A joint industry information hub aims to prepare consumers and merchants for the Reserve Bank of Australia’s ban on card surcharges taking effect on 1 October 2026.
A new website (cardsurcharge.com.au) has been launched by payments players to explain the no-surcharge rule that starts 1 October 2026.
The site provides targeted guidance for both consumers and businesses about what will change, what won’t, and practical next steps.
Payments industry bodies and card schemes have set up a central information resource to explain the changes that take effect on 1 October 2026, when merchants in Australia will no longer be allowed to add surcharges to card payments. The site aims to help consumers and businesses understand what the new rule means in practice, and what they should do before the rule becomes effective.
What the rule is and when it applies
The resource was produced by a group of payments industry participants. AusPayNet, Visa and Mastercard are named among the organisations behind the information hub. Other industry players, including eftpos, are promoting the site as a source of consistent guidance for merchants and customers. The site's domain is cardsurcharge.com.au.
Merchants will need to adjust pricing, point-of-sale messaging and transaction flows so that they do not present a separate surcharge on card payments. The website provides practical detail aimed at businesses of different sizes about how to comply with the new rule, including information on how to present payment costs to customers and how to update terminals and online checkout messaging.
Consumers who want clarity can consult the industry site for simple explanations of what to expect at payment. If a merchant continues to present a surcharge for the affected card schemes after the effective date, the site points customers to the authoritative rule and guidance on next steps.
The industry-run site provides a single place for factual, practical information ahead of the ban on card surcharges on 1 October 2026. Merchants should use the interval before the rule to update systems and customer communications. Consumers should see fewer point-of-sale card surcharges once the rule is in effect.
A newly launched website, cardsurcharge.com.au, includes practical information from AusPayNet, eftpos, Mastercard and Visa on upcoming changes to card surcharges.
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