A family member will lend me money to pay off credit cards.... I have a tax question?

Yes, anything over the gift tax threshold will be subject to ordinary income tax BY YOU. That amount is roughly $12,000 so you will owe taxes on about $8,000.

$1,750K? Do you mean your debt is only $1,750 or that your debt is $1,750,000? If the former, pay as much as you can to the card with the highest interest rate & the minimun + $10 to other. Once the first is paid, send all you can to the other. You'll have them both done b/f you know! Either way, leave both cards & home in a locked box. If you're trying to pay them off it won't make any sense to pile on more debt. Based on your additional notes, it sounds like you pretty responsible with your $'s, so you don't have to cut them up yet. (going 6 months w/o working & only accumulating $1,750 is damn good!). Cancell either of the cards if there is any annual fee. After you have them paid off, it's okay to have a few cards (again as long as there is no annual fee), but the trick is this; Never EVER charge more than you can pay off in a single month! It's great being able to use other people's money for a short time (while yours sits in an intrest bearing account), but only if you can avoid rolling over the debt (causing you to pay interest). Using a credit card in this way will help build your credit score. If you do owe $1,750,000, cut up both credit cards, & get to a credit counsiling service today!