Credit card processing and merchant services in Winnipeg, MB
Winnipeg merchants work with Manitoba's RST, a city accommodation tax on short-term rentals and a list of licensed business types. Card processing has to fit around all three.
In Winnipeg, the same rotisserie chicken can be taxed two ways. Manitoba's expanded food exemption took effect on July 1, 2026, so a grocery store now sells one, or a self-serve sandwich, without RST. A coffee shop, bakery or food court selling the same thing still charges the 7%. The tax depends on who sells the item as well as what it is, so a business with a grocery side and a cafe side may need both settings.
Short-term rentals have a city tax to add. The City of Winnipeg requires short-term rental operators to charge and collect a 6% accommodation tax on all bookings. If guests book and pay through your own website, that tax belongs in your online checkout from the first booking.
City licensing is targeted. Winnipeg's business licence index lists specific categories, such as used goods dealers, precious metals dealers, flea markets and bicycle dealers. If your business falls into one of them, get the licence before you start taking payments.
Everything else runs on the usual pair of taxes, the 5% GST and the 7% RST, and on whatever your processor charges you. That last part is the one most worth checking. Our pricing is interchange-plus, and a dedicated rep looks after your account without tying you to a long-term contract. A free statement review puts your effective rate in front of you, and the Manitoba page covers the provincial rules with their sources.
Rules that matter in Winnipeg
Accommodation tax on short-term rentals
All short-term rental operators in Winnipeg are required to charge and collect a 6% accommodation tax on all bookings. Add it to your booking checkout and any invoices you send so guests see it before they pay.
Winnipeg business licence categories
The City of Winnipeg licenses specific business categories. Its business licence index includes bicycle dealers, flea markets, precious metals dealers and used goods dealers, among others, so check the index before you open.
Payment services we provide
Guides worth reading next
All guidesCanada
Credit card fees in Canada: what merchants pay in 2026
What credit card fees cost merchants in Canada: interchange, network fees, and markup, the small-business rate cuts, your Code of Conduct rights, and more.
Canada
Credit card surcharges in Canada: the rules for 2026
Can you add a credit card surcharge in Canada? The 2.4% cap, 30-day notice, disclosure rules, what's off limits, Quebec's ban, and when it's worth it.
Canada
Merchant account in Canada: what to check before you sign
Getting a merchant account in Canada: what providers ask for, your rights under the Code of Conduct, contract terms to check, and how pricing models compare.
Canada
Open banking in Canada: where it stands in 2026
Open banking in Canada, officially consumer-driven banking: who oversees it after Budget 2025, each dated milestone, and what it may mean for getting paid.
Canada
Debit machine for small business: a Canadian buying guide
Choosing a debit machine for your small business in Canada: terminal types, buy vs rent vs lease, Interac tap limits, tipping, and a checklist to use.
Canada
Visa Debit in Canada: how it works and what merchants pay
Visa Debit in Canada explained: how it works online and abroad, how it differs from Interac at the terminal, what merchants pay, and why it can't be surcharged.
Common questions
Do Winnipeg short-term rental hosts charge accommodation tax?
Yes. The City of Winnipeg requires all short-term rental operators to charge and collect a 6% accommodation tax on all bookings. If you take card payments directly, add the tax to your booking checkout or virtual terminal invoices so guests see it before they pay.
Does my Winnipeg business need a city licence?
It depends on your business type. Winnipeg licenses specific categories, and its business licence index includes bicycle dealers, flea markets, precious metals dealers and used goods dealers. Check the index on the City's website before you open, and check provincial requirements separately.
Does a Winnipeg coffee shop charge RST on sandwiches after July 2026?
In most cases, yes. Manitoba's expanded food exemption doesn't apply to sales by coffee shops, bakeries, food courts, cafeterias or concession stands, so their prepared food stays taxable. A grocery store selling a self-serve sandwich, on the other hand, stopped charging RST on it on July 1, 2026.
Can Winnipeg businesses add a credit card surcharge?
Yes, within Visa and Mastercard's rules. Surcharge credit cards only, keep it at or below the lesser of 2.4% or your cost of acceptance, give 30 days' notice, and disclose it at the entrance, the till and on the receipt. Visa and Mastercard debit and prepaid cards can't carry one.
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.
Let's talk about your payments
Tell us about your business and how you take payments now, and a Clearo rep will reach out within one business day.