RBA Confirmed: Card surcharges will be banned from 1 October 2026 — check you're on the right rate →

Questions  /  Business cards?

Does the ban apply to business or corporate cards?

Short answer

Yes — the ban applies. Because the surcharge ban works by network rather than card tier, business and corporate cards are covered whenever they run on eftpos, Mastercard or Visa, so you cannot surcharge them from 1 October 2026. The catch is that the fee relief largely does not follow: the commercial-card interchange cap is being retained and the 0.50% benchmark abolished, so business-card acceptance costs could actually rise even as the surcharge option disappears.

Last updated: 30 June 2026

Yes — the ban is by network, not card tier

The surcharge removal that starts on 1 October 2026 is defined by network: eftpos, Mastercard and Visa, across all of their card types and tiers. Business and corporate cards almost always run on one of those networks, so they are covered. That means from 1 October 2026 you cannot surcharge a business or corporate Visa, Mastercard or eftpos card any more than you can a consumer one — the higher tier of the card does not exempt it.

But the fee relief mostly does not apply

Here is the sting in the tail. While consumer-card interchange is being cut (consumer credit from 0.80% to 0.30%, domestic debit and prepaid from 10c-or-0.20% to 8c-or-0.16%), commercial-card interchange is being retained at current levels and the 0.50% interchange benchmark is abolished. So business cards lose the surcharge option without getting the matching cost cut — and with the benchmark gone, their acceptance costs could actually rise even as consumer-card costs fall.

What it means if you take a lot of business cards

For businesses that serve other businesses — wholesalers, trade suppliers, B2B services — this is a double squeeze: you can no longer surcharge commercial cards, and their underlying cost may climb rather than fall. The practical response is to look at your card mix and statement, ask your provider how commercial-card pricing flows through to your rate, and make sure your overall rate is competitive. We cover the cost side in detail on our business-card fees page.

Source: RBA Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging — Conclusions Paper (March 2026).

This page is general information only and is not legal or financial advice. The RBA sets the final rules and timing — confirm current details at rba.gov.au.
Common questions
Related questions
Are business or corporate cards covered by the surcharge ban?
Yes. The ban applies by network, not card tier, so business and corporate cards are covered whenever they run on eftpos, Mastercard or Visa. From 1 October 2026 you cannot surcharge them, just like consumer cards on those networks.
Can I still surcharge a corporate Visa or Mastercard?
No. A corporate or business Visa or Mastercard runs on a covered network, so the surcharge ban applies to it from 1 October 2026 exactly as it does to a consumer card on the same network.
Will business-card costs go up?
They could. Commercial-card interchange is retained while the 0.50% benchmark is abolished, so business-card acceptance costs may rise even as consumer-card interchange falls — and you lose the surcharge option at the same time.
Why are business cards treated differently on cost?
The interchange reforms cut consumer-card interchange but keep commercial-card interchange at current levels. The surcharge ban still covers both; it is only the fee relief that largely skips business cards.
Where can I read more on business card fees?
See our page on whether business card fees will rise, which covers the retained interchange and abolished benchmark in detail.
Keep reading
Will business card fees go up after the reforms? →What cards are covered by the surcharge ban? →Do I stop paying merchant fees after the surcharge ban? →Will my merchant fees go down in 2026? →Will my fees change? →All questions →
Free comparison
Ready to pay less?

Tell us about your business and we'll find you a lower merchant rate — or pay you $100 for your time.

No cost to you. We're paid by providers only if we place you — never by the business.
Response within 2 hours. A specialist will be in touch same business day.
No obligation. Compare your options on your own terms. No pressure.
Same terminal, same setup. Nothing changes except the rate you pay.

Supported by Australian Merchant Payment Advisory (AMPA) — helping Australian businesses navigate the 2026 RBA surcharge changes.

Get your free rate comparison
A specialist will be in touch within 2 business hours.

No obligation. Your data is never shared with third parties. By submitting you agree to be contacted by a MerchantRates specialist.

Request received.

A specialist will be in touch within 2 business hours with your personalised rate comparison. Check your inbox — including your spam folder.