QRIS fees in Bali: which merchant payments now qualify for 0%

In brief: From 1 October 2026, Indonesian merchants in every category qualify for a 0% QRIS merchant discount rate on individual payments of up to IDR 100,000. Micro businesses retain a higher fee-free threshold of IDR 500,000; the nationwide policy applies in Bali too.

A QRIS code at a Bali checkout may look the same whether the business is a small warung or a large retailer. Behind the payment, however, the merchant's category determines what the payment provider can deduct. The charge is known as the merchant discount rate, or MDR, and it is paid by the business accepting the transaction.

Bank Indonesia announced the expansion on 17 August, with an effective date of 1 October 2026. BCA's September notice to its merchants set out the applicable bands. The change has therefore already taken effect; it is not a future proposal.

More small purchases fall into the zero-fee band

Previously, QRIS payments to small, medium and large merchants generally attracted a 0.7% MDR. That rate has dropped to 0% for each transaction worth IDR 100,000 or less. The same new threshold applies to education providers and petrol stations, which previously faced different percentage charges.

Micro merchants are treated differently. Their existing 0% rate through IDR 500,000 per transaction remains in place, so a micro business has not suddenly lost its more generous allowance. The change primarily extends zero-fee acceptance to merchant groups that previously paid MDR even on modest transactions.

That could make a difference for the daily stream of low-value QRIS purchases at Bali cafés, shops and other businesses. It does not follow that every small-looking outlet is formally classified as a micro merchant. The registered merchant category, not the customer's impression of the shop, determines the relevant threshold.

Bigger transactions can still incur deductions

Above the applicable limit, the existing percentage rates remain. A micro merchant pays 0.3% on a QRIS payment exceeding IDR 500,000. For small, medium and large merchants, the rate is 0.7% once an individual payment exceeds IDR 100,000. Education merchants face 0.6% above that limit, while petrol stations face 0.4%.

These are per-payment limits, not daily sales allowances. A business could accept several QRIS payments free of MDR and still see fees deducted from higher-value transactions on the same day. Merchants reconciling their receipts should use the transaction amounts and the classification recorded by their payment provider.

The policy is about MDR on eligible QRIS transactions. It is not a declaration that every other banking service or payment method is free, nor does it guarantee that a particular foreign payment app can scan an Indonesian QRIS code.

A QRIS surcharge is not a customer fee

For shoppers, the main distinction is between the merchant's cost and the price charged at the till. Bank Indonesia says MDR is borne by the merchant and must not be passed on to the customer. That restriction predates the October expansion; the new fee relief does not create the rule from scratch.

If a Bali business adds a separate amount solely because a customer chose QRIS, the reason for the charge matters. A separately disclosed restaurant tax or service charge is a different issue and should not automatically be labelled a QRIS surcharge. Asking for an itemised bill and keeping the receipt gives the customer a clearer basis for raising a disputed payment-related fee with the business or payment provider. There is no requirement in this announcement for retailers to reduce their advertised prices.

• BCA — “Informasi Penyesuaian Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) Transaksi QRIS”, 1 September 2026.
• Bank Indonesia — “MDR QRIS Bagi Merchant: Kategorisasi dan Simulasi”, updated 13 October 2026.