When does the surcharge ban start? Key 2026 dates
1 October 2026 for surcharging and domestic interchange. 1 April 2027 for foreign-card caps. Here is every date, what changes on it, and what is not changing.
The surcharge ban starts on 1 October 2026. Domestic interchange caps change on the same day. A second set of changes, covering foreign-issued cards and fee transparency, follows on 1 April 2027.
That is the short answer. The detail matters more than the date, because what changes on 1 October is narrower than most of the coverage suggests, and a few things people expect to change do not.
Every date, in order
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2026 | eftpos, Mastercard and Visa no-surcharge rules take effect. Surcharging ends on those networks. |
| 1 October 2026 | American Express no-surcharge rule takes effect on credit — its own decision, not RBA regulation. |
| 1 October 2026 | Domestic consumer credit interchange cap falls from 0.80% to 0.30%. |
| 1 October 2026 | Domestic debit and prepaid interchange cap falls from 0.20% ex GST (or $0.10) to 0.16% (or $0.08). |
| 1 October 2026 | Commercial and business credit interchange stays at 0.80%. No change. |
| 1 April 2027 | Caps on foreign-issued card interchange commence. |
| 1 April 2027 | Enhanced scheme fee transparency obligations commence. |
What actually changes on 1 October
Surcharging ends on the three RBA-designated card networks, plus American Express on credit. In practice that is the overwhelming majority of card transactions in Australia.
| Network | Products covered |
|---|---|
| eftpos | Debit, prepaid |
| Mastercard | Credit, debit, prepaid |
| Visa | Credit, debit, prepaid |
| American Express | Credit only |
Two points of accuracy that most coverage gets wrong.
The RBA has not banned surcharging by decree. For over twenty years its Surcharging Standard stopped the card networks from writing no-surcharge rules into their own scheme rules. The RBA has removed that prohibition, and each network has then decided to impose a no-surcharge rule from 1 October. The outcome on your counter is identical, but it explains why coverage differs by network and product type — and why the obligation reaches you through your merchant agreement with your acquirer rather than through a regulator. The RBA does not directly regulate merchants.
American Express is not RBA-regulated. It has chosen to match the three designated networks. That is a business decision on its part, not a requirement.
What is not covered
These cards are not designated by the RBA and have announced no no-surcharge rule, so surcharging on them is unaffected as things stand:
- UnionPay
- Diners Club
- JCB
- Discover
One caveat, and it is the RBA’s own: the network rules taking effect on 1 October “are business decisions taken by each network and may be subject to change.” Nothing prevents a non-designated network announcing its own rule before the date. Worth re-checking close to October rather than treating today’s list as settled.
What is not a card surcharge
The change applies only to a fee charged because the customer paid by card. It does not apply to:
- Weekend surcharges
- Public holiday surcharges
- Booking fees and service fees
- Fees your payment provider charges you — terminal rental, transaction processing and the rest. Those are fees for services provided to your business, not card payment surcharges, and they continue exactly as before.
Are there exemptions?
Broadly, no. A business is not exempt unless a card network’s own rules provide an exemption, or an exemption is provided by law. Whether any exist is a decision for each network, not the RBA — and the RBA’s changes do not limit a network’s ability to apply its rule to any particular industry or business.
Three specific situations worth knowing:
Business-to-business card payments are not exempt on the same basis. If you take card payments from other businesses, the same rules apply unless a network says otherwise.
Invoices issued before 1 October but paid after it. If the card payment is made on or after 1 October, surcharging may no longer be available even though the invoice went out earlier. Check with your payment provider — some have indicated they will disable surcharging functionality from that date, which settles the question for you.
Taxis remain the responsibility of state and territory regulators. Any surcharging that continues on taxi fares stays subject to the relevant state or territory legislation.
Businesses with regulated prices may not be able to adjust those prices when surcharging is removed. The RBA has informed governments and price regulators so the change can be taken into account in future decisions.
What you can still do
Offer discounts for other payment methods. That is unchanged. Removing the prohibition on no-surcharge rules is not intended to prevent a business offering a discount for paying a particular way. Consult your provider and the ACCC guidance on how to display it.
Recover the cost in your prices. The cost of accepting cards does not disappear — it moves from a separate line on the bill into your overall pricing. That is in line with consumer preference for all-inclusive sticker prices, and it is what the reform expects businesses to do.
Surcharge non-card payment methods. The RBA does not currently regulate surcharges on payment methods outside the card systems. Check with your provider and the ACCC guidance before relying on it.
What the reform is expected to be worth
The RBA estimates the surcharge removal saves consumers around $1.6 billion a year, and saves businesses around $200 million a year in the surcharge-related fees they currently pay their own providers.
The interchange cuts are a separate saving on top, and they land on the same day.
FAQ
When exactly does the surcharge ban start?
1 October 2026. eftpos, Mastercard and Visa introduce no-surcharge rules on that date, and American Express does the same on credit.
Is there a second stage?
Yes. Caps on foreign-issued card interchange and enhanced scheme fee transparency obligations commence on 1 April 2027, six months after the first stage.
Can I still surcharge after 1 October 2026?
Not on eftpos, Mastercard, Visa or American Express credit. Cards on networks the RBA has not designated — UnionPay, Diners Club, JCB, Discover — are unaffected as things stand, but each network can change its own rules, so check closer to the date.
Do weekend and public holiday surcharges have to stop?
No. The change applies only to fees charged because a customer paid by card. Weekend surcharges, public holiday surcharges, booking fees and service fees are unaffected.
What if I invoice before 1 October and get paid after?
If the card payment happens on or after 1 October, surcharging may no longer be available even though the invoice predates it. Some payment providers have said they will switch the functionality off from that date, so check with yours.
Can my business get an exemption or an extension?
Not from the RBA. An exemption would have to come from a card network’s own rules or from law. The RBA does not directly regulate merchants — the obligation reaches you through your merchant agreement.
Does the ban apply to payments from other businesses?
Yes. Business-to-business card payments are not exempt unless a network’s rules or the law provide an exemption.
Can I offer a discount for cash or bank transfer instead?
Yes. Discounts for particular payment methods are unaffected. Check the ACCC guidance on how prices must be displayed.