Credit card processing and merchant services in Missouri
Missouri's 4.225% state rate is only the starting point: cities, counties and special districts add their own. Surcharges follow card network rules, since Missouri has no statute of its own.
Card surcharges
Surcharging allowedMissouri has no surcharge statute; Visa's 3% and Mastercard's 4% caps, disclosure rules and the debit card ban set the limits.
Sales tax
4.225% state rate, plus local
Last checked
October 6, 2026
Missouri sales tax can differ between two addresses on the same street. The state rate is 4.225%, and the Department of Revenue says cities, counties and certain districts may add local sales taxes. Those districts are the part people miss. Community improvement districts (CIDs) and transportation development districts (TDDs) add their own rates inside set boundaries, and the DOR's January 2026 table shows the effect in St. Louis: 9.679% at the base city rate, 10.679% or 11.679% inside many districts. Look up each location in the current table rather than borrowing a neighbor's settings.
Food gets a break at the state level. Under Section 144.014, RSMo, the state rate on qualifying food sales is 1.225% instead of 4.225%, so grocers and convenience stores need a separate food tax category.
On surcharges, Missouri stays out of it. We couldn't find a Missouri statute on the subject, and NCSL's table lists "None" for Missouri. Visa and Mastercard fill the gap: Visa caps the fee at 3% and Mastercard at 4%, you can't charge more than it costs you to process, debit and prepaid cards are excluded, and customers have to see a notice before they pay and the amount afterward on the receipt.
Clearo prices Missouri accounts on interchange-plus without a long-term contract, and every account has a dedicated rep. Our Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia and Lee's Summit pages cover those five cities, and a free statement review shows what your current processor charges.
What Missouri merchants should know
Credit card surcharges in Missouri
We found no Missouri statute that bans or caps credit card surcharges, and NCSL's table of state surcharge laws lists none. Card network rules apply: Visa caps a surcharge at the lower of your merchant discount rate or 3% and requires 30 days' written notice to your acquirer, Mastercard caps it at the lower of your average effective rate or 4%, and neither allows surcharges on debit or prepaid cards.
Visa requires notice at the point of entry and the point of sale plus the amount on the receipt.
Sources: NCSL, Credit or debit card surcharges statutes (table updated October 13, 2016); Visa, U.S. Merchant Surcharge Q and A; Mastercard, Credit card surcharge rules and fees for merchants
Sales tax, districts and food
The state sales tax rate is 4.225%, and cities, counties and certain districts may add local sales taxes, so the rate you collect depends on the address. The Department of Revenue publishes statewide rate tables during the year that list each city and district.
Qualifying food sales get a reduced state rate of 1.225% under Section 144.014, RSMo.
Sources: Missouri Department of Revenue, Sales/use tax; Missouri Department of Revenue, 2026 sales/use tax rate tables; Missouri Department of Revenue, Missouri sales tax reduction on food
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Common questions
Can Missouri businesses charge a credit card surcharge?
Yes. Missouri law is silent on surcharges, so what matters is following Visa's and Mastercard's rules, which cap the fee at 3% and 4%, limit it to your cost and exclude debit and prepaid cards. You'll also need notice at the entrance and register and the amount on receipts. Our surcharging program covers setup and disclosure.
What is Missouri's sales tax rate?
The state rate is 4.225%. Cities, counties and special districts add their own, so totals vary by address; in St. Louis, the DOR's January 2026 table lists 9.679% at the base city rate. Check the Department of Revenue's current rate table for each location.
Is food taxed at a lower rate in Missouri?
Yes, at the state level. Section 144.014, RSMo cuts the state rate on qualifying food sales by 3 points, from 4.225% to 1.225%. Local taxes are set separately, so look up the full food rate for your address and set up a food category on your POS terminals.
Why is my Missouri sales tax rate different from a store nearby?
Usually because one of you is inside a special taxing district. Community improvement districts and transportation development districts add their own rates within their boundaries; in St. Louis, many of them bring the rate to 10.679% or 11.679%. The DOR's rate tables list each district.
Other states we serve besides Missouri
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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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