Treasurer Jim Chalmers delays proposed ban on credit card tax payments

The Australian government has stepped in to delay a controversial Australian Taxation Office ban on credit card payments for tax bills. According to reports from the Daily Mail and The Guardian, the measure was originally scheduled to take effect late in 2026. The Daily Mail reported the planned start date as December 1, while The Guardian stated the ban had a start date of November 30. [1][2]

The Guardian reported that Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced additional funding to provide a year long transition period for the tax office, pushing the ban back by more than six months. The tax office will keep accepting credit card payments through third parties alongside other free options. The Daily Mail and The Guardian both noted that the decision followed strong backlash from small business owners. [1][2]

Small business advocates argued that credit card options allow business owners to pay tax bills on time when waiting for late customer payments. The Daily Mail reported that removing credit card payment choices would hurt small businesses trying to manage cash flow gaps. [1]

Jim Chalmers has served as the treasurer in the Albanese Labor government since 2022. Commentator Peter van Onselen works as the political editor for Daily Mail Australia, a role he began in April 2024. [3][4]