Credit card processing and merchant services in Amarillo, TX
Amarillo charges 8.25% sales tax, but businesses in one part of the city report under a combined area code that took effect July 1, 2024. The fees on your card statement deserve the same scrutiny.
The Census Bureau estimated Amarillo's population at 205,130 in July 2025. At the register, the city's sales tax is simple. The Comptroller's city rate table lists Amarillo's city tax at 2%, so with the 6.25% state rate a sale here comes to 8.25%, the Texas maximum.
Reporting is where it gets specific. The Comptroller's combined area list includes Amarillo/Potter County Assistance District No. 1, with local code 6188601 and a 2% rate effective July 1, 2024. A combined area is a place where a city overlaps another local taxing body and the two together would top 2%. If you do business inside one, the Comptroller says to report local tax under the combined area code instead of the regular city and county or special purpose district codes. Your customer still pays 8.25%. The difference is on your return, so confirm whether your address is in the area before you file.
On the card side, check the lines that aren't interchange. Monthly minimums, statement fees and PCI non-compliance fees can add up for years without anyone noticing. Our guides to reading a merchant statement and PCI compliance fees explain what each one is. We include PCI compliance support, and on interchange-plus pricing our markup sits on its own line where you can see it.
Passing card costs on is risky in Texas. Debit card surcharges are banned outright, and the credit card ban is still in the statute, narrowed by a 2018 ruling but never repealed. Our Texas page covers the details. Send a statement for a free statement review and we'll point out every fee we'd question.
Payment services we provide
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Common questions
What sales tax rate applies at an Amarillo business?
8.25%: the 6.25% state rate plus Amarillo's 2% city tax, according to the Comptroller's city rate table. That's the most Texas allows. The combined area tied to the Potter County assistance district also carries a 2% local rate, so customers there pay the same 8.25%.
What is the Amarillo/Potter County Assistance District No. 1 combined area?
It's an entry on the Comptroller's combined area list, with local code 6188601 and a 2% local rate effective July 1, 2024. A combined area is where a city overlaps another local taxing body. Businesses located inside it report local sales tax under the combined area code, not the regular city and county or district codes.
What is a PCI non-compliance fee on a merchant statement?
It's a penalty some processors charge when you haven't filed your annual PCI validation, and it often recurs until you do. Check whether you're paying one, then complete the validation. Clearo includes PCI compliance support, and our PCI compliance fee guide explains which charges are reasonable and which aren't.
Can an Amarillo restaurant add a card fee to the check?
Not on debit cards, which Texas bars from surcharges along with stored value cards, and Visa and Mastercard rules prohibit it as well. The credit card surcharge ban is still in the statute, and court protection covers only fees at or below cost. Our restaurants page covers ways to lower card costs instead.
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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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