Guides
The No-Surcharge Rule Is Here: How Business Owners Can Navigate the Change
Since the no-surcharge rule is now in effect, Australian businesses should review payment costs, check their systems, re-evaluate pricing, and make sure their payment setup is aligned with the change.
6 Oct 2026
Australian businesses have entered a significant transition following the introduction of no-surcharge rules on 1 October 2026. Businesses that previously passed the costs of accepting card payments on to customers should now review their payment setup, pricing, and operating expenses to understand the impact of the change.
If your business processes a large volume of payments in-store or online, you will likely want to understand your current payment costs and how the new rules may affect your business going forward. Whether you run a retail shop, café, or professional services business that requires payment, or need payment processing for online business, knowing how you currently accept payments can help you plan.
No surcharge rules apply to EFTPOS, Mastercard, and Visa credit, debit, and prepaid cards from 1 October 2026. Several other payment providers have announced similar initiatives.
This means that businesses can no longer add a separate fee on top of an invoice, bill or purchase total if a customer chooses to pay via an affected card type.
It is important to note that accepting card payments is not free for merchants. Businesses continue to pay processing fees when transactions are processed through their payment providers. This change mainly affects how those fees are accounted for.
Understanding the distinction can help businesses manage the change and make informed decisions about their payment costs.
Review Your Current Costs
With the new rules now in effect, it can be useful to take stock of what your business currently pays to accept cards. Review your current transaction rate and investigate any additional fees or costs you may incur per transaction.
Many factors can affect your overall costs, including transaction volumes, card types accepted, payment channels, terminal setup and online payment setup. Reviewing your bank or payment provider statement from recent months can help clarify where your money is going.
You may also want to use this opportunity to reach out to your payment provider. Ask questions about any fees or charges you're unsure about and double-check that your current setup still fits your volume and business model.
Consider Your Pricing Structure
Any business that previously added a surcharge to card payments will need to consider how to cover those costs under the new rules. Every business is different. Some may choose to absorb the costs of accepting card payments, while others may reassess their overall pricing structure.
Work out what your business is being charged to accept card payments and use that information to identify how it may impact your margins. Reviewing your pricing strategy can help you determine whether your current pricing remains sustainable under the new rules.
Review Your Payment Technology
You should also take the opportunity to check that any payment technology you're using is configured appropriately for the new payment environment.
If you use a third-party POS system or ecommerce platform to apply fees yourself, check with your provider to confirm that the necessary changes have been made.
Don't assume that every aspect of your current payment environment has updated automatically. Test your terminals, checkout pages and payment processes to ensure surcharge settings have been removed where required and that everything works seamlessly for staff and customers.
Identify Savings in Other Areas
The introduction of the no-surcharge rule also presents an opportunity to review your overall payment expenses. Your internet connection, POS hardware and other technology can add hidden costs to your business.
PayNuts offers value-added services that may help you save on certain business expenses. Depending on your current plan and eligibility, you could access savings of up to 50% off eligible nbn® plans and 50% off POS hardware. A better internet deal could help offset transaction fees while still providing the connectivity your business needs.
Consider your entire payment arrangement when looking for savings. Transaction rates are important, but they're just one part of your overall costs.
Review Your POS Configuration
Check where payment surcharges were previously applied and confirm they have been removed where required. Were they managed through the terminal itself, your POS software or a third-party system? Keeping your payment solution streamlined can help reduce unnecessary manual processes.
PayNuts offers EFTPOS and POS solutions built to complement your business and daily operations. Reviewing how your POS payments are processed, along with your current hardware and software, can help you determine whether your setup still fits your evolving business.
Ensure your staff are familiar with the new rules too. The more your employees know about what has changed and why, the easier it will be for them to answer customer questions and process transactions confidently.
Update Your Customers
If you previously charged card surcharges, check that in-store signage, menus, websites, invoices, and checkout information have been updated to reflect the new rules.
Online stores should also check checkout pages, payment links, and any automated customer emails to remove outdated information about card payments and additional fees.
Your employees should know what has changed and what customers can expect. Keeping staff informed can reduce confusion about the changes and help you present a united front to customers.
Take Action Now
The no-surcharge rule is now in effect. If your business hasn't already reviewed its payment setup, now is the time to check your card costs, pricing and payment technology, and discuss with your payment provider how your surcharge settings have been managed.
Now is also a good time to look at your payment setup more broadly. Evaluate your transaction costs against your POS hardware, connectivity, integrations and support to see if there are any opportunities to create greater efficiencies. Taking action now can help you address any remaining issues, update staff and customer messaging, and make sure your payment setup reflects the new requirements.
PayNuts has a range of payment solutions and value-added services to meet different business needs. Get in touch with us today so we can help your business navigate the new payment environment and better manage your costs moving forward.
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