02/08/2026
Big changes are coming for Australian businesses from 1 October 2026.
The new Australian card surcharge ban means businesses will no longer be able to apply payment surcharges on eligible eftpos, Visa and Mastercard debit, prepaid and credit card transactions. Instead, the cost of accepting these payments must be incorporated into your overall pricing.
If your business currently relies on card surcharges to recover merchant fees, now is the time to review your pricing strategy before the new rules take effect.
Here’s what you need to know:
• Card surcharges on eligible eftpos, Visa and Mastercard transactions will no longer be permitted.
• Merchant fees will need to be absorbed into your product or service pricing.
• Some payment methods, including PayPal, Diners Club and Buy Now, Pay Later services, are not covered by these specific changes.
• General service fees and booking fees can still apply where they are charged equally across all payment methods and are transparently included in your pricing.
• Weekend, public holiday and late night surcharges remain permitted where they comply with existing requirements.
This change could have a significant impact on businesses that have previously relied on payment surcharges to offset transaction costs. Before 1 October, it’s worth reviewing your pricing, comparing merchant service providers, updating your POS system and website checkout, and ensuring your customer signage reflects the new requirements.
Preparing now will help you avoid compliance issues and protect your margins when the new rules come into effect.
Have questions about how these changes could affect your business? Get in touch with our team.
