News about card payments

Business groups have demanded an explanation for why they were kept in the dark for months about the Australian Taxation Office's plan to stop accepting credit card payments for tax bills. The government became aware in July that the ATO could refuse card payments, and the ATO decided in late September to proceed as a Reserve Bank surcharge ban took effect in October. After an outcry from small business, Labor said it would cover card fees until the end of the financial year, though Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the ban was unlikely to be permanently reversed. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Andrew McKellar said businesses were told only hours before the surcharge ban took effect, calling the process deficient and saying it “cannot be repeated”.

Business groups are demanding an explanation for why they were kept in the dark for months about the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) plan to stop accepting credit card payments. Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the government learned of the plan in July, and the ATO decided in late September to refuse credit card payments for tax bills, timed with the Reserve Bank's surcharge ban that took effect in October. After an outcry from small businesses, the government will cover card fees until the end of the financial year and urged the ATO to negotiate a transition period, though the two-month window was deemed insufficient. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said businesses learned of the change only hours before it took effect and that the process 'cannot be repeated'. Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the ban is unlikely to be permanently reversed, while shadow treasurer Tim Wilson said small businesses are treated as a revenue source.

Business groups are demanding an explanation for why they were kept in the dark for months about the Australian Taxation Office’s plan to ban credit card payments for tax bills. Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the government learned of the option in July, while the ATO decided in late September to proceed, coinciding with the Reserve Bank’s ban on card surcharges taking effect. After an outcry from small business, the government said it would cover card payment fees until the end of the financial year, having earlier urged the ATO to negotiate a transition period with card companies that stakeholders found insufficient. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said being told only the day before the ban took effect was concerning and that the process “cannot be repeated.” Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the government was unlikely to permanently reverse the ban.

Business groups have demanded an explanation after being left in the dark for months about a tax office plan to ban credit card payments. Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the government learned of the possibility in July, and the Australian Taxation Office decided in late September to stop accepting credit cards for tax bills as the Reserve Bank's surcharge ban took effect in October. After small business backlash, the government said it would cover card fees until the end of the financial year, and Mulino said the two-month transition period proved insufficient. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said businesses were told only hours before the surcharge ban and called the process deficient, adding “It cannot be repeated.” Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the ban is unlikely to be permanently reversed, while shadow treasurer Tim Wilson accused the government of treating small business as a revenue source.

Business groups are demanding an explanation for why they were kept in the dark for months about the Australian Taxation Office's plan to stop accepting credit card payments for tax bills. Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the government learned of the plan in July, and the ATO decided in late September to proceed, timed with the Reserve Bank's surcharge ban in October. After an outcry from small business, the government will cover card fees until the end of the financial year, though Mr Mulino maintains that a transition period remains the best approach. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said businesses learned of the change only hours before the ban took effect, calling the process one that "cannot be repeated." Industry Minister Tim Ayres said a permanent reversal of the ban is unlikely.

Business groups are demanding an explanation for being kept in the dark for months about the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) plan to stop accepting credit card payments for tax bills. Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the government learned of the possibility in July, and the ATO decided in late September to proceed after stakeholder feedback showed the two-month transition period was not enough. After an outcry from small business, the government will cover card payment fees until the end of the financial year. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said businesses learned of the change just hours before the ban took effect, calling the process a deficient policymaking approach that “cannot be repeated.” Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the government is unlikely to permanently reverse the ban.

The government says it learned in July that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) could stop accepting credit card payments when the Reserve Bank's ban on card surcharges took effect in October, but businesses were told only hours before. The ATO decided in late September to bar credit card payments for tax bills after talks with card companies had not produced a transition period. After small business backlash, the government will cover card fees until the end of the financial year, but Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino still argues a transition period is the best approach, since indefinite card acceptance would have serious budget ramifications. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar called the process deficient and said it “cannot be repeated,” urging a permanent solution for small firms. Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the ban is unlikely to be permanently reversed.

Business groups have demanded an explanation after being kept in the dark for months about the Australian Taxation Office's plan to stop accepting credit card payments for tax bills, a move that took effect in October alongside the Reserve Bank's ban on card surcharges. Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said the government learned of the plan in July and the ATO decided in late September to proceed, but after an outcry from small business, the government will cover card fees until the end of the financial year. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar said businesses were told only hours before the ban began and called for a permanent solution, while Industry Minister Tim Ayres said reversing the ban was unlikely. Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson blamed the Albanese government's inflation agenda and said small businesses should not learn about such decisions in the newspaper.