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Card Surcharges in Australia: The 1 October 2026 Changes

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From 1 October 2026, the RBA says the no-surcharge rules will generally apply to credit, debit and prepaid cards on the eftpos, Mastercard and Visa networks. Weekend, public holiday, booking and service fees are not covered and may still apply.

Ask the business first

If you're charged a card surcharge, ask the business to remove or explain it.

Raise it with the card network or provider

If it isn't resolved, raise it with the card network (for example Visa, Mastercard or eftpos) or the business's payment service provider.

Keep your receipt

If you need to complain, Moneysmart suggests including copies of relevant documents, such as receipts.

Where this comes from

Sources

The documents this guide relies on. If one has changed since we read it, the document is right and this guide is out of date.

  1. RBA media release 2026-10: Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging – Conclusions Paper (31 March 2026)

    31 March 2026 announcement: removing surcharging on debit, prepaid and credit cards on the designated eftpos, Mastercard and Visa networks; lower interchange caps; most changes from 1 October 2026.

    rba.gov.au · Accessed
  2. RBA: Frequently Asked Questions – Removal of Card Payment Surcharges From 1 October 2026

    RBA prohibition on no-surcharge rules ends 1 October 2026; networks' no-surcharge rules; coverage including internationally issued cards; American Express, UnionPay and PayPal (5 October 2026); exclusions (weekend, public holiday, booking and service fees); discounts; choice of payment methods; non-card methods not regulated by RBA; business-to-business payments; financial institutions announcing rewards changes.

    rba.gov.au · Accessed
  3. ACCC: Card surcharges

    No-surcharge rules set by scheme rules and merchant contracts and enforced by networks/payment service providers, not the ACCC; networks listed; current cost-based rule until 30 September 2026; hospitality weekend/public holiday surcharges; what consumers can do from 1 October 2026.

    accc.gov.au · Accessed
  4. RBA: Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging – Conclusions Paper, Executive Summary

    Merchants should not have to subsidise rewards points; lower interchange caps particularly on consumer credit cards.

    rba.gov.au · Accessed
  5. Moneysmart (ASIC): How to complain

    When making a complaint, include copies of relevant documents such as receipts.

    moneysmart.gov.au · Accessed
Questions

About this guide

When do card surcharges end in Australia?

From 1 October 2026 for eftpos, Mastercard and Visa debit, prepaid and credit cards. The RBA says American Express and UnionPay are also removing surcharging from 1 October 2026, and PayPal from 5 October 2026.

Can a café still add a Sunday or public holiday surcharge?

Yes. The changes only cover surcharges for paying by card. The ACCC confirms hospitality businesses can continue to charge weekend and public holiday surcharges.

Can a shop offer a cash discount or refuse cards?

Yes. The RBA says businesses can continue to offer discounts for particular payment methods and are generally able to choose which payment methods they accept.

Does the ban apply to overseas-issued cards?

The RBA says the no-surcharge rules will generally apply to all credit, debit and prepaid cards on the eftpos, Mastercard and Visa networks, including internationally issued cards.
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