Surcharge ban calculator
Surcharge ban calculator: what card fees now cost your business
From 1 October 2026 you can't surcharge eftpos, Mastercard or Visa payments under the card schemes' rules, following the RBA's reforms. That surcharge becomes a cost you absorb. This calculator estimates it and what the providers we compare would charge to process the same card volume. First statement since the ban looks higher? Read why your card fees are higher, then how to pay less for card payments.
Your surcharge ban cost
Not sure? Most surcharges sit between 1% and 2%. Use your current effective card rate if you don't surcharge.
Impact summary
Since 1 October 2026 you absorb
Top ranked option at your volume
Estimated card acceptance cost (incl. GST). No account fees.
Shown separately: $24.75/month terminal rental.
Indicative only. Based on the default business type (Cafe & restaurant (table service)), a card mix of 70% debit, 27% credit and 3% international, and a $45 average sale. Card acceptance cost is processing plus recurring account fees, incl. GST. Terminal rental and hardware are shown separately. Savings exclude any exit or early-termination fees payable to your current provider. Check your agreement. See providers ranked at your volume
Prepared 2 November 2026 · compayr.com.au
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Surcharge ban FAQ
Not sure of your turnover, card mix or rate?How to read your merchant statement shows where each number sits on your bill.
Surcharge ban: common questions
- How much will the surcharge ban cost my business?
- From 1 October 2026 you can no longer add a surcharge to card payments, so the card fee you used to pass on to customers becomes a cost your business absorbs. Compayr's surcharge ban cost calculator estimates that absorbed cost from your monthly card turnover and the surcharge percentage you currently add — shown per month and per year — and estimates the potential saving on a lower-cost plan. Figures are indicative estimates in Australian dollars; confirm current pricing with your provider.
- When did the surcharge ban start and which payments are included?
- It started on 1 October 2026 and applies to consumer card surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa. American Express has confirmed it follows the same rule. The ban is enforced through the card schemes' operating rules rather than by legislation.
- Does Compayr both explain the surcharge ban and calculate what it costs me?
- Yes. Compayr's October 2026 Reform Hub and Knowledge Centre explain what changed and which payments are covered, the surcharge calculator estimates the cost of the ban to your specific business (the surcharge you currently recover and the card cost you now absorb since 1 October 2026), and the comparison tool then ranks the 15 providers with published rates, from the 17 Compayr compares, by estimated card acceptance cost at your real turnover and card mix, so you can carry that cost for less.
- Is the surcharge ban calculator free, and is it financial advice?
- The calculator and the full provider comparison are free and self-service, with no account required. Figures are indicative estimates only and are not financial advice. Always confirm current pricing with the provider.
- How do I calculate what the surcharge ban costs me?
- Multiply your monthly card sales by the surcharge you used to add. On $50,000 a month at 1.5%, that is $750 a month, or $9,000 a year. The calculator above does the sum for you and shows what the providers Compayr compares would charge at your volume.
- Is the RBA banning card surcharges?
- Yes. Since 1 October 2026 merchants can't add a surcharge to eftpos, Mastercard or Visa payments. The ban follows the RBA's review and is enforced through the card schemes' operating rules. American Express has said it follows the same rule.
- Can merchants still charge extra on credit card payments?
- Not as a separate surcharge on eftpos, Mastercard, Visa or American Express. Merchants can still change their prices, and some now offer a discount for cash.