This guide offers a summary of card surcharge compliance provided by Ignition.

Before moving ahead, we encourage you to think carefully about whether applying a card surcharge is right for your business.

If clients expect to pay you in the most convenient way for them, applying a surcharge could create a negative customer experience. On the other hand, if all your clients currently pay you from their bank account and you want to offer an additional payment option, surcharging could be a good fit for your business.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) as well as credit card networks like Visa and Mastercard regulates the use of card surcharges in Canada.

Their advice to merchants* is summarised on this page. We strongly recommend reading the advice in full.

* "Merchant" refers to your company.

The CFIB also states that:

Merchants can choose their surcharge amount they want to apply up to a maximum surcharge limit of 2.4%.

The province or territory in which your business is located may regulate the use of surcharges. Some provinces or territories prohibit surcharges by law or regulation.

Ignition does not provide guidance on card surcharging regulations that may be in force in your provinces or territory.

We strongly recommend you research these rules to ensure compliance before you begin surcharging.
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The Consumer Protection Act does not allow merchants to apply surcharge fees in the province of Quebec.

Please ensure that if you are in Quebec or your clients are based in Quebec, you are not applying surcharge fees.

You may also visit the Revenu Québec website to obtain general information.