State law guide · Last verified 2026-10-15
Is Credit Card Surcharging Legal in Louisiana? (2026)
Credit card surcharging is legal in Louisiana, but state law adds restrictions — see the cap and disclosure rules below. Surcharges apply to credit cards only, never debit or prepaid. Dual pricing — posting a card price and a lower cash price — is legal in Louisiana.
| Credit card surcharging | Legal with state restrictions |
|---|---|
| Surcharge cap | No state cap on credit card surcharges; card-brand rules govern (lesser of 3% Visa/Discover cap or merchant's cost of acceptance; Mastercard 4% ceiling rarely operative). Debit surcharges are separately prohibited by Louisiana statute as of August 1, 2026, on top of the card-brand rule that debit and prepaid cards can never be surcharged. |
| Dual pricing (cash and card price) | Legal — review before launch |
| Governing law | La. R.S. 51:3081–3082 (SB 254 / Act 751, signed June 2, 2026; effective August 1, 2026) — prohibits debit card surcharges. |
Under active review: Act 751 debit ban has no cash-discount savings clause; dual-pricing treatment unaddressed.
Dual pricing in Louisiana
Dual pricing (posting a card price and a lower cash price) is legal. Note that Louisiana's August 2026 debit surcharge ban contains no express savings clause for cash discounts or differential pricing, and no guidance or case has yet addressed how it applies to a two-price posting. Louisiana merchants should have their structure reviewed before launch.
FeeSlicers sets up dual pricing through North's Edge program: a posted card price about 4% higher than the cash price. Because Louisiana's 2026 debit law has no express cash-discount exception, we review each Louisiana setup before launch.
What to post in Louisiana
A two-price checklist for Louisiana businesses.
Talk to us before you post. Louisiana's August 2026 debit-surcharge law has no express exception for cash discounts, and no guidance yet addresses two-price postings. Talk to us before launching dual pricing in Louisiana. Louisiana's law turns on debit cards, so whether one card price can apply to debit is the question we review with you first.
Surcharging in Louisiana: the details
Enforcement
Credit surcharging is not banned. Debit surcharging is prohibited as of August 1, 2026 and is actively enforceable: the Attorney General may bring civil actions with penalties up to $500 per violation, and cardholders have a private right of action for willful, repeated, or uncured violations after written notice and a 30-day cure period.
Disclosure rules for surcharges
Card-brand disclosure rules only: post notice at store entry and point of sale; surcharge shown as a separate line item on the receipt.
This page explains the law for education; FeeSlicers sets up dual pricing, not surcharge programs. It is not legal advice. Sources: La. R.S. 51:3081–3082 (Act 751), legis.la.gov enrolled text.
Questions Louisiana owners ask
Can a business charge a credit card surcharge in Louisiana in 2026?
Yes, with restrictions. No state cap on credit card surcharges; card-brand rules govern (lesser of 3% Visa/Discover cap or merchant's cost of acceptance; Mastercard 4% ceiling rarely operative). Debit surcharges are separately prohibited by Louisiana statute as of August 1, 2026, on top of the card-brand rule that debit and prepaid cards can never be surcharged.
Is dual pricing (a cash price and a card price) legal in Louisiana?
Dual pricing (posting a card price and a lower cash price) is legal. Note that Louisiana's August 2026 debit surcharge ban contains no express savings clause for cash discounts or differential pricing, and no guidance or case has yet addressed how it applies to a two-price posting. Louisiana merchants should have their structure reviewed before launch. One card price covers both credit and debit cards.
What does a Louisiana business have to post?
Card-brand disclosure rules only: post notice at store entry and point of sale; surcharge shown as a separate line item on the receipt. Louisiana's August 2026 debit-surcharge law has no express exception for cash discounts, and no guidance yet addresses two-price postings. Talk to us before launching dual pricing in Louisiana.
Other states with their own rules: California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Kansas · Maine · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Oklahoma · Puerto Rico · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Texas · Virginia · Wyoming. Every other state is on the 50-state table. Recent updates are in the law changes log.
Want two prices set up the right way in Louisiana?
George will walk you through your state's posting rules before anything goes on your counter.
Two minutes to start. No obligation. George takes it from there.