din apply even though in this case the rebate is coming from a third party (e.g. Rakuten)? Would that not possibly cause it to be considered a new income?
    – DavidM
    Jul 7, 2021 at 14:40
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    If you ask for a practical case, then you should as a Rav. But, in my view, since the rebate is function of how much you spend, it is not new income. There is no way to get this "income" unless you spend the money - as such I don't think it as anything else than a discount.
    – mbloch
    Jul 7, 2021 at 14:42

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