Credit card processing and merchant services in Springfield, MO
The City of Springfield puts its base sales tax at 8.1%, and 2.125 points of that are the city's own. Lodging businesses also owe the City a 5% hotel/motel tax by the 20th of each month.
Springfield's base sales tax rate is 8.1%, according to the City: 4.225% for the state, 1.75% for Greene County and 2.125% for the city. The City adds that the rate is higher in special taxing districts, so treat 8.1% as the starting point for a Springfield address and look up your own location before you program a register.
Cross the city limits and the city's share falls away. In the Department of Revenue's January 2026 rate table, unincorporated Greene County is listed at 5.975% on its base code, which is the state and county shares without Springfield's 2.125%. A business with one store in the city and another out in the county needs a separate tax setting for each.
You file all of that sales tax with the state. The City says the Department of Revenue collects sales tax for every taxing jurisdiction in Missouri and then sends the city its share. Lodging works differently. Hotels, motels, tourist courts and short-term rentals owe the City's 5% hotel/motel tax on gross rental receipts from transient guests, due by the 20th of each month for the month before. A guest who stays more than 31 consecutive days counts as non-transient, and that room revenue isn't taxed.
Card fees follow Visa and Mastercard here, because Missouri has no surcharge statute. The Missouri page covers those limits, and our St. Louis page shows how far district rates can climb.
Springfield had 169,847 residents on July 1, 2025, by the Census Bureau's estimate, 0.4% more than its April 2020 base. We work with Springfield businesses remotely, with POS terminals, interchange-plus pricing and a dedicated rep for each account. A free statement review shows what your card payments cost today.
Rules that matter in Springfield, MO
Hotel/motel tax
The City of Springfield's hotel/motel tax is 5% of gross rental receipts paid by transient guests for sleeping accommodations at hotels, motels, tourist courts and short-term rentals. The business owes it, and the operator decides whether to pass it on to guests. Voters rejected a proposed additional 3% lodging license tax on November 4, 2025.
The tax is due on or before the 20th of each month for the previous month's receipts, and late payments carry a 5% penalty. A guest who stays more than 31 consecutive days is non-transient, and that revenue isn't taxed.
Sources: City of Springfield, Missouri, Hotel/Motel Tax; City of Springfield, Missouri, Hotel/Motel Tax Guide (PDF); City of Springfield, Missouri, Springfield voters reject proposed tourism tax measure
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Common questions
What sales tax rate should a Springfield, Missouri register use?
Start from 8.1%, the base rate the City of Springfield publishes: 4.225% state, 1.75% Greene County and 2.125% city. If your address sits inside a special taxing district, the rate is higher, so check the Department of Revenue's current rate table for your exact location before you set up your POS terminals.
Do I charge less sales tax just outside Springfield?
Usually, because the city's 2.125% stops at the city limits. The Department of Revenue's January 2026 table lists unincorporated Greene County at 5.975% on its base code, and it shows another Greene County code at 6.475%. Confirm which code covers your address instead of assuming the county rate.
What does a Springfield hotel owe the City in lodging tax?
5% of gross rental receipts from transient guests, due by the 20th of each month for the month before. It covers hotels, motels, tourist courts and short-term rentals, and stays of more than 31 consecutive days count as non-transient and aren't taxed. Pay late and the City adds a 5% penalty. Voters turned down a proposed extra 3% in November 2025.
Do I send Springfield's share of the sales tax to the City?
No. The City says Missouri's Department of Revenue collects sales tax for every taxing jurisdiction in the state and then distributes the city's share, so your sales tax return goes to the state. The City's business tax page also notes that a Missouri sales tax license is free and required for retail and food businesses.
Is a credit card surcharge legal in Springfield, Missouri?
Yes, within Visa and Mastercard's rules, since Missouri has no surcharge statute. A surcharge can't exceed your cost of acceptance, 3% on Visa or 4% on Mastercard, and it can't go on debit or prepaid cards. Give your acquirer 30 days' written notice before you start, which Visa requires. Our surcharging program covers setup and disclosure.
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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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