ATO Gave Months-Long Warning on Credit Card Payment Ban

The government knew months in advance the tax office might stop accepting credit card payments before leaders stepped in to postpone the plan after a business backlash. Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulino said his government became aware in July the Australian Taxation Office could potentially refuse to take the payment method when a Reserve Bank ban on card surcharges came into effect in October. The tax office made a decision in late September to stop accepting credit cards. But after an outcry from small business, Labor announced the government would step in and cover the fees incurred on the card payments until the end of the financial year.