Can you still pay the ATO by credit card? Not after 30 November 2026
The ATO will stop accepting credit card payments after 30 November 2026. If you've been paying your BAS, PAYG instalments or income tax on a credit card, you'll need a different payment method from 1 December.
Debit card, BPAY and direct deposit are all still available. Credit cards are the only option being removed.
Why is the ATO stopping credit card payments?
The change follows the Reserve Bank's ban on card surcharging, which took effect on 1 October 2026. Card fees can no longer be added on top of a payment, and the ATO says that as a government agency, it isn't appropriate for the cost of credit card merchant fees to be passed on to the community. You can read the full ATO announcement here.
About 2.3% of tax payments in 2024–25 were made by credit card, and more than 60% of those came from privately owned wealthy groups and large businesses. If you run an established business, there's a fair chance this affects you.
Why business owners pay tax on a credit card
A large tax bill earns a lot of points. The card also gives you a few extra weeks between the payment clearing and the money leaving your account, which helps when BAS lands in the same month as a quiet patch or a big stock order.
From 1 December you won't have that buffer. It's worth deciding now how you'll cover the payments that would have gone on the card, especially if your business is profitable but cashflow feels tight,
How can I pay the ATO after 30 November?
You can still pay by:
BPAY
direct deposit
debit card
Government EasyPay
Australia Post
international money remitter
The ATO's how to pay page has the details for each.
What if my payment plan is linked to a credit card?
You'll need to change the payment method before your first instalment due after 30 November. The ATO is writing to everyone in this situation, and you can update your details through managing your payment plan. Doing it early keeps your plan on track.
It's also worth knowing that ATO payment plans attract the general interest charge (GIC), and GIC hasn't been tax-deductible since 1 July 2025. So a payment plan costs more than the card's interest-free period did.
What to do before 30 November
Work out which payments were going on the card. The last payments you can make by credit card are the October monthly BAS or PAYG withholding, due 21 November, and the September quarter BAS, due 25 November if your accountant lodges it. After that, the November monthly BAS due 21 December is the first one affected. For quarterly lodgers, it's the October to December quarter.
Set the cash aside. A separate bank account for tax, with a set amount moved across each week or month, means the money is ready when the payment's due.
Update any payment plans linked to a credit card.
Talk to the ATO or your accountant early if a payment looks tight. The ATO can work through support options with you, including payment plans, and has hardship help for serious cases. You'll find more on the ATO's support to lodge and pay page, or you can call them on 13 11 42 during business hours. We've also written about handling tax debt if you'd like the detail.
Already working with us? If you'd like to map what's due between now and 30 June and how you'll fund it, get in touch with your accountant to make a plan.
Not working with us yet? We partner with a limited number of business owners at a time, so it starts with an application. Our enquiry assistant can answer your questions about how we work, and if we look like a good fit, it'll book you in for a more detailed chat with someone from our team.
