Card surcharges and the Tower Systems POS software

Important: surcharging is banned in Australia from October 1, 2026

From October 1, 2026, applying a surcharge to card payments is not permitted in Australia. This ban, from the Reserve Bank of Australia, covers eftpos, Mastercard and Visa card payments.

The surcharge facility remains in our POS software. It is not appropriate for Australian retailers from that date, and Australian retailers should not use it.

If you currently surcharge, the change means your card acceptance costs move into your everyday pricing, the same as rent and wages. We encourage you to review your pricing ahead of October 1 so the change does not land as a silent hit to your margin. Our help desk is glad to talk this through with any customer.

For retailers outside Australia

Our POS software is used beyond Australia, and surcharge rules differ by country. For retailers where surcharging remains lawful, the facility works as it always has. A surcharge can be set in the POS software as a fixed amount or percentage, or set on the EFTPOS terminal with different rates for different card types. The software talks to the payments processor when the card is presented, the surcharge is calculated instantly, and the details are shown to the shopper.

Your payments, your choice

Whatever your situation, with Tower Systems you choose the payments platform that suits your business. We do not force you down a specific payments gateway path, and we do not charge a transaction-related fee to use our software. We think you deserve the rewards that flow from growing your business, rather than a POS software company taking a cut of your action.

If you have questions about the October 1, 2026 changes and what they mean for your business, call us on 03 9524 8000 or email support@towersystems.com.au.