Payment processing in every US state.

Cash discount vs surcharge: how the rules differ.

A cash discount and a surcharge are not the same thing. With a cash discount, the posted price is the card price, and customers who pay cash get a discount from it. With a surcharge, an extra amount is added on top of the posted price when a customer pays by card. State rules and card-network rules treat the two differently. States differ on surcharges, and card-network rules apply in every state. Each state page gives a short, general summary, plus the state's sales-tax agency and business registration office.

VitaPay's restaurant default is a true cash discount program: your posted price is the card price, and customers who pay cash get a discount. It is set up to follow card-network and state rules.

Rules change; check your state's current rules before changing how you price. This is general information, not legal advice.

• 3 Surcharges banned by state law
• 11 Surcharges allowed with state conditions
• 33 No state surcharge restriction found
• 4 A cash discount and a surcharge are not the same thing. With a cash discount, the posted price is the card price, and customers who pay cash get a discount from it. With a surcharge, an extra amount is added on top of the posted price when a customer pays by card. State rules and card-network rules treat the two differently.

• AlabamaWe found no state law in Alabama limiting card surcharges.
• AlaskaWe found no state law in Alaska limiting card surcharges.
• ArizonaWe found no state law in Arizona limiting card surcharges.
• ArkansasWe found no state law in Arkansas limiting card surcharges.
• CaliforniaWe could not confirm the current rule on card surcharges in California.
• ColoradoColorado allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• ConnecticutConnecticut law bans adding a surcharge to card payments.
• DelawareWe found no state law in Delaware limiting card surcharges.
• District of ColumbiaWe could not confirm the current rule on card surcharges in the District of Columbia.
• FloridaFlorida allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• GeorgiaGeorgia allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• HawaiiWe found no state law in Hawaii limiting card surcharges.
• IdahoWe found no state law in Idaho limiting card surcharges.
• IllinoisWe found no state law in Illinois limiting card surcharges.
• IndianaWe found no state law in Indiana limiting card surcharges.
• IowaWe found no state law in Iowa limiting card surcharges.
• KansasKansas allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• KentuckyWe found no state law in Kentucky limiting card surcharges.
• LouisianaLouisiana allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• MaineMaine law bans adding a surcharge to card payments.
• MarylandWe found no state law in Maryland limiting card surcharges.
• MassachusettsMassachusetts law bans adding a surcharge to card payments.
• MichiganWe found no state law in Michigan limiting card surcharges.
• MinnesotaMinnesota allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• MississippiWe found no state law in Mississippi limiting card surcharges.
• MissouriWe found no state law in Missouri limiting card surcharges.
• MontanaWe found no state law in Montana limiting card surcharges.
• NebraskaWe found no state law in Nebraska limiting card surcharges.
• NevadaNevada allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• New HampshireWe found no state law in New Hampshire limiting card surcharges.
• New JerseyNew Jersey allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• New MexicoWe found no state law in New Mexico limiting card surcharges.
• New YorkNew York allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• North CarolinaWe found no state law in North Carolina limiting card surcharges.
• North DakotaWe found no state law in North Dakota limiting card surcharges.
• OhioWe found no state law in Ohio limiting card surcharges.
• OklahomaOklahoma allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• OregonWe found no state law in Oregon limiting card surcharges.
• PennsylvaniaWe found no state law in Pennsylvania limiting card surcharges.
• Rhode IslandWe found no state law in Rhode Island limiting card surcharges.
• South CarolinaWe found no state law in South Carolina limiting card surcharges.
• South DakotaWe could not confirm the current rule on card surcharges in South Dakota.
• TennesseeWe found no state law in Tennessee limiting card surcharges.
• TexasWe could not confirm the current rule on card surcharges in Texas.
• UtahUtah allows card surcharges only under state conditions, such as limits on the amount and notice to customers.
• VermontWe found no state law in Vermont limiting card surcharges.
• VirginiaWe found no state law in Virginia limiting card surcharges.
• WashingtonWe found no state law in Washington limiting card surcharges.
• West VirginiaWe found no state law in West Virginia limiting card surcharges.
• WisconsinWe found no state law in Wisconsin limiting card surcharges.
• WyomingWe found no state law in Wyoming limiting card surcharges.

What does not change by state.

VitaPay prices the same way in every state: a cash discount program for restaurants, and for larger groups a cash discount program or transparent interchange-plus, quoted in writing for your business. No long-term contract and no early termination penalty.

VitaPay is operated by VITAPAY LLC, 8 The Green, Ste B, Dover, DE 19901.