RBA Confirmed: 72 days until card surcharges are banned. Check you're on the right rate →
The RBA surcharge ban is now in effect. Check you're on the right rate →
The RBA change that removes surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa from 1 October 2026 does not cover American Express. That said, providers including Tyro and Eway have said they will remove Amex surcharging on 1 October 2026, and Eway reports American Express has announced its own change from the same date. So in practice many businesses may stop surcharging Amex too, but because it sits outside the RBA rule the detail depends on your provider and network. Confirm the Amex position for your account with your payment provider.
Last updated: 2 July 2026
The RBA reforms remove surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa (debit, credit and prepaid) from 1 October 2026, enforced through the card networks scheme rules and merchant agreements. American Express is not one of the designated networks in that change, so the RBA rule does not by itself decide what happens to Amex surcharging. That is why the honest answer is that the Amex position is set by the network and your provider rather than by the RBA.
Even though Amex is outside the RBA rule, the market has moved. Providers including Tyro and Eway have said they will remove American Express surcharging on 1 October 2026, and Eway reports that American Express has announced its own change taking effect from the same date. Reported together, that means many businesses may find Amex surcharging is switched off around the same time as the covered networks, but the exact treatment depends on who processes your Amex transactions. Because these are reported provider and network actions rather than the RBA rule, confirm what applies to your account with your payment provider before you change anything at the till.
Answer a few quick questions. Final eligibility is confirmed from your merchant statement.
If you can no longer surcharge American Express, its cost stops being something you pass on and starts coming out of your margin, the same shift that applies to the covered cards. That makes your merchant rate the main lever left. The practical response is to compare your rate across every card type you accept, including Amex, so you know what you are really paying and where it can be reduced. MerchantRates partner rates start as low as 0.89% for businesses that qualify, confirmed from your merchant statement.
Sources: RBA Conclusions Paper media release (mr-26-10) · ACCC card surcharges guidance · Eway: RBA reform response · Tyro: surcharge ban confirmed.
Information current as at 2 July 2026.
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