--- title: What’s a credit card surcharge? description: Learn about credit card surcharge essentials, legal implications, and best practices for businesses to enhance customer experience. --- X [Skip to content](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/whats-a-credit-card-surcharge#main-content) - [English](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/whats-a-credit-card-surcharge) - [Español](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/es/qué-es-un-recargo-por-tarjeta-de-crédito) English Show submenu for translations ![sekure-logo-gif-b-m.gif\]](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/sekure-logo-gif-b-m.gif?width=120&height=52&name=sekure-logo-gif-b-m.gif) - [Support Hub](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Support Hub](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/) - - [English](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/whats-a-credit-card-surcharge) - [Español](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/es/qué-es-un-recargo-por-tarjeta-de-crédito) English Show submenu for translations - [Contact us](https://sekuremerchants.com/contact-us/) [Contact us](https://sekuremerchants.com/contact-us/) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Support Hub](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Rates & fees](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/rates-fees?hsLang=en) 3. [Pricing](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/rates-fees?hsLang=en#pricing) # What’s a credit card surcharge? As processing costs rise, more businesses are evaluating credit card surcharges to help manage margins. This support article explains what a credit card surcharge is, where it is allowed, how it works at checkout, and the rules set by major card brands. ### **Key takeaways** - A credit card surcharge allows a business to pass some processing costs to customers paying with credit cards, typically as a percentage added at checkout as a surcharge for credit card payments. - Surcharging is permitted under federal law but restricted or prohibited in some states; merchants must follow credit card surcharge laws by state and card brand rules. - Clear disclosures, fee caps, and accurate receipt display are essential to compliance when adding a surcharge for credit card payments. - Credit card surcharge programs can lower costs for small businesses, but consider customer experience and alternatives like cash discounts or dual pricing. ### **What is a credit card surcharge?** A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added when a customer pays with a credit card. Its purpose is to offset acceptance costs such as interchange and assessment fees. Surcharges are usually a percentage of the transaction and appear as a separate line on the receipt. ### **Are credit card surcharges legal?** At the federal level, surcharging is allowed, but state laws vary. Some states restrict or prohibit a credit card surcharge, while others permit it with specific disclosure requirements. Because statutes change, verify current credit card surcharge laws by state or consult counsel before launching a program. Where prohibited, merchants cannot add a surcharge for credit card payments at the point of sale. In states where it is allowed, typical requirements include advance notice to card brands, clear signage at the entrance and checkout, fee caps, and accurate receipt disclosures. Noncompliance can lead to fines, chargebacks, or loss of processing privileges. **Tip:** Do not surcharge debit or prepaid cards and make sure to apply surcharges uniformly to all credit cards within a brand unless you follow card-type rules. **States and territories where credit card surcharging is illegal:** - Connecticut - Maine - Massachusetts - Puerto Rico ### **How do credit card surcharges work at checkout?** At checkout, the POS or payment gateway calculates the credit card surcharge as a percentage of the transaction and adds it as a separate line. The receipt must show the fee amount and label it as a credit card surcharge. The surcharge does not apply to cash, check, debit, or prepaid payments. **Tip:** Communicate clearly. Post signage at the entrance and point of sale explaining the surcharge for credit card payments. For online checkouts, display the fee before the customer confirms payment. ### **Card brand rules you must follow** Visa, Mastercard, and American Express permit surcharging with conditions. Common requirements include advance registration or notice, entrance and checkout signage, a separate receipt line item, exclusion of debit and prepaid cards, and caps tied to your cost of acceptance or the brand maximum. ### **How do I enable credit card surcharging for my business?** To enable credit card surcharging, first notify your credit card processor and major card brands. Sekure Payment Experts can support you through this process. We verify your eligibility, submit all necessary registrations, configure your terminal or gateway, provide compliant signage, and ensure everything meets card‑brand rules so you can start surcharging. [![Need help with credit card surcharging](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/hs-fs/hubfs/support/Need%20help%20with%20credit%20card%20surcharging.png?width=670&height=200&name=Need%20help%20with%20credit%20card%20surcharging.png)](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/whats-a-credit-card-surcharge#popup-open) - [Getting started with your equipment](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Smart Terminal Mini (A77)](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#smart-terminal-mini-a77) - [Smart Terminal Mini (A60)](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#smart-terminal-mini-a60) - [Smart Keypad (A80) and Smart PINPad Pro (SP30)](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#smart-keypad-a80-and-smart-pinpad-pro-sp30) - [Smart POS+ (E700)](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#smart-pos-e700) - [Smart Terminal (A920)](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#smart-terminal-a920) - [Smart Flex (E600)](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#smart-flex-e600) - [First Data FD150 Terminal](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#first-data-fd150-terminal) - [Ingenico Desk 3500 Terminal](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#ingenico-desk-3500-terminal) - [Payments Hub Virtual Terminal](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#payments-hub-virtual-terminal) - [Payanywhere App](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#payanywhere-app) - [Authorize.net gateway](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#authorize-net-gateway) - [Cluster](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#cluster) - [Wellnessliving](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#wellnessliving) - [Payanywhere 2-in-1 card readers](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#payanywhere-2-in-1-card-readers) - [Payanywhere 3-in-1 card readers|](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#payanywhere-3-in-1-card-readers) - [Ingenico Move 5000 Terminal](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#ingenico-move-5000-terminal) - [Ingenico Desk 2600](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/getting-started-with-your-equipment?hsLang=en#ingenico-desk-2600) - [How do I manage online payments?](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/how-do-i-manage-online-payments?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Payments Hub virtual terminal](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/how-do-i-manage-online-payments?hsLang=en#payments-hub-virtual-terminal) - [I need help troubleshooting my equipment](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Terminal not turning on](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#terminal-not-turning-on) - [Terminal not printing](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#terminal-not-printing) - [Slow equipment](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#slow-equipment) - [Device is frozen or stuck on processing](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#device-is-frozen-or-stuck-on-processing) - [Equipment isn't charging](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#equipment-isnt-charging) - [My device is not getting any data](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#my-device-is-not-getting-any-data) - [Device keeps getting signed out of session](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#device-keeps-getting-signed-out-of-session) - [How to force stop the terminal?](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#how-to-force-stop-the-terminal) - [Payanywhere card reader not connecting](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#payanywhere-card-reader-not-connecting) - [Card reader cannot read cards successfully](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#card-reader-cannot-read-cards-successfully) - [Card reader lost connection with my phone/tablet](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#card-reader-lost-connection-with-my-phone-tablet) - [Card reader isn't responding](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#card-reader-isnt-responding) - [Forgot or reset your password](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#forgot-or-reset-your-password) - [How do I restart or reboot my terminal?](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#how-do-i-restart-or-reboot-my-terminal) - [Clover troubleshooting](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#clover-troubleshooting) - [Square troubleshooting](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#square-troubleshooting) - [First Data troubleshooting](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#first-data-troubleshooting) - [Heartland troubleshooting](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#heartland-troubleshooting) - [Ingenico troubleshooting](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#ingenico-troubleshooting) - [Bank of America troubleshooting](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/i-need-help-troubleshooting-my-equipment?hsLang=en#bank-of-america-troubleshooting) - [Maintenance & updates](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/maintenance-updates?hsLang=en#main-content) - [How do I care for the printer on my device?](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/maintenance-updates?hsLang=en#how-do-i-care-for-the-printer-on-my-device) - [How can I update software on my device?](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/maintenance-updates?hsLang=en#how-can-i-update-software-on-my-device) - [Equipment care](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/maintenance-updates?hsLang=en#equipment-care) - [Receipts](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/maintenance-updates?hsLang=en#receipts) - [Find my response & error code](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/find-my-response-error-code?hsLang=en#main-content) - [General Codes on your POS](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/find-my-response-error-code?hsLang=en#general-codes-on-your-pos) - [First Data specific error codes](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/find-my-response-error-code?hsLang=en#first-data-specific-error-codes) - [Merchant services](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/merchant-services?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Funding](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/merchant-services?hsLang=en#funding) - [My payment expert](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/merchant-services?hsLang=en#my-payment-expert) - [PCI Plus](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/merchant-services?hsLang=en#pci-plus) - [Rates & fees](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/rates-fees?hsLang=en#main-content) - [My statements](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/rates-fees?hsLang=en#my-statements) - [Pricing](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/rates-fees?hsLang=en#pricing) - [Processing & transactions](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/processing-transactions?hsLang=en#main-content) - [View payment and fee information](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/processing-transactions?hsLang=en#view-payment-and-fee-information) - [High volumes and transactions](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/processing-transactions?hsLang=en#high-volumes-and-transactions) - [Accepting payments](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/processing-transactions?hsLang=en#accepting-payments) - [NFC Payments](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/processing-transactions?hsLang=en#nfc-payments) - [How to process a refund or void a transaction](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/processing-transactions?hsLang=en#how-to-process-a-refund-or-void-a-transaction) - [Quickbooks integration](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/processing-transactions?hsLang=en#quickbooks-integration) - [My profile with Sekure](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/my-profile-with-sekure?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Tax information](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/my-profile-with-sekure?hsLang=en#tax-information) - [Managing my account](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/my-profile-with-sekure?hsLang=en#managing-my-account) - [I need to close my account](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/my-profile-with-sekure?hsLang=en#i-need-to-close-my-account) - [Equipment](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/my-profile-with-sekure?hsLang=en#equipment) - [Refer-a-friend](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/my-profile-with-sekure?hsLang=en#refer-a-friend) - [Home](https://sekuremerchants.com/) - [Equipment](https://sekuremerchants.com/equipment/) - [Starting a new business](https://sekuremerchants.com/new-business/) - [Resources](https://sekuremerchants.com/blog/) - [Rates](https://sekuremerchants.com/rates/) - [Meet your Payment Experts](https://sekuremerchants.com/meet-your-payment-expert/) - [Newsletter](https://sekuremerchants.com/blog/) - [Contact us](https://sekuremerchants.com/contact-us/) [![Chill listening crop-3](https://support.sekuremerchants.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/Sekure_Knowledge-base_Logo-footer-tm.png?width=125&height=55&name=Sekure_Knowledge-base_Logo-footer-tm.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://sekuremerchants.com/) Support Hub Copyright © 2025, Sekure Payment Experts ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "United States", "addressLocality" : "New York", "addressRegion" : "NY", "postalCode" : "10018", "streetAddress" : "104 W 40th Street, 5th floor " }, "alternateName" : "Sekure Merchant Solutions", "areaServed" : { "@type" : "GeoCircle", "geoMidpoint" : { "@type" : "GeoCoordinates", "latitude" : "40.733231", "longitude" : "-73.991119" }, "geoRadius" : "150 km" }, "description" : "credit card payment processing experts for all types of merchants", "email" : "info@sekuremerchants.com", "image" : "https://blog.sekuremerchants.com/hubfs/Hero/blog-sekure-hero.jpg", "logo" : "https://4438792.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na3.net/hubfs/4438792/Sekure%20Logo%20Full-1.png", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://support.sekuremerchants.com/whats-a-credit-card-surcharge", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "Learn about credit card surcharge essentials, legal implications, and best practices for businesses to enhance customer experience." }, "naics" : "522320", "name" : "Sekure Payment Experts", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/sekuremerchants", "https://twitter.com/sekuremerchants", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/sekure-merchant-solutions", "https://www.instagram.com/sekure_merchant_solutions/" ], "telephone" : "1 (866) 710-7384", "url" : "https://sekuremerchants.com/" } ```