Credit card processing and merchant services in West Virginia
West Virginia's 6% sales tax applies to services as well as goods, and some cities add 1%. Surcharges follow card network rules, since we haven't found a state law on them.
Card surcharges
Surcharging allowedWest Virginia has no surcharge statute we've found; card network caps (3% Visa, 4% Mastercard) apply.
Sales tax
6% state rate, plus 1% in some cities
Last checked
October 6, 2026
West Virginia calls its sales tax the consumers sales and service tax, and the name is a hint: it applies to taxable services as well as goods. State law sets the general rate at six cents on the dollar, with gasoline and special fuel at five cents. Some municipalities add a 1% local sales tax, so the rate at your register is 6% or 7% depending on where you sell. Confirm which applies at each of your locations.
There's no West Virginia surcharge statute that we know of, so the card networks' rules decide: 3% or your cost on Visa credit, 4% or your cost on Mastercard credit, no fee on debit or prepaid cards, and notice at the entrance, at checkout and on the receipt. Visa also wants 30 days' notice to your acquirer before the first surcharged sale.
If you bill for taxable services, the way you lay out an invoice matters. Show the tax and any card fee as separate lines so a customer can see what each one is. If customers pay you by phone or by invoice, a virtual terminal lets you take the card without a terminal in the room, and our home services page covers how we work with contractors and service trades.
Clearo prices on interchange-plus with no long-term contract or cancellation fee, and each account gets a dedicated rep. Send a statement for a free statement review and we'll show you what you're paying per card type.
What West Virginia merchants should know
Consumers sales and service tax
West Virginia Code 11-15-3 sets the general consumers sales and service tax at six cents on the dollar of sales or services, with gasoline and special fuel taxed at five cents on the dollar. The Tax Division says a 1% local sales tax applies where it has been imposed.
Check whether your municipality levies the local tax before you set up your POS, and set a separate code for each location that differs.
Sources: West Virginia Code Section 11-15-3: Amount of tax; West Virginia Tax Division, Sales and use tax
Credit card surcharges in West Virginia
We haven't found a West Virginia statute that bans or caps credit card surcharges, and the 2016 NCSL table lists none. The card network rules apply:
- Visa: in West Virginia, surcharge no more than your merchant discount rate or 3%, whichever is lower, and let your acquirer know 30 days before you start.
- Mastercard: West Virginia merchants may charge up to their average effective merchant discount rate for Mastercard credit or 4%.
- No surcharge on debit or prepaid cards.
- West Virginia businesses must disclose the surcharge at the point of entry, at the point of sale and on the receipt.
Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures, Credit or debit card surcharges statutes (2016 table); Visa, U.S. Merchant Surcharge Q and A (PDF); Mastercard, Merchant surcharge rules (US)
What the federal debit cap means for West Virginia businesses
Debit cards can't carry a surcharge, but they usually cost the least to accept. For cards from issuers with $10 billion or more in assets, Regulation II caps interchange at 21 cents plus 0.05% of the sale, plus a 1 cent fraud-prevention adjustment for qualifying issuers. On a $25 sale, that's about 23 cents.
Source: Federal Reserve, Regulation II: debit card interchange fees and routing
Cities we cover in West Virginia
Payment services we provide
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Common questions
What is the sales tax rate in West Virginia?
The consumers sales and service tax is 6%, six cents on the dollar under West Virginia Code 11-15-3, with gasoline and special fuel at 5%. Some municipalities add a 1% local sales tax, so your total is 6% or 7% depending on where you sell. Confirm your local rate with the Tax Division.
Does West Virginia tax services?
Some, yes. The tax is called the consumers sales and service tax, and the statute imposes it on sales and on services. Which services are taxable depends on what you do, so check the Tax Division's guidance for your trade before you set up invoices.
Can West Virginia businesses add a credit card surcharge?
Yes. There's no West Virginia surcharge statute we know of. The networks cap the fee at 3% or your merchant discount rate for Visa and 4% or your average effective rate for Mastercard. If you bill services by invoice, show the surcharge as its own line, give Visa's 30 days' notice to your acquirer first, and leave debit cards out.
Can I charge a fee on debit card payments?
No. Under Visa and Mastercard rules, a West Virginia business can't surcharge debit or prepaid cards. Debit is usually the cheaper card to accept anyway: Regulation II caps interchange on debit cards from large banks at 21 cents plus 0.05% of the sale, plus 1 cent, so about 23 cents on a $25 sale.
Can I take card payments over the phone or by invoice?
Yes. A virtual terminal lets you key in card payments taken by phone or email, send invoices and payment links, and set up recurring billing, all priced on interchange-plus with no long-term contract.
Other states we serve besides West Virginia
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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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