From 1st October 2026, businesses will no longer be able to add surcharges to payments made using EFTPOS, Mastercard, Visa or American Express.

Small businesses that currently pass card processing costs on to customers may need to review payment systems, pricing, invoices, and customer information before the new rules take effect.

This is a good opportunity to raise the change with your Bookkeeper and identify where card surcharges currently appear across the business.

What Is Changing?

Businesses can continue applying card surcharges until 30th September 2026. From 1st October, card surcharges on EFTPOS, Mastercard, Visa and American Express payments will no longer be permitted.

Weekend, public holiday and other non-payment surcharges can still apply. Businesses must clearly disclose these before the customer books, orders, or makes a purchase.

For example, a business may state that a 10% public holiday surcharge applies. From 1st October, it cannot add an additional fee simply because the customer chooses to pay with an affected card.

Businesses can also offer discounts for particular payment methods, such as cash or PayID, as long as customers can clearly understand which payment methods qualify and how much they will save.

What Should Businesses Review?

Businesses that currently apply card surcharges should start by identifying everywhere those charges are built into their systems or communicated to customers.

This may include:

• EFTPOS terminals and point-of-sale systems.
• Accounting and invoicing software.
• Online stores and payment platforms.
• Booking systems.
• Websites and online pricing.
• Menus, price lists and signage.
• Invoice templates and other customer communications.
• Standard terms and conditions.

Merchant service providers may contact businesses about changes required to terminals, online payment systems or account settings. Businesses should follow legitimate instructions from their provider and contact them directly if they are unsure what needs to change.

It is also worth checking junk or spam folders for communications that may already have been sent.

As with any change involving financial systems, businesses should be alert to scams. Unexpected links should not be used to provide banking or account details. If there is any doubt about a message, contact the provider using details from its official website or app.

Understanding The Cost of Taking Payments

Removing card surcharges does not remove the cost to the business of accepting those payments.

Businesses should understand their merchant fees, transaction volumes and other payment-related costs so they can assess what the change means for their overall costs.

Some businesses may decide to absorb these costs, while others may review their broader pricing. It may also be a useful time to compare merchant service providers and understand whether the current payment arrangement still suits the business.

FAQs

Can I still charge a surcharge?

Weekend, public holiday and other non-payment surcharges can still apply, provided they are clearly disclosed before the customer books, orders or makes a purchase. From 1st October, businesses can no longer add a surcharge because a customer pays using EFTPOS, Mastercard, Visa, or American Express.

Do I need to change my prices?

Not necessarily. Every business is different. Some may choose to absorb card payment costs as part of their operating expenses, while others may review their broader pricing. If prices change, customers should clearly understand what they will pay before making a purchase, and businesses must not mislead customers about the reason for a price increase.

Can I offer a discount for cash or PayID?

Yes. Businesses can offer discounts for particular payment methods, such as cash or PayID. Clearly communicate the discount before the customer buys, including which payment methods qualify and how much they will save.

What if card surcharges are still showing on my systems or signs?

Remove references to card surcharges from relevant payment systems and customer information. This may include EFTPOS and point-of-sale systems, invoicing software, websites, menus, booking systems, invoices and signage.

Do I need to contact my merchant service provider?

If you are unsure whether changes are required, contact your merchant service provider. They can advise whether terminals, online payment systems or payment settings need to be updated. Businesses should also check any communications already received from their provider and verify unexpected messages before following links or providing account information.

What should I check on 1st October?

Check payment, point-of-sale and invoicing systems to make sure card surcharges have been removed and are no longer being automatically applied.

For practical guidance and resources to help your business prepare, visit: ASBFEO – Card surcharging ban.