Visa Revises Merchant Interchange Fee Policies.
Visa has revamped its discount rates for fees on credit card transactions, primarily by introducing the Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP) for business and commercial card payments. The new policy, which began to roll out in April 2025 and takes full effect on October 17, 2025, requires merchants to provide highly accurate, invoice-quality transaction data to qualify for lower interchange rates.
Here are the key details of the policy change:
Stricter data requirements
- Specific line-item details
- SKU numbers and product codes
- Item quantity, unit cost, and tax information
- Shipping and freight amounts
Higher fees for non-compliance
Merchants who fail to comply with the new data standards will face higher interchange fees.Merchant impact and reaction
- Escalating costs: Being downgraded to a higher fee tier will directly increase business expenses.
- Operational hurdles: Implementing the necessary changes to capture and transmit the detailed data can be complex and expensive.
- Billing and accounting delays: Merchants who are not immediately "verified" will have to wait for rebates on discounted rates, which could affect cash flow.
To qualify for the best interchange rates under Visa's Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP), merchants must provide highly detailed and accurate invoice-level information with every transaction. Previously, merchants could often receive reduced rates by submitting incomplete or generic data, but this is no longer the case.
The data required under CEDP is extensive and falls into three main categories:
Product and line-item information
This is the most significant change, as generic descriptions are no longer accepted.Financial details
The math for the invoice must be completely accurate and add up correctly. Extended amounts: The total cost for each line item (quantity multiplied by unit cost).Business and reference information
This information helps with record-keeping and processing for commercial transactions.Importance of data quality
Under the CEDP, Visa's new AI-driven system automatically validates the quality of this data in real-time. If the data is incomplete, inaccurate, or uses placeholders, the merchant is flagged as "non-verified" and the transaction will be subject to higher interchange fees. This makes accurate and consistent data submission essential for maintaining a low cost of acceptance for commercial card transactions.Found this guide helpful? Bookmark it for future reference as you continue your financial journey!
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