Texas leads the country in active Federal Firearms Licenses, and its surcharge ban was struck down in Rowell v. Paxton — two reasons merchants here need a processor that knows the state. Approval in about 48 hours.
Texas combines a very large small-business base with heavy representation in categories banks decline — firearms above all, where the state leads the country in active Federal Firearms Licenses.
It also has a surcharging position that catches merchants out, because a lot of published advice still repeats the old statutory ban that no longer applies here.
Surcharging permitted
Yes. Texas had a statutory surcharge ban under Texas Finance Code § 339.001, but the Fifth Circuit held it unconstitutional under the First Amendment in Rowell v. Paxton, and the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner subsequently ceased enforcing it.
Surcharging in Texas therefore follows the federal and card brand rules: disclose the fee clearly before purchase, cap it at your actual cost of acceptance, and never apply it to debit card transactions.
A cash discount program remains a straightforward alternative — prices posted for card payment, with a discount for cash. The two must not be conflated, because presenting a surcharge as a cash discount carries penalties.
Surcharging and convenience-fee rules change, and card brand rules apply on top of state law. Confirm current requirements for your situation before launching a program — we can walk you through it.
Where the state's decline volume is heaviest.
Texas leads all states in active Federal Firearms Licenses, including the largest number of Type 01 dealer licenses in the country.
Membership billing, course fees and event ticketing all use recurring or advance payment models that complicate underwriting.
Large distributor networks operate from Texas, and commission disbursement plus recurring product billing sit outside standard underwriting templates.
Recurring support plans and internationally delivered services both raise flags with mainstream processors.
No drawn-out underwriting theatre. A real person, a real timeline, a real approval.
One short form and a quick document upload. Your dedicated rep reviews it the same day — no call-center runaround.
We match you to the right banking relationship and gateway for your industry, chargeback history and volume.
Credentials, gateway and cart integration go live. You're accepting cards — usually within about 48 hours of applying.
Yes. Texas Finance Code § 339.001 banned surcharging, but the Fifth Circuit held that ban unconstitutional under the First Amendment in Rowell v. Paxton, and the Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner stopped enforcing it. Surcharging is permitted provided you disclose the fee before purchase, cap it at your cost of acceptance, and never apply it to debit cards.
Either a compliant surcharge or a cash discount program. A cash discount posts card prices and gives cash-paying customers a discount, which avoids surcharge rules altogether. Presenting a surcharge as a cash discount is not permitted and carries penalties, so the distinction matters.
Yes. Texas has more active Federal Firearms Licenses than any other state, and FFL dealers can be approved through a processor that underwrites firearms deliberately. Structure Payments approves Texas FFLs, typically within about 48 hours.
We do everything possible to get you approved, and most merchants are processing within about 48 hours. No obligation to see your real rate.