Australia's surcharge rules are changing

Here's what that means for our software platforms and merchants.

Updated on 30th June 2026


The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has finalised reforms to card payment surcharging and interchange fees, effective 1 October 2026. As your payments partner, we're committed to making this transition straightforward for your business. We are currently in the planning and preparation phase, working closely across teams to ensure everything is in place for a smooth transition for our partners and customers.


What has the RBA decided?

On 31 March 2026, the RBA released its final Conclusions Paper on Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging.


The key decisions are:


  • From 1 October 2026, merchants will no longer be permitted to apply surcharges on Visa, Master and eftpos card payments, following the RBA's removal of restrictions on scheme no-surcharge rules.
  • Consumer credit card interchange will move from a weighted average of approximately 0.50% to a hard cap of 0.30% from 1 October 2026, and debit interchange reduced. These changes are expected to reduce underlying card acceptance costs. We will review our pricing and pass through reductions where applicable.
  • Currently unregulated interchange rates, which typically range from around 1.6% to approximately 2.0%, depending on the scheme and transaction type. From 1 April 2027, foreign-issued card interchange will be capped at 1.0%
  • Current surcharging arrangements for American Express remain unchanged at this stage, pending the outcome of the RBA's further review.

Key dates shared by the RBA


1 Oct 2026 Surcharge ban + domestic interchange cuts
30 Oct 2026 Acquirer fee benchmarks published publicly
Jan 2027 Pass-through rates published quarterly
1 Apr 2027 Foreign card cap + enhanced statements
Mid-2027 New RBA review: Amex, BNPL, wallets

What this means for your business

If you currently surcharge:

  • You must remove card surcharges from your checkout by 1 October 2026.
  • Card acceptance costs will need to be incorporated into your advertised pricing or absorbed.
  • Non-payment surcharges (e.g. weekend, public holiday) are unaffected.
  • To prepare for these changes, we will no longer be onboarding surcharged merchants from 3 July 2026.
    • To prepare for this our partners should review and update the following across their business:
      • Ensure sales and customer-facing teams are aligned on how fees are positioned to new merchants, moving away from passing on card costs.
      • Onboarding and customer journeys, forms or communications should no longer reference surcharging or fee pass-through.
      • Customer-facing experiences like hosted payment pages should have all references to passing on card fees removed.
      • Marketing, product and sales collateral used when acquiring or onboarding new merchants, should no longer mention surcharging or fee pass-through.
    • Surcharging functionality will need to be disabled to support compliance with the new rules from 1 October 2026.
  • Existing or surcharge-based arrangements may require review and could be impacted by the reforms.
  • Merchant agreements and onboarding flows will need to be updated.
  • This is an opportunity to review embedded payments costs alongside your merchants.
  • Your checkout experience and pricing are unchanged from October 2026.
  • With the reductions to interchange fee caps, the impact to merchants will vary depending on factors such as pricing structure, scheme programs, transaction mix and card types.
  • We are currently reviewing the changes and will communicate any updates where applicable.
  • You will receive communication on applicable changes on fees or pricing before 1 October 2026.

What merchants need to know about the changes

One of the most common questions we're hearing is whether payment fees are disappearing.

The answer is no.

From 1 October 2026, businesses will no longer be permitted to apply a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and American Express (Amex) card payments. However, businesses will generally continue to incur payment processing costs when customers pay by card.

Payment fees aren't disappearing. The key change is that businesses can no longer recover these costs through a seperate card surcharge.

Read the article


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
A graphic timeline image that illustrates the RBA surcharge reform timeline.
A graphic timeline image that illustrates the RBA surcharge reform timeline.

What happens next, and how we will support you

We are taking a phased approach to ensure we can carefully plan and prepare while supporting merchants and platform partner through each stage of the transition. Here is what you can expect from us:


  • To prepare our partners for the change, we will no longer be onboarding new surcharged merchants from 3 July 2026.
  • Throughout August, we will communicate directly with partners on any changes that may impact them, including what is changing, when and any actions required.
  • We will then notify all affected merchants directly, or through software partners, with personalised guidance on what needs to change and by when.
  • We are planning platform updates to remove card surcharging functionality ahead of the 1 October 2026 deadline. We will proactively review our merchant service fee rates to ensure they reflect any cost reductions that we gain and pass savings through to our partners.
  • Nothing changes immediately. Our phased approach towards the 1 October 2026 deadline will give you time to prepare, and we will support you every step of the way.
  • Our team will be available to answer your questions and walk through any implications for your business. If you have further questions before then, please contact us here.


Your next steps

We are committed to making this transition as seamless as possible for every merchant and platform partner.

To help you prepare, we recommend the following:


  • Review whether you currently apply a card payment surcharge.
  • Check if your payment plan is fee-free or relies on auto-surcharging.
  • Watch for direct communication from us with personalised guidance.
  • Use publicly available RBA fee benchmarks (live 1 October 2026) to compare your Merchant Service Fee (MSF).
  • Contact us if you have questions, we're here to help.

“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, lower‑cost payments environment.”


Alison Morris, General Manager, International Integrated and Platforms

Questions businesses are asking

Do payment fees disappear?

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

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

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

While the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) reforms apply to Visa, Mastercard and eftpos payments, American Express has separately announced that surcharging on Amex card transactions will also end from 1 October 2026.

You may currently be applying a surcharge if:

  • Customers see an additional charge when paying by card
  • A surcharge appears on customer receipts
  • Your payment terminal automatically adds a fee to card transactions
  • Your software platform is configured to apply a surcharge

You may also find information about your surcharging arrangements or payment fees in your agreement with your payment service provider.

Understanding how much income your business currently receives from surcharging may help you prepare for upcoming changes.

You may be able to find this information by:

  • Reviewing transaction reports
  • Reviewing settlement reports
  • Speaking with your accountant or bookkeeper

If you're unsure where to find this information, please contact our support team.

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 advisor.

No immediate action is required.

However, now is a good time to:

  • Understand whether your business currently applies a surcharge
  • Understand how much income your business currently receives from surcharging
  • Review how payment costs are currently managed within your business
  • Stay informed about upcoming changes

Related Blogs

Card surcharge changes explained: What businesses need to know

A practical guide explaining what is changing, what isn't, and how businesses can understand whether they may be affected.

Read the article
Business Readiness Checklist

A practical checklist to help businesses understand their current position and prepare for the upcoming changes.

Coming soon
What options do businesses have after surcharging ends?

Explore some of the approaches businesses may consider after surcharging ends, including absorbing costs, reviewing pricing and improving price transparency.

Coming soon

Have your say

We invite you to share your perspective as part of our RBA surcharge reform research program. Your feedback will shape how we approach pricing, support and communication to you through these changes.

Register your interest here