Does the surcharge ban apply to online payments?

Network, not channel

The surcharge removal starting on 1 October 2026 is built around three networks — eftpos, Mastercard and Visa — covering their debit, prepaid and credit cards. Nothing in that definition turns on whether the customer is standing at a counter or checking out on a website. So an online Visa or Mastercard payment is reached the same way an in-store one is.

Why this catches a lot of businesses

Many merchants assume “surcharge ban” means card machines in shops, and treat their checkout differently. That assumption is risky. If your website, payment links or invoices add a card surcharge on covered networks, those need to be reviewed alongside your in-person setup, not left as an afterthought.

Online costs are real — plan for them

Online acceptance often costs more than in-person. Indicative figures put the in-person flat average around 1.37% and online around 1.78%. With surcharging on covered cards removed, that online cost sits with your business, so it is worth checking your online pricing and your provider’s rate before the change lands.

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