What about debit cards?

Visa and Mastercard U.S. rules prohibit surcharges on debit and prepaid cards, including when run as credit.

Is this legal advice?

No—this page summarizes public sources for education. Confirm current law with qualified counsel and your payment processor.

Massachusetts credit card surcharge law

No — Massachusetts prohibits credit-card surcharges (cash discounts allowed).

Rule: M.G.L. c.140D §28A(a)(2) prohibits credit-card surcharges. Cash discounts are allowed.

Disclosure: Cash discounts must be clearly disclosed.

What this means for a $100 sale: On a $100 credit-card sale, a surcharge is not allowed here (customer pays $100.00).

Open the surcharge calculator with Massachusetts preselected

Sources

M.G.L. c.140D §28A
Visa U.S. merchant surcharging Q&A
Mastercard merchant surcharge rules

Last reviewed: October 7, 2026

This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Rules change—verify with primary sources and professional counsel before surcharging.