Worldpay for Platforms is now Global Payments for Platforms. Australia’s credit/debit card surcharge rules are changing. Learn more
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Reserve bank of australia

Australia's surcharge rules are changing.

Here's what that means for our merchants.

Updated on 29 September 2026

From 1 October 2026, businesses in Australia will no longer be permitted to apply a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard, eftpos or American Express (Amex) card payments.

What this means for your business

If your business currently applies a surcharge to card payments, these changes may affect how you recover your payment costs.

Payment processing fees will continue to apply. The key change is that these costs can no longer be recovered through a separate card surcharge to customers.

As this is an industry-wide transition, changing payment providers will not alter this requirement.

This Resource Centre brings together practical information to help you understand what is changing, what isn't changing, and the steps you can take to prepare.

Read the article - Card surcharge changes explained: What businesses need to know

What this looks like in practice

Today - before 1 October 2026From 1 October 2026
Businesses can apply a surcharge to card paymentsSurcharges on Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and Amex card payments are no longer permitted in Australia from 1 October 2026
Payment processing fees apply when accepting cardsPayment processing fees still apply when accepting cards
Customers may see an extra charge at checkoutNo separate surcharge can be added at checkout
Businesses may use surcharging to offset payment costsBusinesses will need to consider how costs are managed within their overall pricing model
Ancillary fees such as dishonour and admin fees can be passed on to customersThere are no changes to these fees under the reform, the reform affects transaction surcharges only

What should I do now?

Review whether your business currently applies a surcharge, how payment costs are managed and whether changes to your settlement amounts may affect your reconciliation, accounting or automated software workflows. 

If your settlement or billing account is a trust account, or you’re unsure whether Global Payments holds the correct account details for transaction fee collection, please contact our Support team as soon as possible.

Questions businesses are asking

What is actually changing?

From 1 October 2026, businesses in Australia will no longer be permitted to apply a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard or eftpos card payments. Amex has separately announced that surcharging on Amex card transactions will also end from the same date.

Do payment fees disappear?

No. Businesses will continue to incur payment processing costs when customers pay by card. The changes relate to surcharging, not the underlying costs of accepting card payments.

Does this affect direct debit payments from bank accounts?

No. These changes apply to card payments and do not affect direct debit payments from bank accounts.

Does this affect recurring card payments?

Yes. The surcharge changes apply regardless of whether a card payment is one-off or recurring.

How do I know if I currently surcharge?

If customers currently pay an additional fee when using a Visa, Mastercard, eftpos or Amex card, these changes are likely to affect your business.

Not sure whether you currently surcharge? Ask yourself:

  • Do customers pay an additional fee when paying by card?
  • Does a surcharge appear on customer receipts?
  • Does your payment terminal automatically add a fee to card transactions?
  • Is your software platform configured to apply a surcharge?

Depending on your payment solution, surcharging may be configured within your payment provider, software platform or another integrated solution. If you're unsure, contact your software provider or our support team.

Where can I find information about my payment fees or surcharge revenue?

You can viewthe fees that apply to your accountin the Worldpay for Platforms Portal, provided you have Account Controller access

  1. Log in to the Global Payments Portal.
  2. .Navigate to your Fee Schedule.

If you don’t have Account Controller access, or you’re unable to locate this information, please contact the customer suppor tteam

How much surcharge revenue does my business currently receive?

Review your transaction reports, settlement reports or speak with your accountant or bookkeeper. If you are unsure where to find this information, contact our support team.

Do I need to increase my prices?

Every business is different. Businesses should consider their own circumstances when deciding how to manage payment costs following the end of surcharging. You may wish to seek advice from your accountant or business adviser.

Will changing payment providers allow me to continue surcharging?

No. The changes apply across the Australian payments industry. Changing payment providers will not allow businesses to continue applying card surcharges after 1 October 2026.

Will my settlement amount change from 1 October 2026?

If you currently recover applicable card transaction fees from customers through surcharging, the way these fees are handled will change from 1 October 2026. 

For most impacted merchants, applicable transaction fees will be deducted prior to settlement. This means the amount deposited into your bank account may be lower than the gross value of the card payments processed. 

Your gross transaction values and transaction reporting will continue to show the full payment amount. This may affect reconciliation, accounting or automated workflows that rely on settlement amounts matching gross transaction values.

What if I use a trust account?

Trust account regulations may restrict card transaction fees from being paid from a trust account.

If your settlement or billing account is a trust account, or you're unsure whether Global Payments holds the correct account details for transaction fee collection, please contact our Support team as soon as possible.

We may need to confirm or update your settlement and billing arrangements before 1 October 2026.

Need help?

If you are unsure how the reforms apply to a particular merchant, product or onboarding scenario, contact your Partner Manager or our support team.

1300 592 283

[email protected]