How much credit card surcharge can I charge?

Asked by: Dr. Bella Kautzer Sr.  |  Last update: May 6, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (53 votes)

Do Not Surcharge More Than the Cost of Your Processing Fee. This rule stipulates that you cannot use surcharging as a means to make a profit. In general, a surcharge cannot exceed 3% in the U.S.

What is the maximum surcharge on a credit card?

Cardholders are required to be notified in advance if a merchant will impose a surcharge. Merchants must also include the surcharge fee on all receipts. Surcharges are allowable up to 4%. The limits vary by brand and by merchant discount rate.

Is it legal to charge 3% for use of a credit card?

These fees are typically a percentage of the sale plus a fixed dollar amount. Fees vary with the credit card provider. For instance, American Express has different rates than Discover. Important to note: surcharges cannot be charged to make a profit and may not exceed 4 percent of the transaction total.

How much can I charge a customer for a credit card fee?

Credit card surcharges can't exceed the cost of accepting the card or 4 percent, whichever is the lower amount, even if it costs the business more than that amount to process your credit card payment.

Is a 2% charge on a credit card legal?

Credit card surcharges are optional fees that merchants charge customers who use a credit card to pay at checkout. Surcharges are legal unless restricted by state law and are limited to 4% of the total transaction.

Why Using Your Credit Card Is Getting More Expensive | WSJ

31 related questions found

In what states is it illegal to surcharge?

Surcharging is widely accepted in the US except in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Puerto Rico. Illinois, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Texas, Nevada, New York, South Dakota, New Jersey, Minnesota, California, Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Montana allow surcharging with certain contingencies.

Is piggybacking on credit cards legal?

While there are no laws against paying for authorized-user privileges, lenders could consider it fraud if you apply for and accept credit on the basis of an artificially inflated credit score.

Can I pass on credit card fees to customers?

There are legal options for passing on credit card fees to customers. Credit card surcharging and cash discounting are the two main options for passing on fees. Adding a surcharge to credit card payments is not legal in every state, but offering a cash discount is.

How to avoid credit card surcharges?

Use cash where you can

The easiest way to avoid card surcharges is to pay by cash. While businesses can charge a surcharge for paying by debit or credit cards, they can't charge a surcharge for paying by cash.

How do you calculate 3% processing fee?

In order to calculate a 3% processing fee, you will have to multiply the whole transaction value by 0.03. For instance, the processing fee would be $3 (100 x 0.03 = 3) if the transaction value was $100.

How do I notify customers of credit card surcharges?

You may accomplish this by including the credit card surcharge on your invoice or displaying a sign at your office. If you're using an online payment solution, this notice should be automatically included on your payment page.

What is the difference between a surcharge and a convenience fee?

A surcharge is not a convenience fee. A convenience fee is levied by a merchant for offering customers the privilege of paying with an alternative non-standard payment method. Merchants can process convenience fees in all 50 states. A surcharge is levied by a merchant for customer purchases made with a credit card.

What are the new credit card laws for 2024?

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Releases Final Rule on Credit Card Late Fees, with Overdraft Fees on Deck. On March 5, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) announced the final rule governing late fees for consumer credit card payments, likely cutting the average fee from $32 to just $8.

How to beat credit card surcharge?

To avoid a credit card surcharge, you can pay with alternative methods such as cash, debit cards, or mobile payment apps. Some businesses also offer discounts for non-credit card payments, providing an incentive to choose other payment options that help avoid credit card surcharge.

What is the threshold limit for surcharge?

What are TLVs? TLVs are the maximum average airborne concentration of a hazardous material to which healthy adult workers can be exposed during an 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek—over a working lifetime—without experiencing significant adverse health effects.

What is the maximum rate a credit card can charge?

What you may not know is that, on a federal level, there is no cap on the amount of interest a credit card company is allowed to charge.

What states is credit card surcharging illegal?

Currently, 10 U.S. states have surcharging restrictions including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas. Please consult with legal counsel to determine whether your practices comply with relevant state law.

Is it cheaper to tap or insert a card?

Insert your debt card when paying

Tap-and-go payments on credit cards have higher charges for merchants. Debit card payments using tap-and-go often go through the same network with a similar charge. But if you insert your debit card when making a purchase then your payment goes through the cheaper eftpos system.

How to calculate a surcharge?

The following formula is used to apply discounts and surcharges to unit prices: Net unit price = unit price * (1.0 - Discount percentage) * (1.0 + Surcharge percentage).

Is it worth paying a convenience fee?

Merchants may charge a convenience fee to discourage the use of credit cards, which are often more expensive to accept than other payment methods. While the rewards you earn from a credit card can help offset some of the cost of the fee, the charge is often more than what you'd earn in cash back, points or miles.

How do customers feel about credit card surcharges?

Most cardholders (92%) agree businesses should be transparent about credit card surcharges before the payment processes. Most cardholders think it should be illegal for merchants to tack on fees for paying with a credit card.

Can I charge a credit card fee with Square?

Credit card fees are included in Square's fees, so there are no charges from credit card companies. Every card brand accepted has the same rate. Payment processing fees are taken out of the total amount of each transaction, including tax and tip.

Is it illegal to use one credit card to pay another?

In general, you can't pay your monthly credit card bill using another credit card. If you're set on using a credit card, you might be able to pay with a balance transfer or cash advance, but they can have downsides and may add to your debt.

What is the piggybacking rule?

The “piggybacking” lawsuit can be one of the most dreaded and costly situations for an employer. This scenario occurs when a non-charging party tries to join in or piggyback onto a discrimination lawsuit based upon a Charge of Discrimination filed by another employee.

Can you inherit a credit score?

For another, kids don't actually inherit your credit score, based on your presumably long credit history. They only get the benefit of that one account. It will take them about six months to start compiling a credit score of their own. Most important, kids don't need your help to get credit.