You can't. Visa's US rules allow a surcharge on credit cards only. Debit and prepaid cards can't be surcharged, and that holds when a debit cardholder picks "credit" on a terminal, because the card is still a debit card. A business whose terminal offers "credit" and "debit" buttons must make sure debit payments carry no surcharge and make clear that debit can't be surcharged either way. Louisiana also bans retail businesses from surcharging debit card payments from 1 August 2026. A surcharge on a credit card stays allowed where your state permits it.
Can you surcharge a debit card?
No. Visa's surcharge Q&A for US merchants says the ability to surcharge only applies to purchases made with a credit card, and that US merchants can't surcharge purchases made with a Visa debit card or prepaid card. Visa's rules define the credit card surcharge as a fee added to a credit card transaction for accepting a credit card. Debit isn't part of it. The full rules for the credit side are on the surcharge page.
What if the customer picks "credit" on the terminal?
The answer is still no. Visa says the debit cardholder is still using a debit card. The "credit" or "debit" choice on a terminal only decides whether the payment is signature-based or PIN-based.
Visa's rules add two duties for a business whose card reader shows "credit" and "debit" buttons:
- No surcharge on debit, whichever button is pressed.
- Say so. Make it clear to the customer that a debit payment can't be surcharged, whichever button they choose.
What about prepaid cards?
The same. Visa's Q&A groups prepaid cards with debit: neither can be surcharged.
What does Louisiana's law say?
Louisiana's SB 254 adds a debit card surcharge ban to state law, effective 1 August 2026:
- Who: any retail business, defined as anyone selling goods or services.
- What: no surcharge on a cardholder who pays by debit card instead of cash, check, credit card or a similar means of payment. A surcharge here means any extra amount added at the time of the transaction for the privilege of using a debit card.
- Liability: a business that violates it is liable to the cardholder for damages and expenses, including attorney fees.
- Enforcement: the attorney general can sue. Violating an order issued for a violation carries a civil penalty of up to $500 for each violation.
- Complaints: the attorney general runs a toll-free number and an online system where cardholders can report a debit surcharge.
Visa's rules already ruled out a debit surcharge. The Louisiana law adds a state penalty and a direct route for customers to complain.
Why does this matter on a payment plan?
Because customers pay installments with the card they keep on file, and that card can be a debit card. A surcharge set up for credit cards must not run on a debit card payment. Where a customer pays by bank transfer instead, no card was used, so a card surcharge doesn't come into it.
| Card or method | Surcharge under Visa's US rules |
|---|---|
| Visa credit card | Allowed, up to the lower of your rate or 3%, where your state allows it |
| Visa debit card | Not allowed |
| Visa debit card run as "credit" | Not allowed |
| Visa prepaid card | Not allowed |
This page uses Visa's published rules. Mastercard and the other networks publish their own, and your processor applies them. General information, not legal advice.
- Visa: U.S. Merchant Surcharge Q and A
- Visa Core Rules and Visa Product and Service Rules, 18 April 2026: section 5.5.1.9 (credit and debit buttons) and the glossary entry for Credit Card Surcharge
- Louisiana Act 751 of 2026 (SB 254), R.S. 51:3081 and 3082, signed 2 June 2026
Every figure on this page was checked against these sources on Oct 6, 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.