Credit card processing and merchant services in Athens, GA
Georgia's historical rate chart lists June 30, 2027 as the end date for Clarke County's education sales tax. Athens businesses should watch the state's quarterly change lists as that date approaches.
Mark June 30, 2027 on the calendar if you sell in Athens. The Georgia Department of Revenue's historical chart for January 2026 shows Clarke County's ELOST, the education local option sales tax, running through that day. If the county's rate changes afterward, the change will take effect at the start of a quarter. The Department posts upcoming changes ahead of each quarter, so check its list in spring 2027, and compare your POS with Clarke's line on the general rate chart whenever a quarter starts.
Athens and Clarke County share a unified government, and the Census Bureau publishes the city's numbers as "Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance)". Its July 1, 2025 estimate is 128,612 residents, about 1% above the April 2020 estimates base of 127,357. For Clarke County as a whole, the 2022 Economic Census counted $2.94 billion in retail sales and $546.3 million in accommodation and food services sales. That's roughly $1 of hospitality sales for every $5.40 of retail, a big share.
For a restaurant or bar, card fees usually matter more than the tax table. Georgia has no statute capping surcharges on ordinary retail sales, so Visa's 3% and Mastercard's 4% limits apply, or your cost if lower, and debit cards are off limits. O.C.G.A. 13-1-15, the convenience fee statute, reaches only certain loans and financing contracts, as our Georgia page explains.
Tabs add their own wrinkles. A bar tab usually opens with an authorization hold, and the tip gets added before the batch settles. Our guide to bar POS systems walks through tabs and tips, and our restaurant page shows what we offer restaurants and bars. Our pricing is interchange-plus, so each card's cost is visible, and a free statement review tells you what you're paying today.
Rules that matter in Athens
Clarke County's ELOST and its June 2027 end date
The Georgia Department of Revenue's historical sales tax chart for January 2026 lists June 30, 2027 as the end date for Clarke County's ELOST. Any change to a Georgia county's local rate takes effect at the start of a calendar quarter, and the Department posts upcoming changes before each quarter begins.
The rate on the Department's chart is the combined state and county rate, so subtract the 4% state rate to see the county's share. Check Clarke County's line when each quarter starts.
Sources: Georgia Department of Revenue, Historical sales tax chart, January 2026 (PDF); Georgia Department of Revenue, Sales tax: upcoming quarterly rate changes; Georgia Department of Revenue, Sales tax rates: general; Georgia Department of Revenue, ST-3 Use, Consumer's use tax return and instructions (PDF)
Payment services we provide
Guides worth reading next
All guidesSurcharging and cash discount
Convenience fee: what it is and when you can charge one
A convenience fee is a flat charge for paying via an optional channel, like online. How card rules and state laws treat it, and how it differs from a surcharge.
Fees and pricing
Amex OptBlue: what it is and how its pricing works
Amex OptBlue lets your payment provider sign you up for American Express and set your Amex rate. Who qualifies, how pricing works, and what to ask first.
Hardware and POS
Cash register vs POS system: differences and when to switch
Cash register vs POS: what a register does, what a POS system adds, how card terminals and PCI scope change, and a simple rule for when a register is enough.
Common questions
What sales tax rate should an Athens, Georgia business charge?
The rate on Clarke County's line of the Georgia Department of Revenue's general rate chart for the current quarter. That figure already combines the 4% state rate with the county's local taxes; subtract 4% to see the local share. Check the line again each time a quarter starts.
When does Clarke County's ELOST end?
June 30, 2027, according to the Department of Revenue's January 2026 historical sales tax chart. If the county's rate changes after that, the change will start at the beginning of a quarter, and the Department publishes upcoming changes ahead of time. Look at its list in spring 2027.
Can an Athens bar charge a fee for paying by card?
Yes, on credit cards, because Georgia has no statute capping retail surcharges. Stay within 3% on Visa and 4% on Mastercard, or your cost if lower, keep it off debit and prepaid cards, and post notice at the door and the bar with the amount on each receipt. Visa also wants 30 days' notice to your acquirer.
How should an Athens restaurant handle card tabs and tips?
Open the tab with an authorization hold on the guest's card, add the tip before the batch settles, and close every tab out the same night so holds don't linger. Our guides to authorization holds and bar POS systems cover holds, tip adjustments and split checks.
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.