FAQs for Businesses

From 1 October 2026, businesses in Australia will no longer be permitted to apply card payment surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa cards. This change is being implemented by designated card networks through their rules, in line with policy reforms announced by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

The implementation of ‘no-surcharge rules’ by eftpos, Mastercard and Visa reflects the direction of the RBA’s Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging, which found that card surcharging is no longer achieving its intended purpose.

A card payment surcharge is an additional fee, amount or charge applied by a business because a consumer pays by card. The changes apply to card payment surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard, and Visa cards for all in-store, online and digital transactions, including when they are completed by using cards stored in mobile wallets unless otherwise permitted by a card network’s rules (see Question 3).

The changes apply to card payment surcharges on transactions on designated card networks (eftpos, Mastercard and Visa). Further information is also available at www.cardsurcharge.com.au and on the RBA website.

The changes to card payment surcharging are expected to apply on a broadly consistent basis across card products operating on the three designated card networks (eftpos, Mastercard and Visa), including commercial and corporate cards, personal credit and debit cards, and pre-paid cards.

While not subject to formal regulation by the RBA, American Express, JCB and UnionPay have voluntarily aligned with these reforms and will implement a no-surcharge position 1 October 2026.

The no-surcharge rules implemented by card schemes are expected to apply unless card payment surcharging is expressly permitted by applicable law or regulation. For example, taxi fares where surcharging remains the responsibility of state and territory regulators.

If a business believes an applicable law or regulation expressly permits it to apply card payment surcharges, the business should seek appropriate legal or other guidance as to its individual circumstances.

The implementation of no-surcharge rules from 1 October 2026, means Australian businesses will no longer be permitted to apply card payment surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa cards, regardless of the transaction taking place in-store, online or by using cards stored in mobile wallets unless otherwise permitted by a designated card network’s rules.

Businesses can still charge other fees or surcharges that are not linked to a consumer's choice to pay with a card. Examples include:

• ‍Weekend and public holiday surcharges applied to all consumers.‍
• Booking or service fees charged to all customers that apply independently of the payment method.‍
• Other lawful charges that are not imposed because a consumer pays by card.

Businesses remain responsible for ensuring any fee they charge complies with any applicable laws and regulations.

Businesses must ensure their pricing is clear and not misleading, including any extra fees or charges. For further information, see ACCC’s Guidance about changes to card payment surcharges.

Businesses are responsible for ensuring that they do not apply card payment surcharges no longer permitted under the new rules from the implementation date and that their systems, processes and consumer disclosures comply with applicable requirements.

Businesses should:

• Review current surcharging practices and understand what charges they are permitted to apply (if any).
• Work with their bank (acquirer), payment service provider (PSP), gateway and/or POS provider on implementing and supporting any changes.
• Remove card-specific surcharges where required.
• Update pricing, checkout and consumer communications where required.
• Be prepared to answer consumer queries about any surcharges applied.
• Test payment systems before 1 October 2026.

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As suggested by the RBA, businesses are advised to review their payment acceptance usage and needs and to speak to their payment service provider (PSP) to determine whether they are on the best plan for their requirements.

The RBA is also implementing reforms intended to lower businesses’ card payment costs, including changes to interchange fees and measures to improve transparency of the fees that businesses pay to accept card payments.

Businesses should work with their acquirer and payment service providers to understand their statements and changes to their payment costs when these reforms are implemented.

Unless expressly permitted under applicable law, businesses will no longer be permitted to apply card surcharges to eftpos, Mastercard, and Visa cards from 1 October 2026. Businesses that continue to do so may be contacted by their payment service provider or bank to remove non-permitted surcharging and may be subject to penalties.

Businesses must ensure their pricing is clear and not misleading, including any extra fees or charges. Consumers may report misleading price displays to the ACCC or their local state or territory consumer protection agency. See ACCC’s Guidance about changes to card payment surcharges.

The impact will vary depending on a business’s current pricing model and use of surcharging. Businesses should review their cost structures and speak with their payment providers about available payment acceptance solutions and pricing options.

Statements may continue to show payment acceptance costs for transparency and commercial purposes. However, from 1 October 2026, businesses must comply with the removal of applicable card payment surcharges regardless of how acceptance costs are presented on statements.

No. Businesses (including not-for-profit organisations) would not be exempt from the removal of surcharging unless a card network’s rules provide an exemption or an exemption is provided by law or regulation.

Yes. The applicable card scheme rules apply in the same way to consumer and business payments. Where those rules prohibit surcharging, a business cannot apply a surcharge simply because the payer is a business. Any exceptions must be permitted by law or regulation.