Updated October 12, 2026. The planned cutoff for direct ATO credit-card payments has been delayed. The Australian Government announced on October 9 that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will continue accepting credit cards until June 30, 2027, with transitional government funding for related costs. This gives taxpayers time to adjust; it is not a permanent guarantee.
Two connected changes are easy to mix up. On October 1, 2026, card surcharges ended for many transactions under Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and card-network rules. Businesses generally can no longer add a separate payment surcharge when customers use Visa, Mastercard, or eftpos. American Express, UnionPay, and PayPal also announced no-surcharge rules. Separately, the ATO had said it would stop accepting direct credit-card payments after November 30, 2026, because it could not absorb the higher acceptance costs.
The government’s October 9 joint announcement temporarily changed that ATO timetable. The ATO will accept credit-card payments through June 30, 2027, funded during the transition by the government. Treasury says the final costs will be settled in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. It also reports that just over 2% of individuals and around 5% of small businesses paid the ATO by credit card in 2024–25. Those figures describe the previous financial year, not future usage.
Action: If you planned to switch before December 1, update your calendar: direct ATO credit-card acceptance is currently scheduled to continue through June 30, 2027. Check ATO payment guidance again before paying closer to that date.
No. The ATO extension concerns a government agency’s decision to keep accepting credit-card payments. It does not undo the wider merchant surcharge changes. The RBA says its reform took effect October 1, enabling card networks to prohibit surcharges on their cards. The RBA FAQ explains that the change applies to extra fees charged because the customer pays by card.
This does not necessarily eliminate every extra charge on a bill. A weekend or public-holiday surcharge, booking fee, or service fee may remain if it is not based on the payment method and is otherwise permitted and clearly disclosed. Businesses may also account for costs in their general prices. If an amount appears at checkout, ask whether it is specifically a card surcharge or a different fee. The RBA recommends raising a suspected card surcharge with the business first; consumers can then contact the card network identified on the receipt.
Action: Review the total shown before confirming payment. Do not assume that a ban on card surcharges makes every third-party payment service free.
For the transition period, taxpayers can keep paying the ATO directly by credit card, subject to the ATO’s current payment instructions. This can help someone manage the timing of cash leaving a bank account or use a card’s billing cycle. But the extension does not change the amount owed, extend a tax deadline, or create permission to pay late. Card interest and account fees are separate matters governed by the issuer’s terms.
After June 30, 2027, Treasury says the ATO will still accept credit-card payments through third parties, as well as other free and low-fee methods such as debit card and bank transfer. A third-party service may have its own charges, payment limits, processing times, and conditions. The October 9 announcement does not provide a complete future provider list or promise that all card routes will be free.
Action: Compare the total cost and timing before choosing a card or payment intermediary. If you use a card for points or the billing cycle, weigh the benefit against any service fee and possible interest. Pay by your ATO due date regardless of method.
The extension gives small businesses and other taxpayers more time to transition. The government has asked the ATO to consult on targeted support for people experiencing financial hardship and on alternatives for individuals and businesses unable to pay through other methods. That is a commitment to consult; it is not confirmation that a new concession, payment plan, or exemption has already been created.
A business tax bill may arrive when cash is tied up in stock, payroll, or customer invoices. Direct card acceptance stays available for several more months, but the later change still deserves planning. Treasury identifies debit card and bank transfer as free or low-fee options after the transition. The exact availability, processing time, and suitability of each option should be checked against current ATO guidance.
Keep the distinction clear: customer checkout rules and ATO tax-payment rules are related by card costs, but they are separate. The surcharge change affects what merchants may add to a card transaction. The ATO timetable concerns which payment methods the tax office itself accepts directly.
Action: List tax dates and identify which payments currently depend on a credit card. With your bookkeeper or tax agent, test an alternative early enough to resolve bank transfer limits, authorization requirements, and processing delays. If hardship is a concern, ask the ATO or your registered tax professional about support currently available rather than relying on a future consultation outcome.
Verified: Treasury’s latest announcement sets June 30, 2027, as the period through which direct acceptance will continue. Treasury says third-party credit-card payments and other methods will continue after that date. It has not promised indefinite direct acceptance. Action: Treat June 30, 2027, as the current transition end date and watch for updated ATO instructions.
Outdated as of October 12, 2026: The ATO’s earlier plan named November 30, 2026, but the government announced an extension on October 9. Action: Use the newer Treasury and ATO information rather than the superseded date.
Not established: The general surcharge rule does not prove every payment route or card account is cost-free. Third-party providers may have terms or fees, while card interest is set by the issuer. Action: Check any displayed processing charge and your card agreement before submitting payment.
False: It changes the payment-method timetable, not tax deadlines or tax liabilities. Action: Confirm the due date in your ATO notice or online services and arrange payment accordingly.
Confirmed as of October 12, 2026: the ATO is to keep accepting direct credit-card payments until June 30, 2027, backed by transitional funding. Treasury says credit cards through third parties, debit cards, and bank transfers will remain payment choices afterward. The government has asked the ATO to consult on targeted support and alternatives for taxpayers who cannot use other methods.
Still open: the final transition funding cost, the results of the consultation, the exact third-party providers and fees after June 2027, and whether direct ATO card acceptance will be redesigned. The announcement does not promise another extension. For current details, read the Treasury announcement on ATO credit-card payments, the ATO payment guidance, and the RBA card-surcharge FAQ.
The delay gives individuals and small businesses until June 30, 2027, to continue using direct ATO credit-card payments. Broad card-surcharge changes still apply, and tax due dates have not moved. Plan around the current end date, compare actual fees and processing times, and confirm the ATO’s instructions before each payment. Future support and payment arrangements may change.
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