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Surcharges Are Ending – Here’s What Actually Changes for Business

From 1 October 2026, card surcharges on Visa, Mastercard, and eftpos are expected to be end across Australia, following the RBA’s latest payment reforms. We cut through the headlines to explain what shifts, what doesn't - and how pay.com.au keeps your rewards working regardless.

Written byFabian Andreou

PublishedJuly 28, 2026

Reading time4 minutes

Pay.com.au business payments platform dashboard interface

What’s Changing

The RBA’s Payments System Board has published its final Conclusions Paper, confirming a three-pillar reform of card payments in Australia.

The Three Pillars

Surcharging to end on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa
From 1 October 2026, the RBA will allow eftpos, Mastercard and Visa to re-impose their ‘no-surcharge’ rules, which the RBA expects will bring checkout surcharges on those networks to an end. This change does not apply to American Express, and merchants can continue to surcharge Amex transactions to cover their acceptance costs. 1

Interchange fee caps reduced
The cap on consumer credit card interchange falls from 0.8% to 0.3%; debit drops slightly. Business credit card interchange remains unchanged at 0.8%. The RBA also removed the 0.5% ‘weighted-average benchmark’ that applied across all credit cards, giving card issuers more flexibility in the types of products they offer.

Transparency is increasing
The reforms introduce broader transparency requirements for card networks and acquirers, making it easier for merchants to understand and compare payment costs.

For most consumers, this is straightforward: the price on the menu is the price you pay.

For businesses, it’s more nuanced – the cost of accepting cards will need to be absorbed or reflected in pricing rather than added as a separate surcharge. Some categories of card costs (such as consumer credit) are coming down which should help to offset costs for businesses, while commercial credit card economics are largely being preserved.

How will credit card rewards points change

This is a question worth understanding carefully, because not all cardholders are equally affected.

Credit card rewards programs are largely funded by interchange fees – a percentage-based transaction fee that flows to the card issuer every time a card is used. When that revenue reduces, banks may respond by adjusting earn rates or perks.

We’ve seen this pattern before. After the last interchange reduction, a number of banks revised their points earn rates and benefits.

The key nuance for business owners: If you’re earning rewards on a dedicated business credit card, the interchange cap is staying at 0.8%, so there’s no direct pressure on earn rates from this reform.

The impact is more relevant for those using personal credit cards for business spend. That said, it’s worth keeping an eye on how banks respond across their full product range in the lead-up to October.

Where pay.com.au fits in.

Regardless of what banks do with their own programs, pay.com.au and PayRewards operate on a different model entirely.

pay.com.au doesn’t surcharge

Our platform fee is a single, all-inclusive fee based on your subscription tier. It already covers everything, and it’s not changing.
Our package options can also unlock PayRewards Points on payments, along with a range of benefits designed to support your business.

PayRewards isn’t funded by interchange, so rewards rate doesn’t change

Our rewards program is not funded by interchange revenue. That means the RBA’s changes don’t affect your ability to earn PayRewards Points or the rate at which they convert to PayRewards partners. Your earn rate stays on your terms, regardless of what issuers and bank decides to do with their programs.

Credit cards still earn their full points on ATO payments

Earn on payments your card won’t reward. ATO payments, payroll, rent, and some supplier invoices are often excluded from standard card earn programs. pay.com.au earns full points on all of them, unlocking rewards on your biggest expenses.

Stack PayRewards on top of your card points

Every payment through pay.com.au earns PayRewards simultaneously alongside your credit card’s native points, two programs earning on the same dollar, whatever banks do with their rates.

Flexible points with 17 airline and hotel partners

Transfer PayRewards to Qantas Business Rewards, Velocity, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Qatar Privilege Club, Accor, as well as gift cards and custom redemptions, giving you flexibility well beyond a single bank or rewards program, and limiting the risk of fluctuating airline point value.

* The information in this article is general in nature and does not take your objectives, financial situation or needs into account. For pay.com.au issued products, conditions, fees and charges apply.