Credit card processing and merchant services in San Antonio, TX
San Antonio's 8.25% sales tax includes a transit tax the Comptroller lists for no other Texas city. For restaurants and hotels, the harder question is how Texas and federal rules treat added fees.
San Antonio's local sales tax has a piece you won't find anywhere else in Texas. The Comptroller's list of transit taxes shows a 3/8% tax for the San Antonio ATD, in effect since April 1, 2005, with San Antonio as the only participating area. Its city rate table shows the full split: 1.125% for the city, 0.375% for the ATD and 0.5% for the San Antonio MTA. Add the 6.25% state rate and you're at 8.25%, the Texas maximum. Your terminal only needs the total.
Hospitality is big business here. The 2022 Economic Census counted $7.2 billion in accommodation and food services sales in San Antonio, a city of 1,548,422 people in the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimate, up 8.0% since 2020. Health care and social assistance brought in another $18.8 billion in receipts that year.
Fees are where restaurants and hotels get into trouble. Texas still bans credit card surcharges in its statute, with court protection only for surcharges at or below cost, and it bans debit card surcharges outright. If you rent rooms by the night, the FTC's Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, in effect since May 12, 2025, adds a federal layer: short-term lodging businesses must show the total price, mandatory fees included, upfront. Under Texas law a cash discount is the cleaner option, and our Texas page explains why.
The cost you can always work on is processing. Our restaurant payment processing guide covers tips and tableside terminals, and interchange-plus pricing shows what each card really costs you. Send a statement for a free statement review and we'll give you a straight answer.
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Common questions
Why does San Antonio's sales tax have three local parts?
The Comptroller's table splits the local 2% among the City of San Antonio (1.125%), the San Antonio ATD transit tax (0.375%) and the San Antonio MTA (0.5%). The ATD tax has applied since April 1, 2005, and San Antonio is its only participating area. With the 6.25% state rate, you charge customers 8.25% in total.
Can a San Antonio restaurant add a credit card fee to the check?
Not safely. Texas still bans credit card surcharges in its statute, and the 2018 ruling only protected surcharges at or below the merchant's swipe fees. Debit card surcharges are banned outright. A cash discount is on firmer footing because the statute's definition of a surcharge excludes it. Get legal advice before you print any fee on a check.
Does the FTC fee rule apply to San Antonio hotels and short-term rentals?
It applies to businesses that offer short-term lodging. The FTC Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees took effect May 12, 2025, covers live-event tickets and short-term lodging, and requires the total price, including mandatory fees, to be shown upfront. Get advice on how any card fee fits with the prices you advertise.
How can a San Antonio restaurant lower card costs without a surcharge?
Start with the pricing model. On interchange-plus, interchange and network fees pass through at cost and our markup is shown separately, so you can see which cards cost the most. Our restaurants page covers portable terminals you can bring to the table, and a free statement review shows your current effective rate.
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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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