Credit Card Surcharge and Cash Discount Checker
Card fees take money from every sale. Some states let you pass them on, some don't, and DC and Maryland (for most stores) make you take cash. Pick your state and see what you can do and what it is worth.
The rules in Washington, DC
Card surcharges: Allowed, but every fee must be disclosed clearly before the customer orders.
Refusing cash: Not allowed since January 1, 2025; until May 8, 2027, places with an on-premises liquor license and restaurants open at 3 a.m. may refuse cash with a posted notice.
Read the Washington, DC guideYour real rate. The card fee calculator works it out from your statement.
Surcharges are never allowed on debit or prepaid cards. Your statement shows the split; 50% is only a starting guess.
Card fees you pay now
$412.50 a month
- Surcharge on credit cards (3.00%)about $187.50 back a month
- Cash discount: every card pays the posted card priceabout $412.50 back a month
- Your $12.00 item
- Card price with a cash discount$12.40
- With a 3.00% surcharge$12.36
General information, not legal advice. State rules checked November 10, 2026. Card networks cap a surcharge at 3% or your cost, whichever is lower, never on debit or prepaid cards, and require a sign and a receipt line.
Can I charge customers a credit card fee?
In most states, yes, on credit cards only: Visa and Mastercard cap a surcharge at 3% or your cost, whichever is lower, require a sign and a receipt line, and never allow it on debit or prepaid cards. A few states ban surcharges, and Virginia requires advertised prices to include mandatory fees. Truvana Tech sets up cash and card prices on its point-of-sale systems.
What is the difference between a surcharge and a cash discount?
A surcharge adds a fee at checkout to credit card payments. A cash discount posts the card price and gives cash payers a lower one, so it covers every card, debit included. Both must be shown clearly before the customer pays.