RestrictedLast verified: 2026-08-25

Is credit card surcharging legal in New Jersey?

Usually yes, with conditions. New Jersey allows a credit card surcharge but attaches rules you have to meet. New Jersey capped and formalised surcharges in 2023. P.L. 2023, c.146 (N.J.S.A. 56:8-156.1 and 56:8-156.2) forbids a credit card surcharge greater than the actual cost to the seller of processing that payment, and requires the amount of the surcharge to be disclosed to the consumer before they incur any charge. Saying only that "a surcharge applies" is not enough; the amount, which may be expressed as a percentage, has to be stated up front. For online sales the notice must appear on the checkout page before the transaction is processed.

The statute

Citation: N.J.S.A. 56:8-156.1, 56:8-156.2 (P.L. 2023, c.146)

We have not reproduced operative text here because we could not confirm a clean verbatim quote against the official source. Follow the citation and the source links below.

How much you can charge

State cap: the actual cost to the seller of processing the credit card payment. You cannot profit on the surcharge in New Jersey, and the network ceilings (Visa 3%, Mastercard 4%) still apply on top.

Disclosure requirements

Online: clear and conspicuous electronic notice on the checkout page before processing. In person: signage at the point of entry and point of sale (for restaurants, the customer service area and the menu). By phone: verbal notice before processing.

Not legal advice

This page is a research summary for merchants, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading it. Surcharge rules change, they interact with card-network rules and federal law, and they can turn on facts specific to your business. Consult licensed counsel in New Jersey before you implement or change a surcharge.

Putting this into practice on Shopify

Rules like these only help if your checkout can actually enforce them, including on Shop Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay.