What does the RBA's surcharging announcement mean for your business?
The Reserve Bank of Australia has confirmed that card surcharging will end on 1 October 2026. Here's what the changes mean for businesses — and how to make sure you're in the best possible position before and after the deadline. What has the RBA announced? Following a comprehensive review of Australia's card payments system — which included over 260 written submissions and around 150 stakeholder meetings — the RBA's Payments System Board has confirmed a package of reforms designed to update how business owners accept card payments in person. The three core changes are: removing the ability to surcharge customers for card payments, reducing the caps on interchange fees businesses pay, and requiring payment networks and providers to publish clearer fee information. When do these changes take effect? 1 October 2026 — Surcharging ends Surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard, and Visa cards is prohibited. New lower caps on interchange fees for domestic debit and consumer credit cards also take effect. 1 April 2027 — Foreign card caps and transparency rules A new interchange cap on foreign card payments comes into effect, alongside enhanced transparency requirements for card networks and large acquirers. Why is surcharging being removed? Surcharging was introduced over two decades ago to steer consumers towards cheaper payment methods. The RBA has concluded it is no longer achieving that goal. As card payments have become the norm and cash use has declined, it has become increasingly difficult for consumers to avoid surcharges altogether. The rules governing surcharging are complex, and without a simple, consistent way to calculate and disclose them, the system has become harder for everyone to navigate. What does this mean for your business specifically? If you don't currently surcharge: The removal of surcharging will have no impact on your day-to-day operations. If you do currently surcharge: From 1 October 2026, you'll need to remove your card surcharge. Some businesses may choose to absorb payment costs into their advertised prices instead. Now is the ideal time to understand exactly what you're paying — and make sure you're with a provider that offers you the best hardware, reliability, and support bundled into a competitive, flat-rate transaction fee so you know what you’re paying. Why transparent pricing matters more than ever The end of surcharging shifts the focus onto what you're actually paying to accept cards. Under typical variable-rate pricing, your transaction fee depends on the type of card your customer uses — domestic debit, international credit, or American Express, for example. That makes it genuinely difficult to forecast your monthly payment costs, let alone build them confidently into your pricing. Why choose Zeller, now and after October 1st Zeller was designed around the belief that accepting payments should be simple, transparent and free of surprises. With Zeller, you’ll benefit from: One flat rate of 1.4% for every in-person card payment — including eftpos, Mastercard, Visa, American Express, JCB, China UnionPay, Discover® Network, Diners Club International®, and Google Pay and Apple Pay No card-type variables, no surprises on your statement. Owning your terminal outright for $199 — no monthly rental fees, no lock-in contracts, and no minimum sales requirements. You won't be charged a cent until you make your first sale. Award-winning hardware with a built-in point-of-sale system, tipping prompts, digital receipts and more — everything a modern business needs, in one device. Local, 24/7 customer support via phone, SMS and email — real people, based in Australia, whenever you need them. How does Zeller compare? When you factor in the total cost of accepting payments — not just the transaction rate, but hardware and ongoing fees — the difference adds up quickly. Square's equivalent hardware can cost up to $1,099, and Tyro's terminal rental can add up to $348 every year — costs that come on top of your transaction fees, every single year. With Zeller, you pay $199 once, and the terminal is yours to keep. Ready to get the best deal on card payments? Whether you're reviewing your current provider ahead of October 2026 or looking to switch straight away, our payments experts are here to help. We're confident we can offer you the most competitive rate available — and if you're currently paying more elsewhere, we'll beat it. Speak to the Zeller sales team today to find out how much your business could save.
