MCC Code Lookup

A Merchant Category Code (MCC) is a four-digit number assigned to a business by payment card networks — primarily Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover — when the business first begins accepting card payments. The code classifies the business by the type of goods or services it provides.

MCCs matter because they directly affect your payment processing costs. Card networks use your MCC to determine which interchange rate category your transactions fall into, which rewards categories apply to purchases at your business, and how your transactions are reported for tax purposes by the IRS.

Your MCC determines the base interchange rate for every card transaction you process. Certain merchant categories — supermarkets (MCC 5411), gas stations (MCC 5541), and utilities (MCC 4900) — receive preferential interchange rates because of their high volume and thin margins. If your business is assigned the wrong MCC, you may be paying higher interchange than necessary.

MCCs also determine whether your transactions qualify for specific card network programs. For example, Visa's Commercial Enhanced Data Program (CEDP) uses the MCC along with transaction data to determine interchange qualification for commercial card transactions.

Your MCC is assigned by your payment processor or acquiring bank when your merchant account is set up. You can find it on your merchant processing statement or by contacting your processor. If you believe your MCC is incorrect, your processor can request a change — though the final determination is made by the card networks based on your primary business activity.

PaySec reviews your MCC assignment as part of onboarding to ensure you are classified correctly and receiving the lowest applicable interchange rates. If your MCC is wrong, we can submit a reclassification request on your behalf.