From 1 October 2026, Australian businesses can no longer add a surcharge when a customer pays by card. The Reserve Bank’s reforms cover debit, credit and prepaid cards on the eftpos, Mastercard and Visa networks, and American Express and UnionPay are removing surcharging from the same date.
If you’re a café, retailer, tradie or professional services business on the Northern Beaches that currently passes on card fees, today is the day to get ready.
1. Switch surcharging off everywhere
- Card terminals: most banks and providers (Tyro, NAB, CommBank and others) are removing surcharge settings automatically, but check your own terminal on Thursday morning.
- Online invoices and payment links: if your Xero, MYOB or QuickBooks invoices use a “pass on the card fee” option through Stripe or another gateway, turn it off.
- Websites, menus and signage: remove any “card surcharge applies” notices.
2. Invoices already sent still count
The ban applies to the payment date, not the invoice date. If a client pays on or after 1 October, you can’t add a surcharge, even if the invoice went out in September.
3. Don’t rename it
Relabelling a card fee as a “service fee”, “admin fee” or “booking fee” is not a way around the ban and risks misleading-conduct issues with the ACCC. You can still offer a genuine discount for cash or bank transfer if you choose.
4. Protect your margin
The RBA is also lowering interchange fee caps from 1 October, so your merchant fees should fall. Now is a good time to:
- Compare your current merchant fees with the new rates, and ask your provider for a better plan if they haven’t passed on the savings.
- Work out what card fees cost you as a percentage of sales, and whether a small price adjustment is needed.
- Encourage bank transfer or PayTo for larger invoices.
Need a hand?
We can review your merchant fees, update your invoicing settings and model the effect on your cashflow.
This article is general information only and doesn’t take your circumstances into account. Speak to us before acting.
