Is a cash discount legal in Nevada?
Short answer: Nevada has no specific law on credit card surcharges, so card network rules apply: Visa caps surcharges at 3% or your cost and bans them on debit. A cash discount with both prices posted before payment is not a surcharge under Visa’s rules, and federal law protects discounts for cash.
Nevada at a glance.
No state surcharge law
- Surcharges
- No surcharge statute. The Attorney General (2020) says surcharges are legal if posted at entry and point of sale, itemized on the receipt and not above the merchant's cost; ask for documentation above 1.5% (guidance, not a cap).
- Cap
- No state cap. Card-network rules apply: Visa lesser of 3% or the merchant's discount rate; Mastercard lesser of cost or 4% (secondary).
- Debit cards
- No state rule. Visa and Mastercard bar surcharges on debit and prepaid cards.
- Cash discount with both prices
- Card issuers may not bar cash discounts (NRS 97A.210, per NFIB; not checked).
- Law
- None found
AG guidance verified (official release); no-statute status secondary.
What to post on your tags.
- Show the cash price and the card price on every tag, menu or price list, the same size.
- Charge the posted price for how the customer pays. Don’t add a fee, “service charge” or “non-cash adjustment” at the register.
- Put a sign at the door and the counter explaining the two prices.
- Debit pays the posted card price. Never add a fee to debit.
Paymantis sets up cash discount processing for independent shops in Nevada: free sign-up, free monthly service and a free terminal, with tags and signs worded for your state. Get started free.
Questions owners ask.
Can a business in Nevada charge a fee for using a credit card?
There’s no specific state law, so card network rules apply: surcharges are capped at 3% or your cost (Visa), must be disclosed, and need notice to your processor first.
Can I charge more for debit cards in Nevada?
Not as a fee. No state rule. Visa and Mastercard bar surcharges on debit and prepaid cards. With a cash discount, debit pays the posted card price.
Is a cash discount legal in Nevada?
Card issuers may not bar cash discounts (NRS 97A.210, per NFIB; not checked). Post both prices before the customer pays and add nothing at the register.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Rules change and differ by state and city; check the rules where your business is. See our terms and disclaimers.