For years many online stores added a small fee at checkout when a customer paid by card. That practice has now largely ended in Australia. From 1 October 2026, the main card networks can stop businesses from adding card surcharges. Online sellers need to check their checkout, invoices and price displays.
This article explains what changed and which payments are covered. It also covers how to recover card costs without breaking the rules. Laws and payment rules can change, and consumer law is enforced by state and territory agencies as well as the ACCC. Treat this as general information and check the details for your own business.
What changed on 1 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of Australia announced changes to card surcharging rules on 31 March 2026. Until 1 October 2026, the RBA did not allow card networks to stop businesses from surcharging. From that date, eftpos, Mastercard and Visa can impose no surcharge rules on businesses that accept their cards. The RBA questions and answers on the removal of card payment surcharges say these generally cover credit, debit and prepaid cards, including cards issued overseas.
Other payment brands have followed. The RBA says American Express, UnionPay and PayPal have also decided to remove surcharging. PayPal’s rule takes effect from 5 October 2026. In practice, most online card payments are now covered.
The ACCC guide to card surcharges confirms that businesses can no longer add a surcharge for payments made with Visa, Mastercard, American Express or eftpos cards. This applies to credit, debit and prepaid cards. The old excessive surcharge rules, which capped a surcharge at the cost of accepting that card, ended on the same date. So the question now is if you can charge a card surcharge at all.
Who enforces the new rules
This part works a little differently from most consumer rules. The ACCC says the no surcharge rules are enforced by the card networks and payment providers, not by the ACCC. That means they sit within the agreements between networks, providers and the businesses that accept cards. The ACCC and state and territory consumer protection agencies still enforce the Australian Consumer Law.
The Australian Consumer Law covers misleading price claims and how prices are shown. That is the part most likely to catch out an online store that tries to work around the change. Each state and territory has its own consumer protection agency. Check the guidance from the agency where you trade as well as the national rules.
Fees that are not affected
The change only applies to surcharges linked to paying by card. The RBA says weekend, public holiday, booking and service fees are not affected. Taxi surcharges remain under state and territory regulation. Not for profit organisations are not exempt unless a network rule or law gives them an exception.
Surcharges on payment methods other than cards are not currently regulated by the RBA. If you take other payment methods, check with your provider and read the ACCC guidance. Buy now pay later services are not covered in the RBA questions and answers. Ask your provider directly about how their rules apply to your store.
Checking your website and invoices
For online sellers, the first job is the checkout. Many store platforms and payment gateways have a setting that adds a card fee at the final step. The RBA says your payment service provider is the best point of contact for help with removing surcharges. Some providers may have switched surcharging off already, but it is worth confirming.
Invoices need a look too. The RBA says that if a card payment is made on or after 1 October 2026, surcharging may no longer be available. This applies even if the invoice was issued before that date. Review any invoice templates, payment links and terms of trade that mention a card fee.
Check every place a surcharge might appear. That includes product pages, cart notes, quotes, booking forms and order confirmation messages. Old wording left on a page can confuse customers and may look misleading. A quick search of your own site for words like surcharge and card fee is a good start.
Recovering card costs the right way
Accepting cards still costs money, and that cost has not gone away. The ACCC says businesses can raise their prices to recover card acceptance costs. It says those costs should be built into overall prices rather than charged separately. If you raise prices, you must not give false or misleading reasons for the increase.
This is a good time to look at your pricing and how you present it. A clear price that includes everything says something about your business, much like the care that goes into how you polish your brand image. The RBA has also lowered interchange fee caps on domestic card transactions from 1 October 2026. It suggests reviewing your payment plan and statements and comparing providers.
Small savings add up across a year. Many owners look closely at big costs, from rent to the office chairs for your employees. Payment fees deserve the same attention because they apply to almost every sale. Store your merchant statements with your other business records and keep your obligations under data and privacy laws in mind.
Discounts and price displays
Businesses can still offer discounts for particular payment methods, such as a lower price for paying by PayID or cash. The ACCC sets out how these must be shown. The discount must be disclosed before the customer books, orders or pays. The full price must also be shown, and the discounted price must not be more prominent.
Under the Australian Consumer Law, the minimum total price must be shown as a single figure. This includes any fee that can be calculated when the price is displayed, such as a flat percentage fee. Businesses also cannot relabel a card surcharge as another fee to avoid the rules. The ACCC warns that doing this may be misleading conduct.
Clear pricing also builds trust. Customers can see what they will pay from the product page right through to the checkout. It keeps your business on the right side of consumer law as well. Fewer pricing headaches can also ease pressure on owners and support their financial wellbeing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still charge a card surcharge on my online store?
In most cases, no. From 1 October 2026, Visa, Mastercard and eftpos can stop businesses from surcharging their cards. American Express, UnionPay and PayPal have also removed surcharging. Check with your payment provider if you think an exception applies.
Can I raise my prices to cover card fees?
Yes. The ACCC says businesses can raise prices to recover card acceptance costs. You must not give false or misleading reasons for the increase. Building the cost into your overall prices is the approach the ACCC describes.
Can I offer a discount for other payment methods?
Yes, discounts for particular payment methods can continue. The discount must be disclosed before the customer orders or pays. The full price must also be shown, and the discounted price must not be more prominent.
Do booking or service fees count as card surcharges?
No. The RBA says weekend, public holiday, booking and service fees are not affected by the change. However, you cannot relabel a card surcharge as a different fee. The ACCC says doing so may be misleading conduct.
This article is general information about Australian rules as they stood in October 2026. It is not legal advice. Laws, payment network rules and enforcement can change and can differ between states and territories. For advice about your own business, speak with a qualified lawyer.