What is a merchant category code?
A merchant category code (MCC) is a four-digit number. Your acquiring bank assigns it when you open a merchant account. It tells Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover what kind of business you run.
The code sets your interchange rates. It decides which monitoring and registration rules apply to you. It also shapes how charges show up on your customers' statements.
4 digits
ISO 18245
the standard behind MCC codes
~900
codes in use
237 common ones in this lookup
1
code per merchant account
multi-line businesses may hold several
22
high-risk codes in this lookup
on Visa or Mastercard registration lists
How MCC codes are organized
The first digit tells you the industry. The ranges below follow the ISO 18245 structure that Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover all use, with small differences in individual codes between networks.
| Range |
Sector |
| 0001 to 1499 |
Agricultural services |
| 1500 to 2999 |
Contracted services, construction, printing |
| 3000 to 3999 |
Airlines (3000 to 3308), car rental (3351 to 3441), lodging (3501 and up), by brand |
| 4000 to 4799 |
Transportation |
| 4800 to 4999 |
Utilities, telecom, cable |
| 5000 to 5599 |
Wholesale and retail outlets |
| 5600 to 5699 |
Clothing stores |
| 5700 to 7299 |
Miscellaneous stores, digital goods, direct marketing, personal services |
| 7300 to 7999 |
Business services, entertainment, gambling |
| 8000 to 8999 |
Professional services, healthcare, education, memberships |
| 9000 to 9999 |
Government services |
The 3000 range is the odd one. Each airline, rental company and hotel chain has its own code, so a Delta ticket codes as 3058 rather than 4511. Independent operators use the generic code for their industry.
How acquirers pick the code
Visa's Merchant Data Standards Manual (October 2026 edition) tells acquirers to select the MCC that most accurately describes the merchant's business. With several lines of business, the merchant either takes the code for the line with the highest sales volume for all sales, or a separate code for each line.
Some activities must carry their own code even when they are a side line:
- Automated fuel dispensers always code as 5542, whatever the store sells inside.
- ATM cash disbursements always code as 6011. Stamps or goods sold at the same machine use their own code.
- Quasi-cash, including crypto purchases, codes as 6051 or 6012 even when it is not the main business.
- Online gambling merchants must use 7995 for every transaction, not only the bets.
- A store that links to a second ecommerce site needs the right code for each site.
How your MCC affects what you pay
Interchange
- Each MCC maps to an interchange category
- Supermarkets (5411) and gas (5542) get reduced rates
- Travel and digital goods pay standard or higher
- A wrong code can cost 0.2% to 0.5% on every sale
Monitoring thresholds
- Visa VAMP and Mastercard ECM apply to all codes
- High-risk MCCs face stricter acquirer scrutiny
- Some codes require network registration and fees
- Card-not-present MCCs are watched more closely
Customer statements
- The MCC drives how the charge is categorized
- Rewards cards pay bonuses by MCC
- A code that does not match your brand raises "unrecognized charge" disputes
High-risk merchant category codes
Visa and Mastercard keep lists of MCCs that need registration through the acquirer, often with annual fees. These codes also face tighter monitoring. The lookup flags them as High risk. The most common:
| MCC |
Business type |
Why it is flagged |
| 5967 |
Direct marketing, inbound teleservices |
Registration required, high dispute history |
| 5966 |
Direct marketing, outbound telemarketing |
Registration required |
| 5968 |
Continuity and subscription merchants |
Negative-option billing rules |
| 5962 |
Direct marketing, travel |
High-risk list |
| 7995 |
Betting, casinos, lottery |
Registration, regulatory review |
| 7273 |
Dating and escort services |
High-risk list |
| 6051 |
Crypto, foreign currency, money orders |
Quasi-cash rules |
| 6211 |
Securities brokers, forex |
Registration, regulatory review |
| 5912 / 5122 |
Pharmacies and drugs |
Mastercard registration for online pharmacy |
| 7012 |
Timeshares |
High-risk list |
| 5993 |
Cigar stores, tobacco and vape |
Mastercard high-risk |
| 4816 |
Computer network and information services |
Mastercard high-risk |
| 5816 |
Digital goods: games |
Mastercard high-risk |
The lookup also marks Elevated disputes. These codes are not on a network list but carry high chargeback rates. Examples: airlines (4511), hotels (7011), furniture (5712), electronics (5732), memberships (7997, 8699) and online education (8299).
The catch-all codes (5999, 7299, 7399, 8999) are flagged too. Acquirers watch them because they hide the real business type.
How to find your MCC
Check your merchant account agreement or welcome emailAcquirers state the assigned MCC at onboarding.
Look at a test transaction in your processor dashboardStripe, Adyen and most gateways show the MCC on the account or transaction detail.
Ask your acquirerThey can confirm the code and change it if your business has changed.
Check a customer-facing statementBanking apps show the category derived from your MCC; if it looks wrong, your code may be.
5999
The code to avoid being assigned
"Miscellaneous retail" tells the network nothing about you. Acquirers treat catch-all codes as a red flag and look closer. If you sell one type of product, ask for the specific code.
What to do if your MCC is wrong
A wrong MCC usually means you pay more interchange than you should. Or you sit in a risk category you do not belong in. Write to your acquirer with what you sell, your website, and the code you think applies. Changes take days to weeks.
Some businesses have several lines, like a restaurant that also sells merchandise online. A second merchant account with its own MCC is common there.
Preguntas frecuentes
What is an MCC code?
A four-digit code your acquiring bank assigns to classify your business for the card networks. It affects interchange rates, risk monitoring and how charges appear on statements.
How do I find my MCC code?
Check your merchant account agreement or your processor dashboard, or ask your acquirer. Chargeflow's lookup lets you search by business type to see which code should apply.
Which MCC codes are high risk?
Direct marketing (5966, 5967, 5968), gambling (7995), dating (7273), crypto (6051), forex (6211), online pharmacy (5912), timeshares (7012) and tobacco (5993). Some digital goods and network codes too. The lookup flags each one.
Can I change my MCC code?
Yes, through your acquirer. Show proof of what you sell. The acquirer decides, and the networks can audit the choice.
Does my MCC affect my chargeback threshold?
Visa VAMP thresholds apply to every MCC. High-risk codes face stricter acquirer limits, registration rules and earlier action. Your dispute ratio is judged more harshly in a high-risk category.
What is MCC 5967?
Direct marketing, inbound teleservices. It is on the Visa and Mastercard high-risk lists and needs registration through your acquirer. Telesales and some subscription businesses get this code.
Why does my customer's statement show the wrong category?
The bank takes the category from your MCC. If the code does not match your business, charges look unfamiliar. That is one of the most common triggers for "unrecognized" chargebacks.
What is the MCC code list?
The full list runs to roughly 900 four-digit codes under ISO 18245, grouped by industry: 0001 to 1499 agriculture, 1500 to 2999 contractors, 3000 to 3999 airlines, car rental and hotels by brand, 4000 to 4999 transport and utilities, 5000 to 7299 retail, 7300 to 8999 services, 9000 to 9999 government. Visa and Mastercard each publish their own version.
How do I find another company's MCC code?
Codes are assigned per merchant account, so there is no public register. A card statement or banking app shows the category derived from it. Developers can query Mastercard's Places API for a merchant's MCC. A test purchase viewed in a processor dashboard shows the exact code.
Can one business have more than one MCC?
Yes. Visa's rules let a merchant with several lines of business take a separate code for each, or use the code of the largest line for everything. Some activities, like fuel dispensers, ATM cash and quasi-cash, must always carry their own code.
Fuentes
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