One-minute answer
From 2026-10-01, the imposition of surcharges on all card payments, including Visa, Mastercard, eftpos, and American Express, will be completely prohibited in Australia. However, additional charges unrelated to cards, such as weekend/public holiday surcharges or booking fees, will remain. The RBA also plans to lower the interchange fee cap.
Who this affects
All businesses in Australia that accept card payments from customers and impose surcharges.
Potential business impact
Businesses that have passed on card payment surcharges to consumers will no longer be able to do so, potentially leading to adjustments in product pricing or increased costs. However, the reduction in the interchange fee cap may partially mitigate card processing expenses.
General matter to check
Review current surcharges applied to card payments and POS payment system settings, and consider future pricing strategies and payment gateway fee arrangements.
- Status: announcement · 2026-10-01
- Official source: Card payment surcharge changes are coming
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General information only; not individual advice.