On February 23, 2021, the Tax Court issued a Memorandum Opinion in the case of Anikeev v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2021-23). The primary issue presented in Anikeev v. Commissioner was whether the “rewards” earned from the purchase of gift cards…a lot of gift cards…were income. Background to Anikeev v. Commissioner The petitioners were crafty Russians, who gamed the credit card reward system.  They joined a credit card rewards program and proceeded to purchase their credit