Surcharging & compliance · Australia
EFTPOS Surcharge Rules in Australia
Surcharging is legal in Australia, but it is capped. A surcharge must not exceed what card acceptance actually costs your business, and it has to be disclosed before the customer pays.
Most enquiries receive a response within 3 hours during business hours.
Straight answer
What businesses setting a card surcharge really pay
Card surcharging is legal in Australia, but capped. Under the RBA surcharging standard a surcharge must not exceed your business's own average cost of accepting that payment method, and it must be disclosed to the customer before they complete the payment. Because debit typically costs less to accept than credit or premium credit, one flat surcharge across all cards risks exceeding the permitted amount on the cheapest method. Cost of acceptance is calculated from your merchant statement, which is why the statement is the starting point for any compliant surcharge.
- Most businesses do not know their actual cost of acceptance, so they cannot show a surcharge is compliant.
- A single flat surcharge across debit, credit and premium cards can overcharge on the cheapest card type.
- Disclosure is often missing at the point where the customer decides to pay.
- Terminal surcharge settings are frequently left at whatever the previous provider configured.
- Rule changes and regulatory reviews mean settings need periodic re-checking.
Why it matters
What a better EFTPOS setup changes
- The RBA standard limits a surcharge to your average cost of acceptance for that payment method — it is not a free margin.
- Working out cost of acceptance from your statement is the evidence that supports whatever you charge.
- Card-type-specific surcharging is usually more defensible than one blended figure.
- Clear disclosure before payment reduces disputes and complaints.
- Where surcharging does not suit your customers, a better pricing model is the alternative route to the same saving.
Fee breakdown
The six charges that make up your EFTPOS cost
Merchant service fee
A percentage of every card sale, often blended across card types. This is usually the largest line on a statement and the one worth comparing first.
Terminal rental or hire
A fixed monthly cost for the EFTPOS machine itself. Some providers bundle it into the transaction rate, others bill it separately.
Interchange and scheme fees
Costs set by the card schemes and passed through to you. Interchange-plus pricing shows them separately; blended pricing hides them inside one rate.
Fixed per-transaction fee
A cents-per-tap charge. On low-value convenience-store baskets this can matter more than the percentage rate.
Minimum monthly fee
A floor charged when your card volume is low. Seasonal and regional sites should check this carefully.
Surcharging (zero-cost EFTPOS)
Passing the cost of card acceptance to the customer within the RBA surcharging rules, so the fee sits with the transaction rather than your margin.
Comparison checklist
What to compare before you switch EFTPOS provider
| What to compare | Why it matters | Ask the provider |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Blended rates are simple but can hide expensive card mixes. | Is this blended or interchange-plus, and what does each card type cost? |
| Total monthly cost | A low rate with high rental can cost more than the reverse. | What is my all-in monthly cost at my current card volume? |
| Contract term | Long lock-ins remove your ability to re-compare later. | What is the term, and what does early exit cost? |
| Settlement time | Same-day settlement changes your working capital. | When do funds land, and does that change on weekends? |
| Surcharge support | Zero-cost setups must stay inside RBA surcharging rules. | Can the terminal surcharge compliantly, and who configures it? |
| Support and replacement | A dead terminal in a convenience store stops trade immediately. | What are support hours and the replacement turnaround? |
How it works
A fee review in four steps
- 1
Send a recent merchant statement
Your fees and turnover by card type are what cost of acceptance is calculated from.
- 2
We work out your cost of acceptance
Each payment method is calculated separately so you can see the ceiling that applies to each.
- 3
Check your terminal settings against it
We compare what your terminal currently surcharges against what the calculation supports.
- 4
Set it, or choose a cheaper plan instead
If surcharging does not fit your customer base, we show what a different pricing model would cost instead.
Enquire
Ask about cheaper EFTPOS fees
Tell us your average sale value, monthly card turnover and state and we will come back with options.
What happens after you hit send
- 1You get an instant email confirming we've received your enquiry.
- 2We check your venue type, hours and foot traffic against the right ATM option.
- 3You get a call or email with a clear recommendation and pricing — your choice which.
Reply within 3 business hours
A real person reviews every enquiry. Mon–Fri 8:30am – 7:30pm AEST · Online enquiries 24/7, most venues hear back the same morning or afternoon.
Your details stay private
Sent over an encrypted connection, stored securely, and never sold or shared with third-party marketers.
No obligation, no pressure
You get honest advice on whether free placement, a lease or buying suits your site — walk away any time.
Prefer to talk it through first? Call 0412 025 552
Questions
EFTPOS Surcharge Rules FAQ
Yes. Australian businesses may pass on the cost of card acceptance, but under the RBA surcharging standard the surcharge must not exceed the business's own average cost of accepting that payment method, and it must be disclosed to the customer before they pay.
It is what accepting a given card type actually costs your business, expressed as a percentage of turnover on that card type. It is calculated from the fees on your merchant statement — the merchant service fee, scheme and interchange costs and other per-transaction charges attributable to accepting that method.
You can only surcharge up to the cost of acceptance for the method being used. Because debit typically costs less to accept than credit or premium credit, one flat rate across all cards risks exceeding the permitted amount on the cheapest method. Card-type-specific surcharging avoids that.
Yes. The surcharge must be disclosed before the customer completes the payment — commonly on signage at the counter, on the menu or price list, and on the terminal screen before the customer taps or inserts.
It is a setup where a compliant surcharge covers the card acceptance cost, so the fee sits with the card transaction rather than your margin. It is only zero-cost when the surcharge is set correctly against your real cost of acceptance and disclosed properly.
No. An ATM withdrawal surcharge is a separate charge on the cash withdrawal itself, disclosed on screen before the customer confirms, and at eligible venues a share of it is paid to the site. It is not governed by the card-payment surcharging standard that applies to your EFTPOS terminal.
Cash and card together
Related ATM options
- Zero-cost EFTPOSHow compliant surcharging removes card acceptance cost.
- ATM surcharge fees explainedHow ATM withdrawal surcharges are set, disclosed and shared.
- RBA card payment fee changesCurrent reform activity affecting surcharging and interchange.
- ATM rental AustraliaFixed monthly ATM rental with servicing and cash included.
By city
Compare EFTPOS fees in your city
- EFTPOS fees SydneyMerchant fee comparison for Sydney businesses.
- EFTPOS fees MelbourneMerchant fee comparison for Melbourne businesses.
- EFTPOS fees BrisbaneMerchant fee comparison for Brisbane businesses.
- EFTPOS fees PerthMerchant fee comparison for Perth businesses.
- EFTPOS fees AdelaideMerchant fee comparison for Adelaide businesses.
- EFTPOS fees CanberraMerchant fee comparison for Canberra businesses.
By state
Compare EFTPOS fees in your state
- EFTPOS fees NSWCompare merchant rates for New South Wales businesses.
- EFTPOS fees VICCompare merchant rates for Victoria businesses.
- EFTPOS fees QLDCompare merchant rates for Queensland businesses.
- EFTPOS fees WACompare merchant rates for Western Australia businesses.
- EFTPOS fees SACompare merchant rates for South Australia businesses.
- EFTPOS fees TASCompare merchant rates for Tasmania businesses.
- EFTPOS fees ACTCompare merchant rates for Australian Capital Territory businesses.
- EFTPOS fees NTCompare merchant rates for Northern Territory businesses.
EFTPOS topics
More EFTPOS fee comparisons
- EFTPOS Fees for Convenience Stores & Mini-MartsCompare EFTPOS machine fees for Australian convenience stores and mini-marts. Low-basket, high-volume sites often pay more in fixed per-tap fees than percentage rates.
- EFTPOS Fees for Petrol & Service StationsCompare EFTPOS machine fees for Australian petrol stations, roadhouses and service stations. High card volumes and mixed forecourt/shop sales need the right pricing model.
- EFTPOS Machine Fees for Small BusinessCompare EFTPOS fees and terminal rental for Australian small businesses. See whether your current merchant rate is competitive against your real card volume.
- Zero Cost EFTPOS & Compliant SurchargingLearn how zero-cost EFTPOS works in Australia. Pass card acceptance costs to customers within RBA surcharging rules and compare terminal options.
- EFTPOS Fees for Cafes, Restaurants & TakeawayCompare EFTPOS machine fees for Australian cafes, restaurants and takeaway venues. Small average sales make per-transaction fees the cost that matters most.
- EFTPOS Fees for Retail Stores & ShopsCompare EFTPOS machine fees for Australian retail stores and shops. Review merchant rates, terminal rental and surcharging against your real card mix.
- EFTPOS Machine Hire & Terminal RentalCompare EFTPOS machine hire and terminal rental for Australian businesses. See what hire actually costs once transaction fees, contract term and support are counted.
- EFTPOS Merchant ServicesCompare EFTPOS merchant services in Australia — merchant service fees, pricing models, settlement times and terminal support — reviewed against your own statement.
Find out what your business is really paying
Send a recent merchant statement or call 0412 025 552 — Mon–Fri 8:30am – 7:30pm AEST · Online enquiries 24/7.