Government Services MCC Codes
Showing 16 of 16 codes
| Code | Reward Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9034 | Government | I-Purchasing Pilot |
| 9211 | Government | Court Costs Including Alimony and Child Support |
| 9222 | Government | Fines |
| 9223 | Government | Bail and Bond Payments |
| 9311 | Government | Tax Payments |
| 9399 | Government | Government Services-Not Elsewhere Classified |
| 9401 | Government | I-Purchasing Pilot |
| 9402 | Government | Postal Services-Government Only |
| 9405 | Government | Intra-Government Purchases-Government Only |
| 9700 | Government | Automated Referral Service |
| 9701 | Government | Visa Credential Server |
| 9702 | Government | GCAS Emergency Services |
| 9751 | GroceriesElectronics | UK Supermarkets, Electronic Hot File |
| 9752 | Electronics | UK Petrol Stations, Electronic Hot File |
| 9754 | Government | Gambling-Horse, Dog Racing, State Lottery |
| 9950 | Government | Intra-Company Purchases |
Government Services MCC Codes India 2026 (MCC 8001–9399)
Merchant Category Codes (MCC) are 4-digit numbers assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, RuPay) to classify business services. In India, transactions categorized under Government Services MCCs (ranging from 8001 to 9399) represent tax payments, court fines, passport/visa processing fees, and municipal utility charges. In 2026, almost all major card issuers—including HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI Card, and Axis Bank—have updated their terms to exclude or heavily cap reward points and milestone calculations on government transactions.
Major Government Merchant Category Codes (MCC)
| MCC Code | Description / Category Name | Common Transaction Examples in India | Reward Eligibility (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCC 9399 | Miscellaneous Government Services | Property tax, municipal payments, challans | Excluded on most cards |
| MCC 9311 | Tax Payments | Income tax (TIN NSDL/e-Filing), GST payments | Excluded or capped at 1% |
| MCC 9222 | Fines and Court Costs | Traffic e-Challans, legal fees, court filings | Zero reward accrual |
| MCC 9211 | Court Costs & Alimony | Judicial payments, legal deposits | Zero reward accrual |
| MCC 9402 | Postal Services (Government) | India Post speed post, registered mail payments | Capped standard rewards |
Impact of Government MCCs on Credit Card Rewards in 2026
If you use a credit card to pay large government levies—such as annual income tax or local property tax—you must be aware of issuer restrictions introduced in recent fee revisions:
- Reward Point Exclusions: Core reward points are explicitly disabled for MCC 9399 and MCC 9311 transactions across most HDFC, SBI Card, and ICICI card portfolios.
- Milestone Spend Exclusions: Several issuers have removed government spends from counting toward annual fee waiver milestones or bonus voucher thresholds.
- Payment Gateway Surcharges: Government portals (such as the Income Tax e-Filing portal) levy additional convenience fees (0.5% to 1.0% + GST) when paying via credit card.
Example Government Card Transactions
- Income Tax Payments (MCC 9311): Paying advance tax or self-assessment tax via the official e-Filing portal routes under MCC 9311. Most standard rewards cards yield zero points here, though specialized business cards may still allow limited points up to monthly caps.
- Traffic e-Challans (MCC 9222): Settling state traffic police e-Challans online falls under MCC 9222. These transactions do not earn reward points and do not count toward annual fee waivers.
- Municipal Property Tax (MCC 9399): Paying municipal property tax via local civic portals (e.g., MCGM, BBMP, MCD) routes under MCC 9399, triggering reward exclusions on consumer cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MCC 9399 on credit card statements?
MCC 9399 is the Merchant Category Code for "Miscellaneous Government Services." It applies to transactions processed at government agencies, municipal corporations, local civic bodies, and public service portals in India.
Do I earn reward points when paying income tax with my credit card?
On most Indian consumer credit cards in 2026, income tax payments (MCC 9311) do not earn reward points. Additionally, payment gateways charge a transaction convenience fee of 0.5% to 1% plus GST for using a credit card on tax portals.
How can I check the MCC code of a government portal before paying?
MCC codes are assigned at the payment gateway level and are not explicitly displayed prior to payment. However, all official government portals (e.g., Parivahan, Income Tax e-Filing, Municipal portals) strictly use codes within the 9211–9399 range.
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