Surcharge Disclosure Language: Signs, Checkout & Receipt Examples (2026)
The rule is disclose before the transaction, at the entrance, at the register, and on the receipt as its own line. Here are compliant example wordings to adapt and verify.
Last verified: 2026-09 · Educational reference, not legal advice
Below are compliant example wordings. Treat them as templates — verify the exact form with counsel or your state Attorney General, and keep the percentage accurate to your actual capped rate.
Entrance / window sign
Example: “NOTICE: A surcharge of up to 3% applies to credit-card payments. Debit cards are not surcharged. Pay by cash to avoid the fee.” Keep the percentage matched to your real capped rate.
Point-of-sale / checkout notice
In-person example: “Credit-card payments include a [X]% surcharge. Debit cards are exempt.” Online example: “A [X]% credit-card surcharge will be added at checkout. Pay by bank/ACH to avoid it where available.”
Receipt line
Example line item: “Credit Card Surcharge $X.XX” as a distinct row, not buried in the subtotal. The card total should equal subtotal plus surcharge.
- Percentage matches your actual capped rate.
- Debit is excluded in wording and at the terminal.
- Entrance and POS sign are present.
- Receipt shows a separate surcharge line.
- Wording verified for your state.
Do not say “no fee for cash” while also surcharging debit — debit must be excluded by rule, not by a misleading “cash only” claim.
Confirm your state’s requirement.Open the decision tool →
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
At minimum: that a surcharge applies, the rate (up to the cap), that debit is excluded, and that paying another way avoids it. Exact form varies by state.
Yes — if you run a cash-discount program, the signage describes the lower cash price; the disclosure obligation is different but still required.
The customer, before paying — via entrance sign, register notice, and a separate receipt line.
Educational content, not legal advice. Cashbizly is an independent educational resource. Nothing here is personalized legal advice and it does not replace a licensed attorney or your state’s Attorney General.
Our state-by-state status reflects the consensus of published 2025–2026 compliance guides (card-network rules, LawPay, Stax, NCSL) as of the “last verified” date on each page. Surcharge law changes frequently and is actively litigated — always confirm current figures with your state Attorney General or a professional. Read our full disclaimer.