What’s changing
From 1 October 2026 you cannot add a surcharge when a customer pays by eftpos, Visa, Mastercard or American Express, whether in-store or online. The price you advertise must be the price the customer pays by card.
The ban only covers card payment fees. Weekend and public holiday surcharges, and booking or service fees, are still allowed but don’t rename a card fee as something else as that may be misleading conduct.
1. Talk to your payment provider now
- Ensure that any automatic surcharge is turned off on your card terminal, point of sale system and online checkout. If you’re unsure, check with your provider.
- Ask what your fees will be after 1 October. The Reserve Bank is cutting some of the fees banks charge behind the scenes, but that doesn’t guarantee your fees will fall.
2. Decide how you’ll cover the cost
- You may choose to absorb the cost if card fees are a small part of your profit on sales, or
- You could raise your prices to cover what card fees cost you.
3. Large sales (e.g. vehicles)
On a $50,000 sale, even 1% is $500.
- Consider accepting cards for the deposit only, or up to a set amount, with the balance paid by bank transfer or finance.
- Check with your payment provider that your merchant agreement allows a card limit.
- Set the limit out in your quote or contract terms, for example: “Deposit of up to $3,000 payable by card with the balance payable by bank transfer or finance before delivery.”
- Make sure the customer knows before they commit to the purchase.
4. Final checks before 1 October
In preparation for the changes, you should remove surcharge notices from signage, websites, invoices and quote templates and brief your staff on the changes.
More information can be found at: ACCC (accc.gov.au/business/pricing/card-surcharges) and the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (asbfeo.gov.au/resources-tools-centre/card-surcharging-ban).
