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 →
Because American Express usually costs a business more to accept than Visa, and a compliant surcharge can only recover what a card actually costs you. American Express largely runs its own network and sets its own merchant pricing, which has historically sat above the Visa and Mastercard schemes, so where a surcharge is applied it tends to be higher. RBA data reported by finder.com.au put the average Amex surcharge at around 1.33% per transaction. American Express is not covered by the RBA surcharging changes, so confirm the current position for your Amex acceptance with your payment provider.
Last updated: 2 July 2026
A surcharge, where a business applies one, is meant to recover the cost of accepting that card and no more. American Express has historically cost more to accept than Visa or Mastercard because it operates on a different model and sets its own merchant pricing, so the surcharge you see on Amex is usually higher for the same reason. RBA data reported by money.com.au put the average merchant fee on an American Express transaction at 1.35% across September to December 2024, above what many businesses pay on Visa and Mastercard debit. Under the ACCC guidance a surcharge must not exceed your cost of acceptance and must not be dressed up as an admin or service fee.
A few reference points help. RBA data reported by money.com.au put the average Amex merchant fee at 1.35% (September to December 2024). As an illustration of the gap between networks, money.com.au reports the Australian Government card payment fee at 1.45% for American Express versus 0.80% for Visa and Mastercard. RBA data reported by finder.com.au put the average Amex surcharge at around 1.33% per transaction, with the ATO applying 1.45%. These are averages, not your number: your actual Amex cost varies by business and provider, so the figure that matters is the one on your own merchant statement.
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From 1 October 2026 surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa will no longer be permitted. American Express is not covered by that RBA change, though 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 that date, so confirm the Amex position with your payment provider. Once you can no longer pass card costs to customers, the fee comes off your margin and your merchant rate becomes the main lever left. Comparing your rate across all card types, including American Express, is the reliable way to lower what you pay, and MerchantRates partner rates start as low as 0.89% for businesses that qualify.
Sources: RBA Conclusions Paper media release (mr-26-10) · ACCC card surcharges guidance · Eway: RBA reform response · Tyro: surcharge ban confirmed · RBA payments data (merchant fees) · RBA data reported by money.com.au · RBA data reported by finder.com.au.
Information current as at 2 July 2026.
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