In January 2026, New Zealanders spent 4.5 billion New Zealand dollars (NZD) on credit cards. Businesses typically pay transaction fees on each purchase. They can pass some or all of that cost on to the customer with credit card surcharges, but New Zealand has rules that govern how those surcharges work.

Below, we’ll explain what a credit card surcharge is, how much you can charge for a credit card surcharge, and how to disclose it in-store and online.

What’s in this article?

• What is a credit card surcharge in New Zealand?
  
• How do credit card surcharges work for NZ businesses?
  
• What are the requirements for credit card surcharges in New Zealand?
  
• How do you calculate and apply a credit card surcharge legally in New Zealand?
  
• How should businesses disclose credit card surcharges to customers in New Zealand?
  
• How Stripe Payments can help
  

What is a credit card surcharge in New Zealand?

A credit card surcharge is an extra fee added when a customer chooses to pay by credit card. Credit cards come with higher merchant fees (i.e., the fees charged by an acquirer or payments service provider for processing payments) than other payment methods so they cost more for businesses to accept. Merchant fees vary depending on the payment provider, the type of card used, and the transaction volume, but generally, fees of up to 2.0% are common in New Zealand. A surcharge allows businesses to pass on that specific cost rather than build it into their overall prices.

While there are plans to ban this practice in New Zealand, these changes have stalled as of March 2026.

How do credit card surcharges work for NZ businesses?

In New Zealand, credit card surcharges can recover only the cost of accepting the credit card payment. It cannot include general operating costs or be used to increase margins, and payment systems must be configured correctly so only eligible transactions are surcharged. Only credit card transactions and contactless debit card transactions can be surcharged, since these are the transactions that incur fees. Inserted or swiped debit cards and New Zealand EFTPOS (short for Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale) transactions are free and can’t be surcharged.

If costs differ by card type, a business can apply different surcharge rates accordingly. Similarly, if its costs differ for online vs. in-store transactions, the company can apply surcharges that reflect those costs.

What are the requirements for credit card surcharges in New Zealand?

With credit card surcharges, you can recover your cost of accepting a credit card payment, but you can’t profit from it. That principle is enforced through a few requirements:

• Your surcharge must not exceed the merchant service fee you actually pay for that transaction type. Charging 3.0% when your fee is 1.5% isn’t allowed.

• You must offer a payment option that doesn’t incur a surcharge.

• You have to tell customers about the surcharge before they buy. In a store, that might mean a prominent sign that’s visible before the customer completes the purchase. Online, the surcharge must appear before the payment is made and on the receipt after checkout.

Unlike Australia, New Zealand doesn’t have a specific percentage cap on surcharges. Anything above 2.0%, however, will likely attract scrutiny. The Commerce Commission accepts complaints about excessive or poorly disclosed surcharges.

How do you calculate and apply a credit card surcharge legally in New Zealand?

Your surcharge must be based on your actual merchant fees. Review your merchant statements to see what you’re paying for each card type, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Then, set either a single surcharge across multiple credit cards or different surcharges for different card types. If you charge a single rate, it must reflect the true mix of cards your customers use and align with the weighted cost of each card type. An easy average isn’t sufficient.

Recheck your surcharges regularly to ensure they still reflect your costs, as merchant fees change over time. If your costs fall but your surcharge doesn’t, you might overcharge. Regular reviews minimize both compliance risk and customer complaints.

How should businesses disclose credit card surcharges to customers in New Zealand?

Even when a surcharge is lawful, how you present it is important. Surcharges must always be clearly disclosed: consider displaying it at your entrance and at the register. In addition, clarify that at least one other option that doesn’t incur a surcharge is available. For online checkout, add a line to your checkout flow that’s visible before the customer selects a payment method.

Train your staff to address surcharges as needed; they should be able to explain the charge and what it’s for. Itemize prices on receipts to further build trust; show the base amount, surcharge, and total separately.

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