'No surcharge': Consumers, businesses prepare for end of card surcharges

SBS Nepali

The end of card surcharges follows a review by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which noted cards make up almost 75 per cent of payments_AAP.jpg — The end of card surcharges follows a review by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which noted cards make up almost 75 per cent of payments. Source: AAP

The RBA says consumers pay $1.6 billion in card surcharges every year. But that's about to change. From October the 1st, every time shoppers tap their card, or use a card to transact online, there'll be no card surcharge, meaning the advertised price should be the price paid at the checkout. The removal of the card surcharge leaves businesses, especially smaller operators, with a daunting choice to either absorb the cost of that transaction or pass it on.

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Published 28 September 2026 5:12pm

By SBS Nepali

Source: SBS

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The RBA says consumers pay $1.6 billion in card surcharges every year. But that's about to change. From October the 1st, every time shoppers tap their card, or use a card to transact online, there'll be no card surcharge, meaning the advertised price should be the price paid at the checkout. The removal of the card surcharge leaves businesses, especially smaller operators, with a daunting choice to either absorb the cost of that transaction or pass it on.

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