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ARTICLE · 15 MAY 2026

What Is The 2026 Ban On Credit Card Surcharges?

LegalVision
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From 1 October 2026, Visa, Mastercard and eftpos can ban businesses from adding surcharges to card transactions, enforced through merchant agreements.

AustraliaConsumer Protection
Harmanjot Kaur
Harmanjot Kaur
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Summary

  • From 1 October 2026, Visa, Mastercard and eftpos can ban businesses from adding surcharges to card transactions, enforced through merchant agreements.
  • Renaming a surcharge as an “admin fee” or “service fee” does not avoid the ban and may constitute misleading conduct under Australian consumer law.
  • American Express and PayPal surcharges are unaffected, provided they do not exceed actual processing costs.
  • This article is a plain-English guide for Australian businesses on the 2026 card surcharge ban, prepared by LegalVision, a commercial law firm.
  • LegalVision specialises in advising clients on payment regulation and Australian consumer law compliance.

Tips for Businesses

Review your merchant agreement now to understand your current surcharge arrangements. Update your pricing strategy before October 2026 by absorbing costs, adjusting base prices, or setting minimum transaction values. Do not rename surcharges to avoid the ban – the Australian Competition and Consumer

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