Credit and debit card surcharge

A surcharge of 0.52% will apply when you choose to pay your rates using a Mastercard, Visa credit and debit card or American Express card, with the exception of credit card payments using BPAY. On an average rate account, the surcharge is $2.13.

The 0.52% surcharge also applies to infrastructure charges payments made using Mastercard or Visa credit and debit cards.

A maximum of $100,000, inclusive of the Mastercard or Visa credit and debit card surcharge, can be accepted for the payment of infrastructure charges against a development application permit. 

Reason for the surcharge

Brisbane City Council is charged fees when customers pay using Mastercard, Visa credit and debit cards or American Express card. These fees add up to a considerable cost – more than $2.5 million per year. This money can be better spent on other services like parks, buses and roads.

In line with other organisations, customers who choose to pay rates by Mastercard, Visa credit and debit cards or American Express card are charged the surcharge. Credit card payments using BPAY do not incur a surcharge.

Calculating the surcharge 

The surcharge will be 0.52% of the total rates or infrastructure charges credit or debit card payment made. A credit card surcharge is not applicable on charges that attract GST. American Express is not accepted for infrastructure payments.

Credit card payments and how much the surcharge amount would be accordingly.
Card payment amountSurcharge amount
$300$1.56
$400$2.08
$500$2.60
$600$3.12
$700$3.64
$800$4.16
$900$4.68
$1000$5.20
$99,482.69 (maximum)$517.31 (maximum)

Paying the surcharge

The surcharge will be applied when you pay your rates using a Mastercard, Visa credit and debit card or American Express card and will appear on your next rate account. The surcharge is not applicable on payments made using BPAY.

For example if you pay the rate account issued in January by a Mastercard, Visa credit and debit card or American Express card, the surcharge will appear on the next rate account issued in April.

When choosing to pay infrastructure charges by Mastercard or Visa credit and debit cards, the surcharge will be applied at the time of payment. American Express is not accepted for infrastructure payments.

Other payment options

You can avoid the surcharge by paying your rates using one of our other payment options

To avoid the surcharge on infrastructure charges, payment can be made at any of Council’s Regional Business Centres by cash, cheque or EFTPOS (using a cheque or savings account). Find out more about infrastructure charges.  

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