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 →
Yes. PayPal is not one of the networks covered by the surcharge removal, which applies to eftpos, Mastercard and Visa, so a PayPal surcharge can continue provided it does not exceed your cost of acceptance. Keep in mind the RBA has flagged a review of areas like BNPL and wallets from mid-2026, so the picture can change.
Last updated: 2 July 2026
The surcharge removal that starts on 1 October 2026 applies to three networks: eftpos, Mastercard and Visa. It reaches debit, prepaid and credit cards on those networks. PayPal is not on that list, so it is not swept into the surcharge removal in the way a Visa or Mastercard transaction is. That is the core reason a PayPal surcharge can, as general information, continue past the change.
Being outside the removal does not mean anything goes. A PayPal surcharge should not exceed your actual cost of accepting PayPal — surcharging above cost has long been treated as excessive. Treat any PayPal surcharge as a genuine cost-recovery figure, disclosed clearly to the customer before they pay, rather than a margin-builder.
Answer a few quick questions. Final eligibility is confirmed from your merchant statement.
You cannot dress up a covered-card surcharge as a “PayPal fee” to dodge the rule. If a fee actually applies to eftpos, Mastercard or Visa payments, it is a card surcharge no matter what you call it. Keep PayPal surcharging separate, accurate and tied to PayPal’s real cost.
This is current general information, not a permanent state. The RBA has signalled a broader review beginning mid-2026 covering areas it has not yet captured, so providers and merchants should expect the boundaries to be revisited. Check with your provider about how your PayPal acceptance is priced before relying on a surcharge.
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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