Banks in some countries add taxes or surcharges on top of local currency payments. What they are, where they apply, and how to handle customer questions.
When customers pay in their local currency, their bank or card issuer may add country-specific taxes or surcharges on top of the amount Commet charges. These charges are collected by the customer's bank on behalf of local tax authorities — Commet does not apply them, does not receive them, and cannot refund them.
Commet acts as the Merchant of Record, so even when a customer pays in their own currency, the transaction may be processed as a cross-border purchase from a foreign merchant. Some countries require card issuers to collect taxes or tax perceptions on these transactions at the moment of payment.
The result: the total on the customer's bank statement can be higher than the price shown at checkout. The tax appears as a separate line item charged by the bank, not as part of the Commet charge.
| Country | What customers may see |
|---|---|
| Argentina | Tax perceptions on cross-border card payments, historically up to 30% (e.g. "impuesto PAÍS" and income tax perceptions), applied by the card issuer |
| Other countries | Cross-border transaction fees or local tax withholdings, depending on the customer's bank and local regulation |
Rates and rules change frequently and vary by bank, card type, and local regulation. The customer's bank determines the final amount.
These charges apply per transaction and are independent of the currency configured in your plan. Paying in local currency does not by itself exempt the customer from cross-border taxes.
If a customer asks about an unexpected extra charge, direct them to their card issuer — the bank can confirm which tax was applied and how to claim it back where local rules allow it.
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