Can merchants in Australia still charge a card surcharge?

No, not on eftpos, Visa or Mastercard cards. The RBA removed surcharging on these networks from October 1, 2026, and American Express, UnionPay and PayPal said they would follow. Weekend, public holiday and service fees are not affected.

Why the RBA acted

Surcharges had become common, sometimes above the merchant's real cost, and confusing for shoppers. The Reserve Bank of Australia concluded that removing them, together with lower interchange, would give clearer prices.

What changed for merchants

• Card surcharges on the designated networks are no longer allowed.
• Merchants must include payment costs in their prices.
• Other fees, such as weekend or public holiday surcharges in hospitality, remain separate topics.

Lower costs to compensate

The reform package included lower interchange caps and more transparency on payment costs, so that smaller merchants pay less for accepting cards.

What to check

Point-of-sale systems and online checkouts must stop adding card surcharges, and price displays must reflect the final amount.

What it means for payment operators

For your merchants in Australia, surcharge logic in checkouts and terminals needs to be removed. Clear fee reporting from your platform helps them see the real cost of acceptance after the reform.