State law guide · Last verified 2026-10-15
Is Credit Card Surcharging Legal in North Carolina? (2026)
Yes — credit card surcharging is legal in North Carolina. No state law caps it; card-brand rules limit surcharges to 3% on credit cards and never allow them on debit or prepaid cards. Dual pricing — posting a card price and a lower cash price — is legal in North Carolina.
| Credit card surcharging | Legal under card-brand rules |
|---|---|
| Surcharge cap | No state cap. Card-brand rules govern (lesser of 3% Visa/Discover cap or merchant's cost of acceptance; Mastercard 4% ceiling rarely operative). Debit and prepaid cards can never be surcharged. |
| Dual pricing (cash and card price) | Legal |
| Governing law | No state surcharge statute — card-brand rules govern |
Under active review: HB13 pending; would materially change the rules if enacted.
Dual pricing in North Carolina
Dual pricing (posting a card price and a lower cash price) is legal.
FeeSlicers sets up dual pricing through North's Edge program: every item has a posted card price about 4% higher than its cash price ($3.00 cash / $3.12 card), the same for credit and debit. That structure is legal in North Carolina when prices are posted the way the checklist below describes.
What to post in North Carolina
A two-price checklist for North Carolina businesses.
- Post the card price for every item — on your menu, shelf tags, price board and website. Never show a cash price by itself.
- Show the cash price next to it, clearly labeled as the cash price.
- Put a customer notice at the entrance and at the register saying items have a cash price and a card price. North supplies this sign to Edge merchants, in English and Spanish.
- Charge one card price for every card — credit and debit alike.
- Make sure the receipt shows the price the customer paid, never an extra amount on top of the cash price.
Surcharging in North Carolina: the details
Enforcement
No state surcharge statute; card-brand rules apply.
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.
Recent and pending changes
HB13 (2025-26 session, in committee) would cap surcharges at 2%, require disclosure at store entrance and point of sale (homepage and payment page online; verbal by phone), bar surcharging when cards are the only accepted payment, and impose a $500 civil penalty per violation. Not enacted. The bill has had no action since September 23, 2025, when it was re-referred to House Rules, Calendar, and Operations.
This page explains the law for education; FeeSlicers sets up dual pricing, not surcharge programs. It is not legal advice. Sources: Industry compilations cross-checked (CardPaymentOptions, Merchant Cost Consulting).
Questions North Carolina owners ask
Can a business charge a credit card surcharge in North Carolina in 2026?
Yes. North Carolina has no state surcharge statute, so card-brand rules govern: up to 3% on credit cards, never on debit or prepaid, with proper disclosure.
Is dual pricing (a cash price and a card price) legal in North Carolina?
Dual pricing (posting a card price and a lower cash price) is legal. One card price covers both credit and debit cards.
What does a North Carolina 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.
Has North Carolina surcharge law changed recently?
HB13 (2025-26 session, in committee) would cap surcharges at 2%, require disclosure at store entrance and point of sale (homepage and payment page online; verbal by phone), bar surcharging when cards are the only accepted payment, and impose a $500 civil penalty per violation. Not enacted. The bill has had no action since September 23, 2025, when it was re-referred to House Rules, Calendar, and Operations.
Other states with their own rules: California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Indiana · Kansas · Louisiana · Maine · Massachusetts · Minnesota · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Jersey · New York · 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 North Carolina?
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.