It depends on your industry and business type. Some businesses are easy to classify and MCCs are consistent across all card networks and acquirers. However, MCC assignment is open to interpretation, and one organization might view your primary business line differently than another.

It depends on your industry and business type. Some businesses are easy to classify and MCCs are consistent across all card networks and acquirers. However, MCC assignment is open to interpretation, and one organization might view your primary business line differently than another.

Your MCC is determined and assigned by the payment processor or acquiring bank when you set up your merchant account. The processor selects the MCC that most accurately describes your primary business activity , using official lists provided by Visa or Mastercard. Merchants cannot assign their own MCC, but they can request a change or review if the assigned code does not accurately reflect their business.

MCCs reflect your primary business based on annual sales volume measured in local currency. So if you sell different types of goods or services, your MCC will be based on sales volume.

There are a couple situations and industries that require a merchant to use multiple MCCs.

• Multiple businesses operating at the same merchant location will use different MCCs. For example, a restaurant in a hotel would have one MCC and the hotel would have a different MCC.
• Gas stations with automated fuel dispensers (AFDs) will use one MCC for the AFD and a different MCC to sell other goods and services.
• An ATM will use one MCC for cash disbursements and a different MCC if anything is purchased from the ATM (such as stamps).
• A business that provides manual cash disbursement will use an MCC for those transactions but a different MCC for any other goods or services that are sold.
• A business that conducts quasi-cash transactions (such as crypto currency sellers) must use a distinct MCC for those transactions and a different MCC for anything else sold at that merchant location.
• A merchant that links from its own website to another website must use the appropriate MCC for each website.
• For in-person, card-present gambling transactions, the merchant will use one MCC for gambling and a different MCC for other goods or services. This is also true for U.S. gambling merchants. But if the merchant conducts card-absent gambling transactions, the gambling MCC must be used for all transactions, even if gambling is not the primary business activity.

Your MCC will appear on your VAR sheet, registration form, onboarding sheet, MID credential form, processor contract, or may be visible in your payment platform dashboard. If you’re unsure, contact your acquiring bank or payment processor to confirm.

Yes. Different MCCs carry different interchange fees based on the risk and cost structures defined by card networks. For example, high-risk or digital services often incur higher rates than low-risk retail or professional services.

Absolutely. Some MCCs are flagged as restricted or prohibited by certain processors. If your MCC is considered high risk, you may be subject to reserves, stricter underwriting, or even account denials depending on the provider.

Your MCC typically stays the same unless your business model or primary revenue stream changes significantly. If your business evolves, you can request a reassessment — but approvals depend on supporting documentation and processor policies.

A misclassification can affect your fees, risk status, and ability to win disputes. You can challenge the assignment by submitting evidence of your business activity. This may require invoices, product catalogs, promotional materials, and processing history with sales volume.