Cashback

"Illustration" courtesy of:  https://www.craiyon.com "dollar"

How does a "cashback" program work?  The term gets used on television or in "mailers" which randomly appear in mailboxes.

We don't know the specifics.

Especially when "offers" are received implying or stating "credit" is "pre-approved" even though a "credit check" is still required which may or may not deny "approval".  We have 2 or 3 questions:

• Does "cash" given "back" apply to the "purchase price" of "something" "charged" or "debited" to a "card"?
• Are "participants" of a "cashback" program "working" for those offering such a program or are they "self-employed"?
• Is "cash" given "back" considered to be one or more "gifts" or excluded from "reportable income"?

Let's call "cashback" programs:

• "A slightly more or less honest or dishonest version of a 'player' or 'reward' 'club' operated by a 'casino'."

Backward or "not every entity or individual is a 'bank'".