Card surcharges are changing in Australia. What to know before 1 October 2026
The RBA has backed a major shift that could remove many Visa, Mastercard and eftpos surcharges from 1 October 2026. Here is what still applies now, what may change next, and how to protect yourself at the checkout.
Published by DollarData Team on 2026-04-18.
Sources, dates and corrections follow Dolla's Editorial Standards.
Card surcharges are changing in Australia. What to know before 1 October 2026
Card surcharges are one of those small money leaks that feel too minor to matter until you add them up across coffees, takeaway, tickets and hotel stays. A change announced by the Reserve Bank of Australia on 31 March 2026 could make that experience a lot simpler, but the change has not taken effect yet. For now, the current surcharge rules still apply.
If you want the short version, here it is: many card surcharges are still legal today, but businesses cannot charge more than their cost of accepting that payment type. From 1 October 2026, Visa, Mastercard and eftpos networks will be able to ban surcharges on those card payments. That means the next few months are a transition period, not a free-for-all.
What changed on 31 March 2026
On 31 March 2026, the RBA published its Conclusions Paper on merchant card payment costs and surcharging. The Payments System Board said it was in the public interest to remove surcharging on designated eftpos, Mastercard and Visa card networks, with most changes set to start on 1 October 2026.
The RBA's reasoning is consumer-friendly. In the surcharging section of the Conclusions Paper, it says consumers should benefit from greater price transparency and fewer surprise charges at the end of the payment process.
That does not mean every surcharge disappears today. It means the framework is changing, and both consumers and businesses need to understand the gap between the announcement date and the effective date.
What still applies right now
The current ACCC guidance is still the practical rulebook for consumers. According to the ACCC's card surcharge guidance, businesses can currently charge a surcharge for paying by card, but:
- the surcharge must not be more than what it costs the business to accept that payment type
- the business must be able to justify the surcharge
- if there is no way to pay without a surcharge, the minimum surcharge must be included in the displayed price
That last point matters more than many people realise. If a venue only accepts surchargeable payment methods, the advertised price should reflect the minimum amount you can actually pay, not a lower headline price plus a surprise fee at the terminal.
The ACCC guidance also makes clear that flat fees can be a problem on small purchases. A small fixed fee can quickly become excessive as a percentage of the transaction when you are buying a cheap item.
Why this still matters before October
You could be forgiven for thinking the 31 March announcement means surcharges are already on the way out. In practice, there are still months in which the old rules remain in force.
That matters for two reasons.
First, some businesses may keep surcharging until the new framework starts. Second, some consumers may wrongly assume any surcharge is now illegal and miss the real test, which is whether the charge is higher than the business's cost of acceptance under the current rules.
Recent ACCC enforcement activity shows the regulator is still taking the existing rules seriously. On 13 March 2026, the ACCC said Hyatt Regency Sydney had been charging debit card surcharges above its cost of acceptance in some cases, and the hotel group changed its practices after the ACCC intervened.
What Australians should do now
You do not need to turn every checkout into a legal dispute. A simple five-point checklist is enough for most households.
1. Pay attention to the final price, not just the sticker price
If you are paying by card, especially for lower-value purchases, check the terminal total before you tap. A 1 per cent or 2 per cent fee does not sound huge, but repeated often enough it becomes part of your monthly spending drift.
2. Be extra alert when a business does not offer a surcharge-free option
If cash is not accepted, or every available payment method attracts a fee, the minimum surcharge should already be included in the displayed price under current ACCC guidance. If the shelf or menu price looks lower than what every customer must actually pay, that is a red flag.
3. Watch for flat fees on small transactions
A flat card fee on a small purchase can work out to a very high percentage. That is one reason the ACCC warns businesses to be careful with fixed surcharges.
4. Keep the receipt if something looks off
If a surcharge seems excessive, keep a screenshot, booking page or receipt. Start with the business, then consider reporting the issue to the ACCC if the explanation does not stack up.
5. Expect the transition to be uneven
The RBA decision points to a simpler system from 1 October 2026, but rollout may not feel instant. Different merchants, payment providers and card networks may update practices at different speeds. Budget on the basis that surcharges can still appear for now.
What not to assume
This is the part most people get wrong.
Do not assume:
- every surcharge is already banned
- every surcharge will disappear on the same day in every context
- a fee labelled as a service or handling charge automatically sits outside surcharge rules
For now, the best question is still: does this charge reflect the business's actual cost of accepting this payment type, and is the displayed price being shown properly?
A sensible money move this week
Review your last seven days of spending and look for small card fees you barely noticed. If they are showing up often, try one practical adjustment this week: use a surcharge-free payment method where you can, or avoid low-value purchases at merchants that rely on flat card fees.
The RBA's 31 March 2026 decision is a meaningful consumer change, but it is not a reason to switch off before the rules actually change on 1 October 2026. Until then, a little attention at the checkout can still save you money.