The RBA's 2026 surcharge changes

The short version

Today, many businesses add a surcharge at the checkout to recover the cost of accepting cards. From 1 October 2026, surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa (debit, credit and prepaid) will no longer be permitted. This is enforced through the card networks' scheme rules and your merchant agreement, not as a criminal law. American Express and PayPal are not covered by the RBA regulation. PayPal surcharging within your cost of acceptance can continue on that basis, while for American Express, providers including Tyro and Eway have said they will remove Amex surcharging on 1 October 2026, and Eway reports Amex has announced its own change from that date, so confirm the Amex position with your provider. The card fee itself does not disappear; it becomes a cost the business carries, which is why knowing and comparing your merchant rate matters more than ever.

There's an upside too: the RBA is lowering interchange fee caps (cheaper merchant fees, especially for small businesses) and requiring providers to publish their fees so they're easier to compare. Most changes start 1 October 2026; lower foreign-card interchange caps and further transparency measures follow on 1 April 2027. The reforms are estimated to save consumers and businesses up to around $1.8 billion a year. For the authoritative detail, see the RBA at rba.gov.au.

Sources: RBA Conclusions Paper media release (mr-26-10) · ACCC card surcharges guidance · Eway: RBA reform response · Tyro: surcharge ban confirmed.