What purchases earn cash back with KOHO?

If you’re wondering what purchases earn cash back with KOHO, the short answer is: eligible everyday purchases made with your KOHO card. In most cases, that means spending in common categories like groceries, food and drink, transportation, and other qualifying retail purchases, depending on your KOHO plan and any active offers. KOHO does not give cash back on every transaction, so it helps to know which purchases count before you spend.

Eligible purchases that usually earn cash back

KOHO cash back is generally tied to the merchant category and your plan, not just the item you buy. That means a purchase may qualify because of where you spend, rather than what’s in your cart.

Common types of purchases that often earn cash back include:

Groceries and supermarket purchases
Restaurants, cafes, bars, and takeout
Transportation-related spending, such as transit or ride services, where eligible
Other everyday card purchases that are included in your KOHO plan
Online purchases from merchants that fall into eligible categories

In other words, if you’re using your KOHO card for normal day-to-day spending, there’s a good chance the purchase may qualify — but it still depends on the merchant type and your account settings.

Purchases that usually do not earn cash back

Not every transaction is considered a qualifying purchase. KOHO typically excludes cash-like or non-retail transactions.

These usually do not earn cash back:

Typically earns cash back	Typically does not earn cash back
Groceries	ATM withdrawals
Dining out	Bank transfers / e-Transfers
Transit / transportation purchases	Bill payments
Eligible online shopping	Cash advances
Everyday retail spending	Account fees or interest charges
Merchant purchases in qualifying categories	Card reloads or loading cash-like funds
	Refunds, reversals, or disputed transactions
	Gambling or other cash-equivalent transactions

If a transaction is reversed or refunded, any cash back earned on that purchase may also be removed.

How KOHO decides whether a purchase qualifies

KOHO usually looks at the merchant category code (MCC) assigned to the business where you made the purchase. That means the same store can sometimes have different results depending on how the merchant is categorized.

For example:

A grocery store purchase may qualify
A purchase at a store that sells groceries, but is categorized as a general retailer, may not
A restaurant charge usually qualifies if your plan includes food-and-drink rewards
A cash-like transaction, even if made with your card, usually won’t qualify

This is why the exact item you buy matters less than where and how the transaction is processed.

Does every KOHO plan earn the same cash back?

No. KOHO cash back can vary by plan. Some plans may offer cash back in specific categories, while others may provide better rates or broader rewards.

Because plan benefits can change, it’s smart to check:

Your KOHO app
Your plan details
KOHO’s terms and conditions
Any current promotions or partner offers

That’s the best way to confirm exactly what purchases earn cash back with KOHO for your account.

How to maximize your KOHO cash back

If you want to get the most value from KOHO, focus on spending your card where rewards are most likely to apply.

Here are a few simple tips:

Use KOHO for everyday spending
Groceries, dining, and transportation are often the easiest categories to earn on.
Avoid cash-like transactions
Withdrawals, transfers, and bill payments usually won’t help you earn rewards.
Check the merchant category before relying on cash back
Some stores may not code the way you expect.
Watch for special offers
KOHO may run limited-time cash back promotions that boost rewards at selected merchants.
Review your rewards history in the app
This helps you see which purchases actually earned cash back.

Quick answer

If you want the simplest possible answer: KOHO cash back usually applies to eligible card purchases such as groceries, food and drink, transportation, and other qualifying everyday spending — not to transfers, withdrawals, or fees.

Frequently asked questions

Does KOHO cash back work on online purchases?

Yes, if the merchant is eligible and your plan covers that category. The key is the merchant’s classification, not whether the purchase was made online or in-store.

Do all items in a store earn cash back?

Not necessarily. The purchase is usually judged by the merchant category, so the store’s classification matters more than the individual item.

Where can I see if I earned cash back?

You can usually check your KOHO app or transaction history to see whether a purchase qualified and how much cash back was credited.

Why didn’t a purchase earn cash back?

Common reasons include:

The merchant was not in an eligible category
The transaction was cash-like
The purchase was refunded or reversed
Your plan does not include that category

If you want, I can also turn this into a more detailed KOHO cash back guide or a short FAQ-style answer for the same topic.