Credit card processing and merchant services in Wichita, KS
Wichita sales carry the Kansas 6.5% rate plus Sedgwick County's 1%, and in March 2026 voters rejected a proposed 1% city sales tax by more than four to one.
Check Wichita's sales tax rate before you program anything, because 2026 nearly changed it. The City of Wichita's 2025-2026 budget materials put the total at 7.5%: the 6.5% Kansas rate plus Sedgwick County's 1% countywide sales tax. The city then asked voters, in a March 3, 2026 special election, to add a 1% city-wide retailers' sales tax from July 1, 2026. They said no. Sedgwick County's election results show 41,097 votes against and 9,143 in favor, so a terminal set to 8.5% in anticipation is overcharging.
The Kansas Department of Revenue only changes local rates on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, and it publishes each change at least 60 days ahead. Its rate lookup is where to confirm the figure for your address before you set up POS terminals or an online checkout. A one-point error on $40,000 a month in taxable sales is $400 a month of tax you either overcharged or will owe.
Groceries need their own setting whatever the local rate turns out to be. Since January 1, 2025, the state rate on food and food ingredients has been 0%, while prepared food is taxed at the full 6.5% state rate.
Surcharging follows the Kansas rule that took effect on January 1, 2025, covered with sources on our Kansas page. You can add a surcharge to credit card payments if a clear and conspicuous notice shows the amount at the point of entry or the point of sale before the transaction. Kansas sets no cap, so Visa's 3% and Mastercard's 4% are the ceilings, and debit cards can't be surcharged.
The Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate counts 400,987 people in Wichita. We serve businesses there on interchange-plus pricing, with a dedicated rep and no cancellation fee, and our surcharging program builds in the Kansas notice. Start with a free statement review.
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Common questions
Did Wichita add a city sales tax in 2026?
No. In a March 3, 2026 special election, voters rejected a proposed 1% city-wide retailers' sales tax that would have started July 1, 2026 and raised the combined rate to 8.5%. Sedgwick County's results show 41,097 votes against and 9,143 in favor. Confirm the current rate for your address with the Kansas Department of Revenue before you change your tax settings.
When can a Wichita sales tax rate change?
Only at the start of a calendar quarter. The Kansas Department of Revenue says local rate changes take effect on January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1, and it publishes them at least 60 days ahead. Check its quarterly updates before each of those dates.
What notice does a Wichita business need to give before surcharging?
Kansas requires a clear and conspicuous notice of the surcharge amount at the point of entry or the point of sale, before the transaction. Visa adds its own rules: 30 days' written notice to your acquirer, a cap of 3% or your cost, and the amount on the receipt. Debit and prepaid cards can't be surcharged.
How should a Wichita grocery store set up tax on food?
With separate categories. The state rate on food and food ingredients has been 0% since January 1, 2025, and prepared food is taxed at the full 6.5% state rate. Local taxes are figured separately, so confirm how they apply to food at your address, then set up your POS terminals to match.
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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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