Credit card processing and merchant services in Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh sales carry 7% sales tax, and since Act 21 the county's 1% follows the delivery address. We help Pittsburgh merchants set up tax, surcharges and pricing correctly.
Pittsburgh sits in Allegheny County, so taxable sales here carry 7%: Pennsylvania's 6% plus the county's 1% local sales tax. Act 21 of 2026 changed how that 1% is sourced. It now goes by where the product or service ends up, and vendors that collect the state tax must charge the county's 1% on taxable sales delivered to Allegheny County customers. Pennsylvania's Department of Revenue began enforcing that rule on October 1, 2026.
Check two settings. If you sell online or deliver, checkout should charge 7% on orders going to Allegheny County addresses, 8% on orders going into Philadelphia, and 6% elsewhere in the state. And if your business is outside the county but delivers to Pittsburgh customers, the county's 1% now applies to those sales too. Counter sales at a Pittsburgh shop stay at 7%.
No Pennsylvania law restricts credit card surcharges, so the network caps (3% for Visa, 4% for Mastercard, never above your own cost) are the limit. Philadelphia's cash ordinance is a Philadelphia law and stops at the city line, though we'd still keep a cash option for walk-in customers who want one.
Pittsburgh grew to an estimated 307,632 residents by July 1, 2025, up 1.5% from the Census Bureau's 2020 base (QuickFacts). If you'd like a second opinion on your processing costs, send a statement for a free statement review. We price on interchange-plus, and the Pennsylvania page has the statewide rules.
Rules that matter in Pittsburgh
Allegheny County's 1% follows the delivery address
Under Act 21 of 2026, Allegheny County's 1% local sales tax applies to taxable sales delivered to customers in the county. Vendors already required to collect Pennsylvania's 6% must collect and remit the 1% on those sales, wherever the vendor is located. The Department of Revenue began enforcing the change on October 1, 2026.
Payment services we provide
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Common questions
What sales tax rate applies in Pittsburgh?
7%: the 6% Pennsylvania sales tax plus Allegheny County's 1% local sales tax. Since Act 21 of 2026, that 1% applies to taxable sales delivered to customers in Allegheny County, with enforcement from October 1, 2026.
I ship to Pittsburgh from elsewhere in Pennsylvania. Do I charge 7%?
Yes, if you already collect Pennsylvania's 6% sales tax. Act 21 requires those vendors to collect Allegheny County's 1% on taxable sales delivered to customers in the county. Set your online checkout to calculate tax from the delivery address.
Does Philadelphia's cash rule apply in Pittsburgh?
No. It's a Philadelphia ordinance, so it applies only in Philadelphia. We found no statewide Pennsylvania law requiring businesses to accept cash, but check for any local rule before you go card-only.
Can Pittsburgh businesses surcharge credit cards?
Yes. With no Pennsylvania surcharge statute, the Visa and Mastercard limits on our Pennsylvania page are the ones a Pittsburgh business follows: credit cards only, never more than your cost, and disclosed before the customer pays.
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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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