Australia’s credit/debit card surcharge rules are changing. Learn more
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Reserve bank of australia

Australia's surcharge rules are changing.

Here's what that means for our merchants.

Updated on 27 July 2026 

From 1 October 2026, businesses in Australia will no longer be permitted to apply a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard, eftpos or American Express (Amex) card payments.

What this means for your business

If your business currently applies a surcharge to card payments, these changes may affect how you recover your payment costs. 

Payment processing fees will continue to apply. The key change is that these costs can no longer be recovered through a separate card surcharge to customers. 

As this is an industry-wide transition, changing payment providers will not alter this requirement. 

This Resource Centre brings together practical information to help you understand what is changing, what isn’t changing, and the steps you can take to prepare.

Read the article - Card surcharge changes explained: What businesses need to know

What this looks like in practice for merchants 

Today (Before 1 October 2026)  After changes (From 1 October 2026) 
Businesses can apply a surcharge to card payments Surcharges on Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and Amex card payments are no longer permitted in Australia from 1 October 2026 
Payment processing fees apply when accepting cards Payment processing fees still apply when accepting cards 
Customers may see an extra charge at checkout No separate surcharge can be added at checkout 
Businesses may use surcharging to offset payment costs Businesses will need to consider how costs are managed within their overall pricing model 
Ancillary fees such as dishonour and admin fees can be passed on to customers   There are no changes to these fees under the reform, the reform affects transaction surcharges only 

What should I do now?

No immediate action is required for existing merchants. 

However, now is a good time to: 

  • Review whether your business currently applies a surcharge 
  • Review how much surcharge revenue your business currently receives 
  • Review how payment costs are currently managed within your business 
  • Stay informed about upcoming changes and guidance. 

Questions businesses are asking 

What is actually changing?

From 1 October 2026, businesses in Australia will no longer be permitted to apply a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard or eftpos card payments. Amex has separately announced that surcharging on Amex card transactions will also end from the same date.

Do payment fees disappear?

No. Businesses will continue to incur payment processing costs when customers pay by card. The changes relate to surcharging, not the underlying costs of accepting card payments.

Does this affect direct debit payments from bank accounts?

No. These changes apply to card payments and do not affect direct debit payments from bank accounts. 

Does this affect recurring card payments?

Yes. The surcharge changes apply regardless of whether a card payment is one-off or recurring. 

How do I know if I currently apply a surcharge?

If customers currently pay an additional fee when using a Visa, Mastercard, eftpos or Amex card, these changes are likely to affect your business. 

Not sure whether you currently surcharge? Ask yourself: 

  • Do customers pay an additional fee when paying by card? 
  • Does a surcharge appear on customer receipts? 
  • Does your payment terminal automatically add a fee to card transactions? 
  • Is your software platform configured to apply a surcharge? 

Depending on your payment solution, surcharging may be configured within your payment provider, software platform or another integrated solution. If you’re unsure, contact your software provider or our support team. 

How much surcharge revenue does my business currently receive?

Review your transaction reports, settlement reports or speak with your accountant or bookkeeper. If you are unsure where to find this information, contact our support team.

Do I need to increase my prices?

Every business is different. Businesses should consider their own circumstances when deciding how to manage payment costs following the end of surcharging. You may wish to seek advice from your accountant or business adviser.

Will changing payment providers allow me to continue surcharging?

No. The changes apply across the Australian payments industry. Changing payment providers will not allow businesses to continue applying card surcharges after 1 October 2026.

Where can I find information about my payment fees or surcharge revenue?

You can view the fees that apply to your account in the Worldpay for Platforms Portal, provided you have Account Controller access.

  1. Log in to the Worldpay for Platforms Portal.
  2. Navigate to your Fee Schedule to view the fees that apply to your account,

If you don’t have Account Controller access, or you’re unable to locate this information, please contact the customer support team for assistance. They can help you access your fee information or arrange the appropriate account permissions if required.

"This is one of the most significant changes to Australia's payments landscape in decades, and we're committed to guiding our partners and merchants through it with clarity and confidence, so they are prepared ahead of the deadline. Our focus is to make the transition seamless and work closely with our partners and merchants to make sure they’re not just compliant, but well‑positioned to thrive in a more transparent payments environment.”

Alison Morris

General Manager

Have further questions?

Our team will be available to answer any questions and walk through the implications for your specific business. If you have further questions before then, please contact us.

1300 592 283

[email protected]