Running a business means keeping a dozen plates spinning at once, so it’s easy for regulatory updates to slip under the radar. But if you’re operating in Louisiana, there’s a compliance shift coming this summer that you’ll definitely want to get ahead of.
Starting
August 1, 2026, a new Louisiana law changes the rules for point-of-sale fees.
Here is the bottom line:
Louisiana businesses can no longer charge customers a surcharge, convenience fee, or processing fee for paying with a debit card.
If your register or online checkout automatically tacks on a fee whenever a customer swipes or taps a debit card, you’ll need to jump into your settings and turn that off before the August deadline. To make things easy, here is a quick breakdown of what you can and can't do moving forward.
What’s Still Allowed?
You don't have to overhaul your entire pricing structure. The state is specifically targeting debit cards with this rule, which means these common options are still perfectly fine:
- Credit Card Fees: You can still pass along processing fees on credit card transactions (as long as they follow your card network's rules).
- Cash Discounts: Rewarding customers with a discount for paying with cash is still totally allowed.
- Alternative Pricing: You can still offer different pricing options for cash, checks, or ACH payments.
What’s No Longer Allowed?
Starting August 1, if a customer pulls out a debit card, the price is the price. You can’t add extra costs under any name, including:
- ❌ Debit Card Surcharges
- ❌ Debit Card Processing Fees
- ❌ Debit Card Convenience Fees
Simply put: If the fee exists just because the customer chose to use a debit card, it's a no-go.
A Quick Checklist: Need to Knows
Since a lot of us use third-party processors or automated software that handles fees behind the scenes, it’s a good idea to do a quick tech audit. We recommend taking a look at:
- Your Tech: Check your physical POS terminals, mobile payment apps, and online shopping carts.
- Your Paperwork & Signs: Take a glance at your receipt templates and any in-store signs to make sure they match the new rules.
- Your Payment Provider: Give your merchant services provider a shout to make sure your automated settings are properly updated.
We know how much work goes into keeping your day-to-day operations smooth, so we wanted to get this on your radar as early as possible.
If you want to dig into the legal nitty-gritty or share the official text with your team, you can read the full text of
Louisiana Senate Bill 254 (Act 751) right here on the
Louisiana State Legislature website.
