Upcoming Billing Change: Mastercard Network Access and Brand Usage (MNABU) Fee in Canada
Mastercard is introducing the Mastercard Net Access Brand Usage fee for transactions originated in Canada. Beginning November 7, 2026, this fee will be applied under fee code MNABU (Mastercard Net Access Brand Usage).
When Does This Fee Apply?
The fee applies to your Mastercard activity originated in Canada when the transaction is any of the following:
- An authorization request.
- An authorization reversal, at the lower reversal amount in the table below.
The rate depends on where the card was issued. A card issued in Canada uses the "card issued in Canada" column. A card issued anywhere else, including the United States, uses the "card issued outside Canada" column.
The fee is not charged on:
- An Account Status Inquiry/AVS only transaction, which is a $0 authorization.
- A Mastercard Wholesale Program transaction.
Fee Amounts
Amounts are per transaction, in U.S. dollars, as set by Mastercard.
| Transaction | Previous amount | New amount, card issued in Canada | New amount, card issued outside Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authorization, approved or declined | None | USD 0.0195 | USD 0.0295 |
| Authorization reversal | None | USD 0.0098 | USD 0.0148 |
| Collection-only transaction | None | USD 0.0195 | USD 0.0295 |
How it Appears on Your Billing
The fee appears in the network fee section of your TabaPay billing as MNABU (Mastercard Net Access Brand Usage), starting with activity on November 7, 2026.
Best Practices
A declined authorization is charged the same MNABU amount as an approved one, and each retry is charged again. Fewer avoidable declines and retries mean a lower MNABU charge.
Your Right to Cancel
Under the Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada, you may give notice of your intent to exit your agreement with TabaPay, including related service agreements, without penalty within 70 calendar days after November 7, 2026. That period ends on January 16, 2027. If your agreement has no fixed term or no penalty for cancellation, you may exit it without penalty at any time.
To give notice, contact your Client Success Manager or email [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does this fee apply to a declined authorization?
Yes. Each authorization request is charged whether it is approved or declined.
2. Does this fee apply to a push transaction?
Yes, when the push is a Mastercard authorization, an authorization reversal, or a collection-only transaction in Canada.
3. Does this fee apply only to recurring payments?
No. It applies to the authorization, reversal, and collection-only activity above, whether or not the payment is recurring.
4. What was the previous amount?
None. There was no previous charge for MNABU on Mastercard transactions in Canada.
For questions about this fee, please contact [email protected].
Updated 16 days ago