Australia has removed card payment surcharges on major credit and debit cards, but the cost of processing those payments has not disappeared. For real estate agencies, the changes raise important questions about merchant fees, rent collection, third-party payment platforms and who ultimately bears the cost. 

For years, Australians have become accustomed to paying a little extra for the convenience of using a card. Whether it was a percentage added to an invoice, a transaction fee at the checkout or an additional charge for using an online payment platform, card surcharges had become an accepted part of everyday transactions. 

That changed on Thursday the 1st of October 2026, when new rules took effect preventing businesses from imposing surcharges on payments made using major card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and American Express. 

The reforms followed an extensive review by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), which concluded that card surcharging was no longer delivering its intended benefits to consumers. As electronic payments became increasingly common, customers were frequently charged additional fees despite having limited practical alternatives. 

For real estate agencies, however, the implications extend beyond removing a percentage from an invoice. With payments involving landlords, tenants, vendors and third-party service providers often managed through different systems, agencies must consider how the changes affect their existing arrangements. 

The surcharge may have disappeared, but the cost of accepting electronic payments remains. The question is whether agencies are now expected to absorb those expenses or whether they can recover them through other means. 

Why has Australia removed card payment surcharges? 

The RBA's review of merchant card payment costs and surcharging examined whether Australia's existing payment arrangements remained appropriate for an increasingly cashless economy. 

Previously, businesses could pass on the cost of accepting certain card payments, provided the surcharge did not exceed the cost of processing that payment method. The intention was to encourage consumers to choose cheaper payment options while allowing businesses to recover legitimate transaction expenses. 

However, the RBA found that the system had become unnecessarily complicated and was no longer operating as intended. 

Following reforms announced in March 2026, Visa, Mastercard and eftpos introduced rules prohibiting surcharges on covered credit, debit and prepaid card payments from the 1st of October. American Express and UnionPay also removed surcharging from that date, with PayPal introducing similar restrictions on the 5th of October. 

Importantly, these restrictions operate through card-network rules and merchant agreements rather than a single prohibition covering every type of payment fee. Businesses should therefore confirm the requirements applying to their particular arrangements with their payment providers. 

The surcharge is gone. The processing cost isn't. 

Although customers can no longer be charged a separate surcharge for using covered cards, businesses may still incur merchant service fees and transaction processing costs. 

These expenses vary depending on the payment provider, transaction type and commercial arrangement. For agencies processing substantial volumes of electronic payments, they can represent a meaningful operating expense. 

The reforms allow businesses to account for legitimate payment processing costs within their overall pricing. However, this does not mean real estate agencies can automatically introduce new charges or increase existing fees. Agency agreements, consumer protection legislation and state-based property laws may restrict what can be charged and how those charges are disclosed. 

The RBA has also introduced measures intended to reduce merchant payment costs, including lower interchange fee caps. These changes may place downward pressure on processing fees, although the savings experienced by individual businesses will depend on their providers and existing agreements. 

For agency principals, the reforms present an opportunity to review merchant service fees and determine whether their current payment arrangements remain commercially competitive. 

What does this mean for real estate agencies? 

Real estate agencies operate differently from conventional retail businesses. Payments may be received for advertising expenses, marketing services, client invoices and other transactions, while property management departments often rely on separate systems for rent collection. 

Some agencies use payment platforms that automatically calculate transaction fees. Others have arrangements allowing processing costs to be absorbed by the business or passed on to the person making the payment. 

Consequently, agencies should review more than their EFTPOS terminals. Online payment links, invoicing software, client portals and integrated property management systems may also require attention. 

The RBA has confirmed that the new restrictions generally apply to business-to-business card payments, unless an applicable exemption exists. Agencies should therefore avoid assuming that transactions involving corporate clients or commercial services are automatically excluded. 

For Licensees in Charge, the immediate consideration is whether any part of the business continues to impose an additional charge specifically because a customer has chosen to pay using a covered card. 

Where such charges remain, clarification should be sought from the relevant payment provider. 

Rent payments: Different states, different obligations 

Rent collection introduces another layer of complexity because residential tenancy laws are regulated separately by each state and territory. Although the card surcharge changes apply nationally, existing tenancy legislation may impose additional restrictions on payment methods, transaction fees and tenant choice. 

Three states provide particularly useful examples of how these requirements differ. 

NSW: Prescribed fee-free payment options 

In NSW, landlords and agents must offer tenants approved electronic bank transfers and Centrepay as standard methods of paying rent, without imposing additional fees. The requirement to offer Centrepay commenced on Monday the 2nd of March 2026, strengthening existing protections around fee-free rental payments. 

Tenants must be permitted to choose between the prescribed methods and cannot be required to use a particular third-party rental payment platform, even where that platform is free. 

For property managers, the national surcharge changes do not replace these obligations. Any alternative payment arrangements must continue to comply with NSW tenancy legislation. 

Victoria: Additional restrictions commenced in October 

Victoria has introduced further protections concerning rental payment fees. From Tuesday the 13th of October 2026, rental providers and agents have been prohibited from charging renters fees for making rental payments. These changes build upon restrictions introduced earlier in the year preventing third-party platforms from imposing rental payment fees. 

Under Victorian requirements, renters must be able to pay through Centrepay and another form of electronic funds transfer. Ordinary bank fees may still apply, but rental providers, agents and payment platforms cannot impose additional charges for paying rent. 

These provisions are particularly relevant to agencies using third-party rent collection services, as a platform fee may be prohibited even where it is not technically classified as a card surcharge. 

Queensland: Payment choice and fee disclosure 

Queensland requires property managers and owners to offer tenants at least two methods of paying rent. At least one must be reasonably accessible and must not involve more than reasonable transaction costs. Before entering a tenancy agreement, agents must also provide written information about costs associated with the available payment methods. 

Importantly, Queensland requires disclosure of any financial benefit received by an agent or property owner when a tenant uses a particular payment method. This may include incentives or a share of fees collected by a third-party platform. 

For agencies using external payment providers, understanding both the charges imposed on tenants and any financial benefits received by the business is therefore essential. 

Can agencies pass processing costs on another way? 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has confirmed that businesses may generally incorporate card processing expenses into their overall pricing. However, they must continue to comply with Australian Consumer Law, including requirements concerning accurate and transparent pricing. 

For real estate agencies, this distinction is important because not every charge can be adjusted at the agency's discretion. Agency fees may be governed by existing agreements, while rent payments and other regulated transactions may be subject to specific legislative restrictions. A business cannot necessarily avoid the new card-network rules by simply renaming a surcharge as an administration or service fee. The nature of the charge and the circumstances in which it is imposed remain relevant. 

Consider an agency using a third-party platform that previously added a percentage-based fee whenever a tenant paid rent by credit card. Following the October changes, the agency should establish whether that surcharge has been removed, whether any other fees remain and whether those charges comply with the relevant state's tenancy legislation. 

The national reforms do not prohibit every type of service fee, but neither do they provide unrestricted permission to recover processing expenses through alternative charges. 

What should real estate agencies do now? 

For most agencies, the immediate priority should be reviewing existing payment arrangements rather than introducing new fees. This should include confirming that card surcharges have been removed from relevant payment systems, checking invoices and online payment links for outdated charges and reviewing the terms of third-party platforms used for rent collection or other transactions. 

Agency principals should also establish who now bears the processing costs and whether payment providers have adjusted their merchant service fees following the RBA's reforms. 

Where changes to client charges are being considered, agencies should first review their existing agreements and the legislation applying in their jurisdiction. 

Finally, staff responsible for invoicing, accounts and property management should understand the distinction between merchant processing expenses, prohibited card surcharges and other fees that may be permitted under specific circumstances. 

These measures will help agencies identify potential compliance issues while providing an opportunity to assess whether their payment systems remain appropriate for the business. 

Frequently asked questions about card surcharges 

Are credit card surcharges banned in Australia? 

From Thursday the 1st of October 2026, major card networks introduced rules preventing businesses from imposing surcharges on covered Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and American Express payments. The restrictions generally apply to credit, debit and prepaid cards, subject to applicable network rules and exceptions. 

Do the changes apply to real estate agencies? 

Yes. Real estate agencies accepting payments through covered card networks are generally subject to the same restrictions as other businesses. This includes most business-to-business card transactions unless an exemption applies. 

Can property managers charge tenants payment processing fees? 

The rules depend on the relevant state or territory. NSW requires prescribed fee-free payment methods, Victoria prohibits additional rent payment fees and Queensland imposes requirements concerning payment choice, reasonable transaction costs and disclosure. 

Can agencies increase their fees to recover merchant costs? 

Businesses may generally account for payment processing expenses within their overall pricing. However, agencies must comply with existing agreements, Australian Consumer Law and any relevant state-based property legislation. 

The cost of convenience is changing 

The removal of card surcharges represents a significant change to Australia's payments system, but its practical impact on real estate agencies will depend on how individual businesses accept and process payments. 

For some agencies, the transition may involve little more than confirming that their payment providers have updated their systems. For others, particularly those relying on multiple third-party platforms, the reforms may warrant a broader review of transaction costs, client fees and rent collection arrangements. 

The changes also highlight the importance of understanding how national payment rules interact with state-based property legislation. An arrangement that complies with card-network requirements may still need to satisfy additional obligations under residential tenancy or consumer protection laws. 

Ultimately, removing card surcharges does not mean accepting electronic payments has become free. It means agencies need to understand those costs, determine how they are managed and ensure that any charges passed on to clients or tenants are lawful and transparent. 

For agency principals, the reforms provide an opportunity to examine the financial systems supporting everyday operations and consider whether those arrangements remain appropriate for the business. 

Sources and further reading 

• Reserve Bank of Australia, Removal of Card Payment Surcharges: Frequently Asked Questions, March 2026. 

• Reserve Bank of Australia, Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging: Conclusions Paper, March 2026. 

• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Card Surcharges, October 2026. 

• NSW Government, How and When to Pay Rent, updated March 2026. 

• Consumer Affairs Victoria, New Changes to Rental Laws, October 2026. 

• Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority, Rent Payments. 

This article provides general information about Australian card payment reforms and their implications for real estate businesses. Payment arrangements and tenancy obligations may differ between jurisdictions. Agencies should consult their payment providers and relevant regulators for guidance specific to their circumstances.