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Important: New Card Payment Rules from 1 October 2026 | Action May Be Required

10 July 2026

IMPORTANT INDUSTRY UPDATE

RBA Card Payment Rules Coming into Effect 1 October 2026

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced significant changes to Australia's card payment regulations that will come into effect from 1 October 2026.

These reforms are Australia-wide and are not specific to 123 Tix or the events industry. They form part of broader changes to Australia's payments system and will affect businesses across the country that accept designated Visa, Mastercard and eftpos card payments. Every business is responsible for understanding how the reforms apply to its own pricing and payment practices and ensuring it complies with the new requirements from 1 October 2026.

These changes will affect how businesses, including event organisers, recover card payment processing costs and present ticket prices to customers.

If you have events scheduled after 1 October 2026, now is a good time to review your ticket pricing and become familiar with the upcoming changes.

Action May Be Required

If you have events scheduled on or after 1 October 2026, we recommend reviewing your ticket pricing and event setup to determine whether any changes are required before your tickets go on sale.

If you're unsure how these changes apply to your events, our team is here to help.

Quick Checklist

If your event takes place on or after 1 October 2026, check whether you:

Use the Pass On Fees option

Advertise ticket prices excluding unavoidable fees

Need to review your pricing structure

Would like to explore Direct Stripe Payment Integration

What has the Reserve Bank announced?

From 1 October 2026, businesses will no longer be permitted to apply a separate surcharge to payments made using designated Visa, Mastercard and eftpos cards.

Instead, any costs associated with accepting these card payments will need to be incorporated into your overall pricing model rather than being added as a separate charge during checkout.

The reforms apply to designated Visa, Mastercard and eftpos card transactions. American Express is not currently included within these reforms.

What does this mean for your events?

If your event currently uses the Pass On Fees option within 123 Tix to recover card payment processing costs at checkout, you should review your pricing for events taking place after 1 October 2026.

You should also review how your ticket prices are presented to customers.

Where a booking or service fee forms part of the amount every customer is required to pay, organisers should ensure their pricing and advertising reflect the total amount payable and align with the new regulatory requirements and Australian Consumer Law.

Example

Current Pricing

Adult Ticket ...................................................... $50.00

123 Tix Booking Fee .......................................... $1.00

Pass On Fees (1.47%) ...................................... $0.75

Total Paid at Checkout ................................ $51.75

Suggested pricing approach from 1 October 2026

Advertised Ticket Price (Inclusive) ............. $51.75

No additional Pass On Fees are added at checkout for Visa, Mastercard or eftpos card payments.

Example pricing only: The figures shown above are for illustrative purposes only. Actual booking fees and processing costs will vary depending on your event configuration, transaction value and pricing structure. Please review your own event pricing to determine the most appropriate approach.

What should I do now?

If your event is scheduled to take place after 1 October 2026, we recommend reviewing:

• Your advertised ticket prices

• Whether you currently use the Pass On Fees option

• Your booking or service fee structure

• Marketing material that advertises ticket prices

• Any pricing shown on your website, social media or promotional material

Making these changes before your tickets go on sale will help ensure a smooth transition to the new requirements.

This is a good opportunity to review your pricing

While you're updating your pricing for the new regulations, it's also a good opportunity to review your overall ticket pricing strategy.

Many organisers haven't increased ticket prices for several years, despite rising costs for insurance, security, entertainment, staffing, equipment hire and other event expenses.

Rather than simply incorporating your existing Pass On Fees into the ticket price, you may wish to consider rounding your ticket prices to a new, simple figure.

For example, instead of increasing a $50.00 ticket to $51.75, you might choose to price it at $52.00, $55.00 or another simple price point that better reflects the value of your event and today's operating costs.

A simple, all-inclusive ticket price is often easier for customers to understand while also providing an opportunity to review whether your current pricing still reflects the true cost of delivering your event.

Every event is different, so consider what is appropriate for your audience, your market and your financial objectives.

How is 123 Tix preparing?

The good news is that the 123 Tix platform already provides organisers with flexible pricing options to support these changes.

From 1 October 2026, the Pass On Fees option for designated Visa, Mastercard and eftpos card transactions will no longer be available within the 123 Tix platform, helping organisers comply with the new regulations.

If your event currently uses Pass On Fees, we recommend reviewing your ticket pricing well before tickets go on sale for events taking place after 1 October 2026.

Our support team is available to assist you with reviewing your pricing structure, updating your event configuration and answering any questions you may have throughout the transition.

Looking for greater control of your ticket revenue?

As part of reviewing your payment settings, you may also wish to consider Direct Stripe Payment Integration.

This feature allows you to connect your own commercial Stripe account directly to the 123 Tix platform, with ticket revenue being transferred straight into your Stripe account as ticket purchases occur.

Rather than waiting until after your event for settlement, you'll have access to your ticket revenue throughout your sales campaign, helping you manage deposits, supplier payments, marketing expenses and other upfront event costs as they arise.

Direct Stripe Payment Integration is now available for organisers interested in adopting this feature.

If you'd like to discuss whether Direct Stripe Payment Integration is suitable for your organisation, or would like information about becoming an early adopter, we'd love to hear from you.

Official RBA Information

If you'd like to read more about the upcoming changes, the following resources have been published by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Reserve Bank of Australia Media Release
The official announcement outlining the new card payment reforms and implementation timetable.
https://www.rba.gov.au/media-releases/2026/mr-26-10.html

Review of Retail Payments Regulation
Overview of the reforms and implementation details.
https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/review-of-retail-payments-regulation/2026-03/

Conclusions Paper (Web Version)
Detailed explanation of the reforms and supporting information.
https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/review-of-retail-payments-regulation/2026-03/conclusions-paper/

Conclusions Paper (PDF Download)
Download the full Conclusions Paper published by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
https://www.rba.gov.au/payments-and-infrastructure/review-of-retail-payments-regulation/2026-03/conclusions-paper/pdf/conclusions-paper.pdf