Credit card processing in British Columbia
British Columbia merchants charge GST and a separate provincial sales tax, sell to large numbers of visitors from the US and Asia. Card costs are one of the few expenses they can bargain down.
The Canada Revenue Agency lists 5% GST for British Columbia; provincial sales tax is separate, so check provincial rules.
From Lower Mainland trades to Vancouver restaurants: British Columbia's business mix
Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond and Surrey hold the port, film production, technology firms and a diverse restaurant and retail scene, including large Chinese- and South Asian-Canadian business communities. Many customers pay with mobile wallets and tap.
Victoria has provincial government and tourism, Kelowna and the Okanagan run on wineries and summer visitors, and Whistler and the interior depend on ski seasons. Construction and trades are busy across the Lower Mainland.
Surcharge and cash discount rules in British Columbia
Under FCAC's national guidance, Richmond and Burnaby retailers in British Columbia can pass on credit card costs up to 2.4% or cost, whichever is lower, once the processor has written notice and customers are told before paying; never on debit or prepaid.
Province-by-province surcharge table · general guidance only
Which pricing suits Vancouver restaurants?
Restaurants and cafes with many small tap payments should compare per-transaction fees and make sure Interac is not priced like credit. Okanagan wineries and Whistler businesses see US and international cards, which interchange-plus shows clearly. Trades billing large jobs can use pre-authorized debit or e-transfer for big invoices.
POS for Richmond and Burnaby retailers, Okanagan wineries and more
- Vancouver restaurants
- Pay-at-table, tip adjustment and receipts showing GST and PST correctly.
- Richmond and Burnaby retailers
- Multilingual staff screens, contactless and mobile wallets, set up around how Richmond and Burnaby retailers in British Columbia sell.
- Okanagan wineries
- Tasting-room POS, club billing and shipping-aware inventory, set up around how Okanagan wineries in British Columbia sell.
- Lower Mainland trades
- Field invoicing, pay-by-link and pre-authorized debit, set up around how Lower Mainland trades in British Columbia sell.
Send one statement. Every fee named, back, usually within 4 hours.
It is free, there is nothing to sign and nothing to cancel. We read your current merchant statement line by line, name every fee on it — including the ones buried in the fee schedule — work out your true effective rate, and send the written analysis back, usually within 4 hours. Do not want to wait? Call 1-888-705-7896 and we will read your statement with you on the call in about 5 minutes.
Every corner of British Columbia
Vancouver · Surrey · Burnaby · Richmond · Abbotsford · Coquitlam · Kelowna · Victoria · Saanich · Langley · Delta · Nanaimo · Kamloops · Chilliwack · Prince George · Vernon · Courtenay · Campbell River · Penticton · Mission · Maple Ridge · New Westminster · Port Coquitlam · North Vancouver · West Vancouver · White Rock · Port Moody · Squamish · Whistler · Cranbrook · Fort St. John · Dawson Creek · Terrace · Prince Rupert · Powell River · Salmon Arm · Duncan · Parksville · Port Alberni · Quesnel · Williams Lake · Nelson · Trail · Castlegar · Revelstoke · Sidney · Colwood · Langford · Esquimalt · Sechelt · Gibsons · Comox · Ladysmith · Qualicum Beach · Sooke · View Royal · Central Saanich · North Saanich · Oak Bay · Pitt Meadows · Hope · Merritt · Summerland · Osoyoos · Oliver · Peachland · Lake Country · West Kelowna · Sicamous · Golden · Invermere · Fernie · Kimberley · Creston · Grand Forks · Rossland · Nakusp · Smithers · Houston · Vanderhoof · Burns Lake · Kitimat · Port Hardy · Port McNeill · Ucluelet · Tofino · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge · Fort Nelson · Mackenzie · 100 Mile House · Clearwater · Barriere · Lillooet · Pemberton · Bowen Island · Gabriola Island · Salt Spring Island
Commercial corridors
Vancouver
Robson Street · Granville Street · Main Street · Commercial Drive · West 4th Avenue · Denman Street · Davie Street · West Broadway · Water Street · Hastings Street · Cambie Street · Kingsway · West 10th Avenue · Fraser Street · Victoria Drive
Victoria
Government Street · Douglas Street · Fort Street · Yates Street · Oak Bay Avenue · Cook Street · Johnson Street · Fairfield Road
Surrey
King George Boulevard · 104 Avenue · Fraser Highway · Scott Road · 152 Street · Marine Drive
Kelowna
Bernard Avenue · Pandosy Street · Harvey Avenue · Springfield Road · Lakeshore Road · Ellis Street
Burnaby
Hastings Street · Kingsway · Canada Way · Lougheed Highway · Edmonds Street
Richmond
No. 3 Road · Westminster Highway · Alexandra Road · Steveston Highway · Moncton Street
Kamloops
Victoria Street · Tranquille Road · Columbia Street · Summit Drive · Notre Dame Drive
Nanaimo
Commercial Street · Terminal Avenue · Bowen Road · Metral Drive · Departure Bay Road
Whistler
Village Stroll · Main Street · Highway 99 · Lorimer Road
Straight answers for British Columbia merchants
Under FCAC's national guidance, Richmond and Burnaby retailers in British Columbia can pass on credit card costs up to 2.4% or cost, whichever is lower, once the processor has written notice and customers are told before paying; never on debit or prepaid.
Show them as separate lines. CRA guidance GI-200 covers GST on surcharges; PST treatment is a provincial question for your accountant.
Foreign-issued cards carry international fees, which interchange-plus lists separately.
All of it, from Saanich to Kamloops. Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Kelowna and Victoria have their own pages here. For Lower Mainland trades: Nothing requires a visit: analysis, applications and support all happen remotely.