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Is surcharging allowed where you operate?

Pick your state for general guidance on surcharging, cash discounting, and dual pricing. This is an overview, not legal advice. We confirm the current rules for your exact setup before configuring anything.

This guidance is general and can change. It isn’t legal advice. Cash discounting and dual pricing are broadly available even where surcharging is restricted. Before you set anything up, we confirm the current rules for your state and card brands. US state rules last checked October 2026.

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The rules that apply almost everywhere

Wherever surcharging is permitted, these card-brand rules come with it.

On surcharging

✓Capped at the lesser of your cost of acceptance or about 3 percent.
✓Credit cards only. You can’t surcharge debit cards.
✓Advance registration with the card brands and your acquirer.
✓Clear signage at the entrance and point of sale, and a separate line on the receipt.

Cash discount and dual pricing

✓Broadly available, even where surcharging is restricted.
✓Framed as a discount for cash, or two prices shown side by side.
✓Still needs correct signage and receipts.
✓Often the cleaner option for customers and staff.
One $100 sale, three ways to price it: surcharging, cash discounting, and Dual Pricing, the one AllProPay offers Three receipts for the same $100 sale. Surcharging adds a separate credit card fee line; it is not allowed in some states and restricted in others. Cash discounting posts one card price and takes a discount off for cash. Dual Pricing, marked as what AllProPay offers, shows a cash price and a card price side by side. In all three the card payer pays $103 and the cash payer pays $100; under surcharging a debit card also pays $100 because debit cannot be surcharged. Rule chips under each receipt list the rules from the guide. ONE $100 SALE, THREE WAYS The customer who pays by card carries the card cost. The three programs just present it differently. Surcharging Adds a separate fee to credit card purchases SEPARATE FEE LINE Item price $100.00 Credit card surcharge + $3.00 PAID BY CREDIT CARD $103.00 Cash or debit $100.00 CREDIT ONLYNOT ON DEBIT CAPPED, ABOUT 3%REGISTER FIRST SIGNS + RECEIPT LINE Not allowed in some states, and restricted in others. Cash discounting Posts one card price and gives cash a discount DISCOUNT FOR CASH Posted card price $103.00 Cash discount − $3.00 PAID BY CARD $103.00 Cash $100.00 ONE POSTED PRICE SIGNS + RECEIPT REQUIRED Broadly available, even where surcharging is restricted Dual Pricing Shows a cash price and a card price side by side WHAT ALLPROPAY OFFERS Cash price $100.00 Card price $103.00 PAID BY CARD $103.00 Cash $100.00 TWO PRICES SIDE BY SIDE SIGNS + RECEIPT REQUIRED Broadly available, even where surcharging is restricted Same sale, same card cost. What changes is how the price is shown, and the rules that come with it. LEGEND Dual Pricing, what AllProPay offers The line that sets each program apart A rule from the guide Not allowed everywhere Illustration, not a quote. The card cost is shown at about 3%, the usual surcharge cap; a surcharge can never be more than your actual cost of acceptance. Rules differ by state and card brand, and they change. General information, not legal advice.

Read the full guide: surcharge vs cash discount vs dual pricing →

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The value is in doing it right for your region and explaining how it works. Tell us your state and your business and we’ll take it from there.

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