From 1 December 2026, you won’t be able to pay the ATO by credit card. The ATO says that, as a government agency, it isn’t appropriate to pass the cost of credit card merchant fees on to the community. The change follows the Reserve Bank’s review of card payment costs and surcharging.

Who this affects 

If you pay your BAS, PAYG instalments or tax bills by credit card, you’ll need another way to pay. 

If you have an ATO payment plan linked to a credit card, the ATO will write to you directly. You’ll need to change your payment method before your next instalment due after 30 November, or you risk falling behind on the plan.

Other ways to pay 

The ATO accepts other payment methods, such as BPAY and direct debit from a bank account. The full list is at ato.gov.au/howtopay.

Key takeaway 

Check whether any of your tax payments or payment plans run through a credit card and switch them before 30 November. If you’ve been using a credit card to manage cash flow around tax payments, talk to your accountant now about planning for those payments instead.