Card Surcharges Banned in Australia October 1

Starting October 1, 2026, businesses in Australia will no longer be allowed to add surcharges when customers pay with debit, credit, EFTPOS, or prepaid cards.

The change follows a review by the Reserve Bank of Australia and its decision to remove surcharging from designated card networks, including Mastercard, Visa, and EFTPOS. American Express has voluntarily agreed to join this change.

The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association has warned that many small businesses are unprepared for this shift, calling it 'one of the largest changes in payments' in Australia's history.