Accepting Credit Card Payments: What Governments Should Know About Vendor Services, Fees, and Risks

Many governments accept credit and debit card payments for the variety of taxes and fees imposed on citizens and users. In the public sector, there are a variety of special considerations that must be addressed if governments wish to accept credit and debit cards as payment methods.

Some of the key considerations related to accepting credit and debit cards include:

• Whether cards can be accepted for all or some government services
• Understanding the costs and rules that are in place for governments to accept credit/debit cards
• Managing upgrades and opportunities presented through technology changes

In addition, governments must be aware of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security requirements and the general fraud and security risks associated with accepting credit cards. This session will provide attendees with insights from industry experts, case studies, and discussion questions focused on the numerous issues related to accepting credit and debit card payments that are in play for governments of all sizes and types.

Those who successfully complete this seminar should be able to:

• Understand options that governments have for collecting payments by credit and debit cards, including vendor selection
• Learn how fees and charges are applied and how other governments have addressed these challenges
• Understand how credit card payments can be done in-person and taken online through various methods and systems
• Identify major risks and PCI compliance standards associated with accepting credit card payments
• Monitor current issues and updates to any regulations, standards, technology, and market trends

This course is taught by finance officers and other industry experts.