Credit card processing and merchant services in Victoria, BC
Victoria had 91,867 residents in 2021, inside a metro area of 397,237. Sell downtown or across the region, and know exactly what each card payment costs you on interchange-plus.
The City of Victoria counted 91,867 residents in the 2021 Census, while the Victoria census metropolitan area counted 397,237. The city itself holds less than a quarter of the metro population, so your customers, and your jobs, can easily sit in neighbouring municipalities.
Every business in the City of Victoria is required to have a business licence. Mobile trades, such as caterers, contractors and towing services, can apply for an inter-municipal licence, and the province's list of mobile business licence programs includes a Greater Victoria group with municipalities such as Colwood, Esquimalt and North Saanich.
Accommodation is where Victoria's tax setup gets busy. B.C. charges 8% PST on short-term accommodation, and the province's own accommodation guide uses a Victoria hotel as its example of a 3% municipal and regional district tax (MRDT). That's two separate taxes on every room night, and your booking engine and front-desk terminal both need them. Restaurants have a split of their own: food is exempt from PST, while wine and beer are taxed at 10%.
Thinking about a credit card surcharge to offset fees? B.C. allows one within the Visa and Mastercard limits (no more than 2.4%, no more than your cost of acceptance, and never on their debit cards), but find out what you actually pay first. A free statement review breaks it down line by line so you can weigh a surcharge against interchange-plus pricing. The British Columbia page lists every provincial rule with its source.
Rules that matter in Victoria
Business licences for mobile trades
Every business in the City of Victoria needs a business licence. The City's licence application includes an inter-municipal licence for mobile trades such as caterers, contractors and towing services, and B.C.'s list of mobile business licence programs includes a Greater Victoria group. Check that each municipality you work in takes part.
Sources: City of Victoria, Business licensing; City of Victoria, General business licence application (PDF); Government of British Columbia, Mobile business licences
3% MRDT on short-term accommodation
Victoria is subject to a 3% municipal and regional district tax (MRDT) on short-term accommodation, according to the worked example in B.C.'s accommodation guide. It's charged in addition to the 8% PST on accommodation, so hotels and short-term rentals need both set up.
Source: Government of British Columbia, PST and MRDT on accommodation
Payment services we provide
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Common questions
What taxes do Victoria hotels collect on a room?
B.C.'s accommodation guide applies 8% PST to short-term accommodation and uses Victoria as its example of an area with a 3% MRDT. Set both on your booking engine and front-desk terminal, and check the guide for exemptions before you change your rates.
Do mobile businesses need a licence in every Greater Victoria municipality?
Not always. The City of Victoria's application includes an inter-municipal licence for mobile trades like caterers, contractors and towing services, and the province lists a Greater Victoria program that includes Colwood, Esquimalt and North Saanich. Check that every municipality you work in takes part.
Can a Victoria restaurant add a credit card surcharge?
Yes, on credit cards only. Visa and Mastercard cap it at the lesser of 2.4% or your cost of acceptance, and you need 30 days' notice, signs at the entrance and point of sale, and the amount on the receipt. Get the tax lines right first: food is PST-exempt and liquor carries 10% PST.
Can I take card payments at a pop-up or market stall?
Yes. Tap to pay and mobile card readers from our mobile payments range let you take cards wherever you have a connection. If you're a caterer or another mobile trade, sort out your inter-municipal licence before you start.
Disclaimer: general information, not professional advice
This page is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting or financial advice. Rules and rates vary by place and change, so confirm them with the official source and a qualified professional before you act. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
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