Credit card processing and merchant services in Savannah, GA
Chatham County's 7% sales tax sits almost two points below Atlanta's 8.9%. If you run stores in both cities, each one needs its own tax code, checked against a new chart every quarter.
Savannah is in Chatham County, and the Georgia Department of Revenue's rate chart for January to March 2026 lists Chatham, jurisdiction code 025, at 7%. That's the 4% state rate plus 3% in local taxes, and it's 1.9 points below the 8.9% the same chart gives the City of Atlanta. A retailer with a store in each city can't push one tax table to both.
Georgia's local rates can change at the start of any quarter, and the Department posts a new general chart for each one, including October 1 to December 31, 2026. Put the first day of each quarter on your calendar and compare your POS settings with the new chart. It's a five-minute job, and skipping it can mean three months of collecting the wrong amount.
The Census Bureau estimated 149,440 Savannah residents in July 2025, up 1.1% since 2020. If you're weighing a card fee, Georgia has no statute capping retail surcharges. The limits come from the card networks instead: Visa allows 3% or your merchant discount rate, whichever is lower, with 30 days' notice to your acquirer, and Mastercard allows 4% or your average effective rate. Disclose the fee at the door, at checkout and on the receipt, and keep it off debit and prepaid cards.
Georgia's convenience fee law, O.C.G.A. 13-1-15, matters only if you collect on certain loans or financing contracts, such as retail installment or motor vehicle financing contracts. Our Georgia page explains who it covers. For everyone else, the more useful number is your processing cost. On interchange-plus pricing we show interchange and our markup separately, and our surcharging program covers disclosure and setup if you decide to add a fee. Start with a free statement review.
Payment services we provide
Guides worth reading next
All guidesFees and pricing
Cheapest credit card processing: do the math first
The cheapest credit card processing depends on your volume, ticket size and card mix. See the effective-rate math for flat, tiered and interchange-plus quotes.
Hardware and POS
Store and forward: taking card payments offline
Store and forward lets a card terminal save payments offline and send them later. How it works, the risk of declines after the fact, and the limits to set.
Surcharging and cash discount
Free credit card processing: what it really costs
Free credit card processing usually means customers pay the card fee through a surcharge or cash discount. See who pays, the legal limits, and the costs.
Common questions
What sales tax rate applies in Savannah?
7% on most taxable sales. The Georgia Department of Revenue's rate chart for January 1 to March 31, 2026 lists Chatham County, code 025, at that rate: the 4% state rate plus 3% local. Local rates can change at the start of any quarter, so check the current chart before you rely on it.
Why does my Atlanta store charge more sales tax than my Savannah store?
Because the local taxes differ. On the Department's January to March 2026 chart, Chatham County is 7% and the City of Atlanta is 8.9%, partly because of levies that apply only inside Atlanta. Your Savannah and Atlanta stores each need their own tax code, and both should be updated from the quarterly chart. Our Atlanta page covers the city's split.
How should a Savannah restaurant disclose a credit card surcharge?
Post notice at the entrance and at the point of sale, and show the surcharge as its own line on the receipt. Keep it at or below 3% for Visa and 4% for Mastercard, or your cost if lower, and leave debit and prepaid cards out. Visa also wants 30 days' notice to your acquirer before you start.
Does Georgia's $5 convenience fee rule apply to a Savannah car dealer?
It can. O.C.G.A. 13-1-15 covers motor vehicle sales financing contracts, along with certain loans, retail installment and home solicitation sales contracts, and insurance premium finance agreements. Since July 1, 2025, payments on those contracts can carry a fee of your average cost or up to $5, whichever is greater, if you also offer a fee-free way to pay.
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.