How to add a credit card surcharge to Relay invoices

If you accept card payments on invoices or Payment Requests in Relay, you can apply a credit card surcharge to help offset card processing costs. This article explains how surcharging works, how to enable it, and what your customer sees when they pay.

Relay supports multiple payment methods for invoices and Payment Requests—including credit card, ACH, Pay by Bank (Plaid), and wire—so your clients can always choose a surcharge-free option. A surcharge is applied only when a customer pays by credit card.

Please Note:

• Credit card surcharges on Relay invoices are available on Grow and Scale plans only.

What is a credit card surcharge?

A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added to a credit card payment to help cover processing costs. In Relay, surcharges:

• Apply only to credit card payments
  • debit and prepaid cards are not surcharged
  • Paying by card via Apple Pay and Google Pay are not surcharged
• Do not apply to ACH, Pay by Bank, or wire transfers
• Are clearly disclosed before the customer completes payment
• Can be set as a percentage, up to a maximum of 2.9% (and may be auto-capped in some states)

How to add a card surcharge

Before getting started, make sure your Relay account is on a Grow or Scale subscription, as this feature isn’t available on Starter plans.

On an invoice

1. Sign in to your Relay account.
2. Go to Invoices tab from the left-side menu on your dashboard.
3. Click Create An Invoice.
4. Choose how you want to start:
   • Fill in the invoice manually, or
   • Upload an existing invoice, estimate, or document to autofill matched details and line items.
     Max file size: 10 MB.
     • If you upload a file, Relay will scan it and start matching details such as Contact information, Line items, and Memo
5.  Enter the Invoice ID, then select your Customer, Issue Date, and Payment Due Date. 
   • Relay Grow and Relay Scale members have the option to toggle the This is a Recurring Invoice toggle.
6. Review the Line items section and make any needed edits to descriptions, quantities, prices, taxes, or discounts.
7. Choose Card Payments as a payment option and click on the Offset Fees with Surcharging toggle.
8. Enter your surcharge amount (up to 2.9%). Relay will automatically calculate the surcharge (and may auto-cap the amount in some states).
9. Select whether to send the invoice via email or provide a direct link to yourself.
10. Customize payment reminders for your payer.
11. Review your invoice and enter a memo (optional), then select Send Invoice.

On a Payment Request

You can also apply a credit card surcharge when sending a Payment Request in Relay. When card payments are enabled, the surcharge is only applied if the customer pays by credit card.

For step-by-step instructions on sending a Payment Request, see Sending a Payment Request in Relay.

Once sent, Relay emails your client a secure payment link to complete their payment.

What your customer sees when paying

When your customer opens the invoice or Payment Request and selects credit card as the payment method, they’ll see:

• The original invoice amount
• A disclosure noting that an additional card surcharge will apply
• The final total including the surcharge before they pay

If the customer chooses ACH, Pay by Bank, or wire transfer, the surcharge is not applied. If the customer uses a debit or prepaid card, Relay will prevent the surcharge from being applied.

Customers must enter their card details manually. Apple Pay and Google Pay are not currently supported.

Important information about card surcharging

Relay does not provide legal advice. Credit card surcharging rules vary by location and may also be affected by card network requirements. These rules can limit:

• Whether surcharging is allowed
• The maximum surcharge amount
• How and when surcharges must be disclosed
• Which card types can be surcharged

Before enabling surcharges, Relay will ask you to acknowledge that you understand these requirements.

State restrictions, caps, and card type detection

To help merchants comply with state rules and card network requirements, Relay applies the following safeguards:

• Geo-block prohibited states (by registered business address): Relay blocks surcharging for merchants registered in CT, ME, MA, NY, and PR.
• State-specific caps: Relay enforces state-specific limits and will auto-cap the surcharge at 2% for CO and 1% for IL.
• Debit/prepaid detection: Relay uses BIN lookup to prevent surcharging non-credit cards (including debit and prepaid).
• Disclosure + attestation: Relay requires an acknowledgment to enable surcharging in all other eligible states.

Best practices for using surcharges

• Offer surcharge-free options like ACH or Pay by Bank to reduce payment friction
• Mention your surcharge policy in your invoice memo or contract for transparency
• Always preview your invoice before sending to confirm the surcharge is displayed correctly

Frequently asked questions