From 1 October 2026, businesses will no longer be able to apply surcharges to payments made using eftpos, Mastercard, Visa or American Express.
For many MGA members across the grocery, liquor and timber and hardware sectors, little or no change may be required if you do not currently charge customers a card surcharge.
However, all retailers should be aware of the new requirements and take the opportunity to check their payment systems and merchant fees ahead of the change.
If you currently charge a card surcharge
You will need to ensure card surcharges are no longer applied from 1 October 2026. Card surcharges can continue to be applied up to and including 30 September.
Before the change takes effect, MGA recommends checking:
- EFTPOS terminals and payment settings
- point-of-sale systems
- online payment platforms and invoicing software
- any signage or customer information referring to card surcharges.
Your merchant service provider may contact you about changes required to your terminals or payment systems. Do not ignore these communications, and allow enough time before 1 October for any necessary system changes to be made.
Members should also be alert to scams. If you receive an unexpected email or text claiming to be from your payment provider, don’t click unexpected links or provide banking details. Contact your provider directly using trusted contact details if you are unsure.
If you don’t currently charge a card surcharge
For many MGA members, it will largely be business as usual.
However, this is a good opportunity to review what your business pays to accept card payments, including merchant fees and transaction costs.
Businesses are being encouraged to understand their current payment costs and compare what different merchant service providers are offering.
Before 1 October – a quick retailer checklist
Even if you expect the change to have minimal impact on your business:
- check whether card surcharges are applied anywhere across your payment or POS systems
- look out for communications from your merchant service provider
- make any required system changes before 1 October
- make sure relevant staff understand the change and can answer customer questions
- test your payment systems on 1 October to make sure card surcharges are no longer being applied
- review your merchant fees and payment arrangements to make sure they remain competitive.
These steps reflect the Government’s recommended preparation for small businesses.
What isn’t changing?
The new rules apply specifically to card payment surcharges.
Businesses can still apply weekend, public holiday and other surcharges, provided these are clearly disclosed to customers before they make a purchase.
Businesses can also offer discounts for particular payment methods, such as cash or PayID, provided the discount is clearly displayed and customers can easily understand how it applies.
The changes take effect from 1 October 2026, so MGA encourages members to check their systems now rather than waiting until the change takes effect.
For more information and practical resources, visit the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman’s card surcharging information hub.
