Founder deal: 75% off the lifetime licence. Unlimited sites, one payment, every update.See the founder plan
Home / Features / Surcharge

Pass the card fee on, compliantly.

Surcharging is legal in most of the United States and heavily rule bound. This adds a card fee as its own checkout line, exempts debit automatically, and excludes the states where it is not allowed.

Planned. Enterprise and above when it ships. Tell us if this is blocking you.

What is planned

The rules that make the difference between surcharging and a chargeback problem.

Debit exempted automatically

Card networks prohibit surcharging debit. Card type is identified before the fee is applied, so debit buyers are never charged it.

State and region exclusions

Where surcharging is not permitted, the fee is not shown. The exclusion list is maintained as rules change.

Shown as its own line

The buyer sees the fee before paying, itemized separately on the order and the receipt, as the network rules require.

Cash discount as an alternative

Instead of adding a fee, display a lower price for non card methods. Different mechanics, different disclosure rules, same goal.

How it works

The fee is calculated at the payment step, once the card type is known.

  • Buyer chooses a payment methodNo fee is shown until a card is entered, because the fee depends on what kind of card it is.
  • Card type determines the feeCredit gets the configured percentage. Debit and prepaid get nothing. The total updates in front of the buyer.
  • The fee is charged with the orderIt appears as a separate line on the order, the receipt and the gateway transaction, not folded into the item price.
Checkout, surchargeCredit card
Subtotal$400.00
Card typeVisa credit
Surcharge 3%$12.00
StateTexas, permitted
Total$412.00
Pay $412.00Use ACH instead

Worth knowing

Surcharging is a compliance decision before it is a feature decision.

Ask support

Register before you surcharge

Card networks require merchants to notify them and their acquirer before surcharging, cap the fee, and disclose it at the point of sale. This handles the technical side. Registration and the legal question are yours, and your processor should advise.

Is surcharging legal?
In most of the United States, with conditions. Several states restrict or prohibit it, and rules differ outside the US. Take advice for your own situation.
Can I surcharge on ACH?
Surcharge rules apply to cards. A convenience fee on other methods is a different mechanism with different rules.
What is the difference from cash discount?
A surcharge adds to the card price. A cash discount lowers the price for other methods from a posted card price. Disclosure requirements differ.
When will this ship?
It is on the roadmap and prioritized by demand. Contact support if you need it, since that is what moves it up.

Start free, upgrade when the store needs it.

Install from WordPress.org, connect your gateway, take a real order today.

Download from WordPress.org See pricing