The main perk of the Discover it® Cash Back is the ability to earn 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories.
Cash back is capped at $1,500 in spending each quarter, and you must activate it in advance to be eligible.
Below is the Cash Back calendar for this year and when Discover historically offered each category.
Discover 5% Cash-Back Calendar for 2023
Here is the 5% Calendar for 2023:
First quarter (January-March): Grocery stores, Drug Stores, and Select Streaming Services.
Second quarter (April-June): Restaurants and Wholesale Clubs.
Third quarter (July-September): Gas Stations and Digital Wallets.
Fourth quarter (October-December): Amazon.com and Target.com.
History of the 5% Cash Back Category
Below is the history of Discover’s 5% Cash Back Quarterly Categories since 2017:
Amazon
Amazon.com has been chosen six times for 5% cash back all in the Fourth Quarter of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores have been chosen five times for the 5% Calendar in the First Quarter of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Restaurants
Restaurants have been chose seven times for the 5% Calendar:
- Second Quarter– 2023.
- Third Quarter – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Gas Stations
Gas stations have been chosen seven times for the 5% Calendar:
- Second Quarter – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
- Third Quarter– 2023.
PayPal
PayPal has been chosen three times for 5% Cash back in the Third Quarter of 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Target
Target has been chosen five times for the 5% calendar:
- Both in-store and online: 4th Quarter of 2023.
- Online purchases on Target.com for the Fourth Quarter of 2020 and 2021
- In-store at Target in the Second Quarter of 2022 and Fourth Quarter of 2017.
Walmart
Walmart.com has been chosen twice for the 5% Calendar in the Fourth Quarter of 2020 and 2021.
Wholesale Clubs
Wholesale clubs like Sams Club and BJ’s have been chosen six times for the 5% Calendar for:
- First Quarter – 2017 and 2018
- Second Quarter – 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2023
- Fourth Quarter – 2018
Just remember that Costco does not accept Discover in-store, but it does accept it on Costco.com.
Home Improvement Stores
Home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes were chosen once in the Second Quarter of 2017.
Home Depot was also chosen for June 2020 (but not the full quarter).
CVS and Walgreens
CVS and Walgreens have been chosen twice for 5% Cash Back for the First Quarter of 2020 and 2021.
Uber and Lyft
Uber and Lyft have been chosen twice for the 5% Calendar in the Second Quarter of 2019 and 2020.
Digital Wallets
Digital Wallets have been chosen twice:
- Third Quarter – 2023
- Fourth Quarter – 2022
Other Categories
Fitness Clubs and Memberships = 2022 Q1
Select Streaming = 2021 Q2 and Q1 2023
Drug Stores = 2023 Q1
