Card surcharges end on 1 October 2026: what photographers do now

What changes on 1 October 2026

From 1 October 2026, Australian businesses can’t add a surcharge when a client pays by Visa, Mastercard or eftpos. The card networks have written the ban into their rules, following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s review of card payments. American Express, UnionPay and PayPal have said they’ll drop surcharges from the same date.

For a photographer, this means the card fee has to be built into your standard price. On Stripe’s standard rate for Australian cards, 1.7% plus 30 cents, a $3,000 wedding paid by card costs you about $51. Until now you could pass that on. From tomorrow you can’t.

What it means for your invoices

The date the client pays is what counts, not the date you sent the invoice. If a client pays an older invoice by card on or after 1 October, you can’t add a surcharge to it. So check any invoice still open with a card fee line on it, and reissue it without one.

Your contract and your price list may mention surcharges too. Take those lines out when you next update them.

Three ways to keep card fees down

Put PayID first

PayID and bank transfer cost nothing to receive. The money goes from your client’s bank to yours with no fee from anyone. On Tellisto, PayID sits first on your invoices, above card, so most clients use it without being asked. See tax invoices, GST and PayID for setting it up.

Build the card cost into your prices

If some clients will always pay by card, allow for it in your packages. On a $3,000 wedding, about 2% covers Stripe’s fee with a little room to spare. Raising a price is allowed. Adding a fee at the end for paying by card is what’s banned.

Offer a discount for paying by bank

The RBA says businesses can still offer a discount for particular payment methods. So you can say on your quote that paying by PayID or bank transfer takes, say, 1.5% off. When the client tells you how they’ll pay, add the discount to their invoice. In Tellisto, open the invoice and use Add a discount, and name it something clear, like “PayID discount”. Keep it a real discount off your normal price. Raising prices so that only card payers pay more is a surcharge by another name.

Payment plans and deposits

The same rule applies to every instalment and every deposit paid by card. A client paying a payment plan in four parts by card pays four card fees, all yours. For long plans, it’s worth suggesting PayID when you set the plan up.

If you’re in New Zealand

Nothing changes for you on 1 October. This is an Australian rule for card payments in Australia.

Where this comes from

The Reserve Bank’s questions and answers on the change set out what’s covered and when. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Your payment provider can tell you exactly how it applies to your account.