Credit card annual fee waiver condition — how does it actually work?
Mahesh Chaturvedi
Asked 11 Jun 2026
Banks say annual fee is waived if I spend ₹50,000 in the previous year. Does the spend include EMI, wallet loads, and reversals? Please clarify with examples.
3 Answers
Two things nobody tells you: (1) GST is charged on the annual fee, so a ₹1,000 fee becomes ₹1,180. (2) Reward points usually have an expiry of 2-3 years. Set a calendar reminder to redeem before they lapse.
Forex markup comparison: Amex = 3.5%, HDFC Infinia/Diners Black = 2.0%, Axis Atlas = 3.5% but with milestone fee waivers, ICICI Emeralde = 3.5%, Standard Chartered = 3.5%. If you travel more than twice a year, the math favours Infinia or Diners Black.
I've been using this card for over a year now. In my experience, the rewards are decent but the real value is in the lounge access and the milestone benefits. Make sure to read the fine print on the welcome benefit — most banks only credit it after the first transaction, not on approval.
Your Answer
Sign in to post your answer and help the community.
Sign in to postWhy sign in? We moderate Q&A to keep it spam-free.