ATO convenes snap meeting over credit card ban
Quick Look
The Australian Taxation Office will stop accepting credit card payments from November 30 following Reserve Bank reforms banning card surcharges, prompting criticism from business groups who say they must absorb transaction costs and lose a cash flow option, while the ATO cites unsustainable merchant fees of nearly $200 million annually.
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Why It Matters
The Reserve Bank of Australia implemented reforms to scrap card surcharges from October 1, aiming to save customers about $1.6 billion annually. The ATO announced it would stop accepting credit card payments at the end of next month, with a transition period until November 30.
Australia's tax chief has convened a snap meeting with business groups in the wake of backlash over a decision to stop accepting credit card payments.
Last week, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) announced it would stop accepting credit card payments at the end of next month.
That step came in response to the Reserve Bank of Australia's reforms to scrap card surcharges from October 1, which the bank said was "in the public interest" and would save customers about $1.6 billion a year.
The ATO said it would continue accepting credit cards until November 30 to allow for a transition period, saying it was untenable beyond that point.
But the move has sparked anger among some business groups and small business owners.
They say they have been expected to absorb the fees of card transactions themselves, and have lost the option of using credit card payments to the ATO as a cash flow method.
Andrew McKellar, chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), is calling for the ATO credit card ban to be reversed.
"There is a clear double standard here. Government is telling small business to absorb the hit from the surcharge ban and its cost, while the tax office is saying a different set of rules applies to it," he said.
"Small business is the backbone of the economy. They are doing it tough, with rising costs and a fourth interest rate increase last week."
Master Builders CEO Denita Wawn said the surcharge card ban and other regulatory decisions were made "without consultation" and showed a "lack of practical understanding of the impact of decisions being made by this government".
"It's quite incredulous," she told News 24 yesterday afternoon.
The ATO has called a special forum with members of its small business stewardship group to discuss the changes this morning.
The ABC has approached the ATO for comment.
In a statement on October 2, taxation commissioner Rob Heferen said the ATO "would have preferred to continue accepting credit cards" but credit card companies declined to offer a rate that was low enough.
"The costs associated with accepting credit card payments are significant, with merchant fees estimated to be almost $200 million annually and expected to continue increasing over time," he said in the statement.
"It is not tenable for the ATO to absorb the costs associated with accepting credit cards on an ongoing basis.
Other entities have also signalled they will stop accepting credit card payments, including StrataPay, some private schools, local councils, and rental payment platforms.
The ATO has said credit card payments make up only 2.3 per cent of payments to the tax office.
It said "more than 60 per cent of credit card payments by value were made by privately owned and wealthy groups, and public and multinational businesses", while about 5 per cent of all small businesses used credit cards to pay their taxes.
Open Questions
- Will the ATO reverse its decision following the business backlash?
- What alternative payment methods will the ATO promote or accept instead of credit cards?
- How will small businesses adapt to absorbing credit card transaction fees without the ATO payment option?
