Credit card processing and merchant services in Cleveland, OH
In Cleveland, health care brings in far more revenue than retail, and Cuyahoga County's combined sales tax rate is 8.00%. Here's how practices and shops should set up card payments.
Health care dominates Cleveland's numbers. Businesses in the city reported $13.0 billion in health care and social assistance receipts in the 2022 Economic Census, more than four times the city's $2.8 billion in retail sales. The Census Bureau puts Cleveland's population at 363,608 as of July 1, 2025, down 2.4% since 2020.
That changes what a typical payment setup looks like. A medical or dental practice takes copays at the desk, then bills balances later, often by phone or email after an insurance claim settles. The virtual terminal covers phone payments, email invoices, payment links and recurring billing for payment plans, and our medical and dental page goes further.
Sales tax is set at the county level in Ohio, and Cuyahoga County's combined rate is 8.00% on the Department of Taxation's rate map for October 1, 2026. Check the department's current rates before you change anything.
Ohio doesn't regulate card surcharges by statute, so a Cleveland practice or shop that adds one follows Visa and Mastercard: no more than 3% or 4% respectively, no more than its cost, and nothing on debit or prepaid cards.
Clearo prices practices and shops alike on interchange-plus. There's no long-term contract, and a dedicated rep handles your account. Statewide sources are on the Ohio page, and a free statement review will show your effective rate line by line.
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Common questions
What is the sales tax rate in Cleveland?
8.00%, the rate the Ohio Department of Taxation lists for Cuyahoga County on its sales and use tax rate map for October 1, 2026. For Cleveland, the total is the 5.75% state rate plus county and transit taxes. County rates can change from one quarter to the next, so check the current edition.
How can a Cleveland medical or dental practice take payments by phone?
With a virtual terminal. Your staff can key in card payments taken by phone, email invoices and payment links for balances after insurance, and set up recurring billing for payment plans. Clearo also provides PCI compliance support and chargeback management tools.
Can Cleveland businesses surcharge credit cards?
Yes, though practices should think it through first. Ohio has no surcharge statute, so the networks' rules apply: up to 3% on Visa and 4% on Mastercard, capped at your cost, never on debit or prepaid cards. Patients paying a balance by phone need to be told about the surcharge before they pay.
Is the sales tax rate the same in Cleveland and Columbus?
On the department's rate map for October 1, 2026, yes: Cuyahoga and Franklin counties were both at 8.00%. They're set separately, though, by different counties and transit authorities, so one can change without the other. If you have locations in both cities, check the department's rates each quarter; our Columbus page has that city's details.
More Ohio cities besides Cleveland
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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