thread Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links in Payments Troubleshooting

Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

homexone — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:50:03 GMT

Hello,

I have created a SERVICE CHARGE, however, am unable to apply this SERVICE CHARGE to any type of PAYMENT LINK.

I have tried looking for the service charge in the payment link settings, but there is nothing there.

What could be causing this?

Many thanks in advance.

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

Minion — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:43:01 GMT

Hi @homexone

That is an odd one. Once you create the service charge in Settings>Payments>Service Charges, you should see that toggle option available under the Payment> Payment Link> settings > general as well.

Have you tried to delete the current service charge, and add it again?

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

homexone — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:19:47 GMT

I have tried multiple methods, multiple times. After posting this, I read that SERVICE CHARGES are not supported by PAYMENT LINKS--so I'm not sure what to believe.

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

Minion — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 10:41:48 GMT

Okay, Possibly looks like there may be an glitch in the payment link setup @homexone . I confirmed that service charge was setup and toggled on like I mentioned above. I tried to create a payment link and it didn't show up either, but I think it gets toggled off when actually in the payment link, so try this (it worked for me, see screenshot below).

Create your link, but first in the top right corner click on the gear settings icon. Scroll down to service charge, and it is probably toggled off. Toggled that back on. Let me know if that fixed it for you .

Also what type of link are you creating this for? Donation, Item , even or take a payment?

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

homexone — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:08:15 GMT

My goal is to either use it with 'Collect a payment' or 'Donation', as those are the only PAYMENT LINKS that allow the buyer to set the price. However, I have tried all of them with fixed amounts to no avail.

What mode are you in there?—my layout is completely different to your screenshot. I've tried switching from desktop to mobile, and I've attempted other user agents to see if I can replicate your UI and access settings on a 'per-link' basis. The only options I have are attached below.

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

Minion — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:50:53 GMT

I'm using a Chromebook so I am accessing it from a browser. Let me pull up the POS app and see if I can check it out through there as well to get a little better insight into how you are viewing it.

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

homexone — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:24:59 GMT

I have tried emulating a Chromebook with my current configuration, but that didn't work.

Could it have anything to do with the MODE I'm running under DEVICE MANAGEMENT?

Alternatively... is it possible that this feature is disabled for FREE accounts?

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

homexone — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:37:19 GMT

This is where I read that service charges are not compatible with payment links: https://squareup.com/help/au/en/article/7625-get-started-with-service-charges

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

Minion — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:47:25 GMT

hmm, looks like we have some different articles here, not sure which one is correct. Here is this one, if you scroll down to payments it does state how to add a charge for payment links.

Are you accessing your dashboard from a computer by chance?

EDIT. I see you have tried on a computer . I don't think that device management or a free account should restrict that. I am just finishing up a job here, I will take a look into this further for you in a few hours.

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

homexone — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:50:16 GMT

Yes, it's definitely a little odd.

I've tried iOS on my iPhone, and macOS from my MacBook—using both Safari and Chrome. I've also tried multiple user agents under Safari.

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

Minion — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:05:18 GMT

Let me see if I can find any Square Champions that use payment links and maybe they have ran across this issue before. Stay tuned!

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

homexone — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:28:41 GMT

Cheers, buddy.

Appreciate your help.

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

Minion — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 23:36:33 GMT

Hi @homexone

Do you mind uploading a screenshot of your service charge section that you setup when you get a moment?

My only other suggestion would be to call into Square Support tomorrow if no one else pops in with another idea. You are currently doing all the correct steps, and all the boxes seemed to be checked but i'm not sure what else I could be missing.

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

homexone — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 03:22:15 GMT

No problems. See below.

Yeah... I'm not sure what's going on. I'm very new to the platform, so I haven't really worked out all of its quirks yet.

Thanks again for your time and support.

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

Minion — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:10:19 GMT

Thank you @homexone

So just for fun, if you can create a service charge test like mine below. Don't assign any items , or have it auto applied online. Since mine works how it should, maybe having it auto-applied online or selected items is causing an error?

Re: Applying Service Charges to Payment Links

Twiggy — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:22:42 GMT

Your service charge wont be applied to a payment link - a work around would be to create an item called Surcharge or cared processing surcharge and manually work out the percentage - Do your customers know a service charge is applied? and if so do they know what the service charge is for?

Our Dutch suppliers add a 2% charge should we pay by card - there is also an European “admin charge” on our invoices

I pulled this information for others to see as you might already know this.

In Australia, it is legal to add a surcharge to orders for card payments, but it is not a "service charge" and must be a percentage-based surcharge that does not exceed the cost the business incurs for the transaction. You cannot add a flat fee or a surcharge to certain card types like consumer debit cards.

Guidelines for surcharges

You can charge a percentage-based surcharge, not a flat fee:
The surcharge must be a percentage of the total bill, not a fixed amount like 50 cents.
Surcharges cannot be excessive:
The surcharge cannot be more than the actual cost the business pays for the card processing. For example, a typical cost for processing a Visa or Mastercard is around
You can pass on the cost of credit card fees:
Businesses can pass on the cost they incur from the bank for processing payments.
This applies to most payments:
The surcharge applies to the cost of processing credit and debit card payments, and other electronic payment methods.
You cannot surcharge for certain card types:
Businesses are banned from charging a surcharge for using consumer credit cards, debit cards, or charge cards.
Inform the customer clearly:
It is important to clearly state the surcharge to the customer before they complete the transaction.

Good luck.