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There are three levels of interchange data submission available:
Level I1 | Basic transaction data like card number, expiration date, CVV, and transaction amount that is required for standard business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions and provides provide standard interchange rates. |
Level II2 | More detailed transaction data, like a sales tax and order number, is required for B2B transactions and can provide lower interchange rates. |
Level III3 | Comprehensive transaction data like line item details and shipping for B2B transactions and can qualify for the lowest interchange rates. |
Major card brands Visa & MasterCard each have specific requirements that merchants must adhere to to offer them the best interchange rates. American Express and Discover do not accept direct Level II 2 or Level III 3 data submissions for lower interchange rates at this time.
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Tip: While not a requirement, it is recommended to submit the previous level of interchange data when submitting the following level. Example: When submitting Level III 3 data, all Level I 1 and Level II 2 data requirements are already met to ensure the most visibility for Level III 3 interchange rates. |
Below is a breakdown of the key data required for Level II 2 and Level III 3 data submission for each card brand.
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Level
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1 Interchange Data Requirements
All transactions, regardless of card brand, must meet these data requirements to qualify for basic interchange or Level I1:
Merchant & Transaction Information - Basic data provided about the Merchant and Transaction, including:
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Customer Zip Code | The billing zip code on file with the customer’s credit card company. |
Customer Billing Address | The full billing address on file with the customer’s credit card company. |
Credit Card Number | The 15 (AMEX) or 16-digit credit card number shown on the customer’s card. |
Card Expiration Date | The 4-digit, MMYY-format expiration date shown on the customer’s card. |
Card CVV | The 3 or 4-digit security code shown on the customer’s card. |
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Commodity Codes
The Commodity Code must be submitted in numeric-only formatting to meet requirements. Merchants should utilize the National Institute of Governmental Purchasings' (NIGP) Commodity Codes.
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A partial list of 7-digit NIGP commodity codes is available here: |
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Level 2 and 3 Interchange Data Requirements
Each card brand will feature its list of requirements necessary to receive interchange rates by using Level II 2 or Level III 3 data to qualify on its card network. Each major card brand - Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover - has been listed below with individual details to clearly explain their requirements.
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Tip: For developers and Portal users, we recommend using Visa’s Level II 2 and Level III 3 requirements as your data submission foundation for Level II 2 and Level II 1 submission for any card brand. Visa’s stringent standards cover all necessary elements for detailed transaction reporting. |
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Note: If you choose to optionally submit Level II 2 data with Level III 3 data, the tax rate must be set between 0.1% & 22% of the transaction amount when the tax amount is greater than $0.00.
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| title | Visa - Qualifying Card Types for Interchange Data Submission |
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The following card types can be used for Level II 2 data submission:
In addition to the above, the following card types can be used for Level III 3 data submission: Corporate Credit Purchasing Credit
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Commercial Prepaid card type is not eligible. |
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| title | Visa - Level II Data Requirements |
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Level II 2 data must include all Level I 1 data requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Sales Tax and Order Information - Sales tax information for each transaction including: Sales Tax Amount | The total amount of sales tax applied to the transaction. | Note |
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Warning: The tax amount must be between 0.1% - 22% of the payment total to qualify. This is submitted using either a Sale or a Capture transaction type. |
| Order Number | A unique identifier used by the merchant to locate the specific transaction information. Note: “Order Number”, “Invoice Number”, and “Customer Code” are interchangeable terms for Level II 2 and Level III 3 data submissions. | Note |
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Warning: This field cannot be blank, null, or all zeros and must contain a relevant value. |
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| title | Visa - Level III Data Requirements |
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Level III 3 data must include all Level II 2 data requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Item Details - Must provide detailed information for each item listed in a transaction including: Item | Name or title of the item. | Description | A detailed description of the product or service sold. | Commodity Code | We recommend using the standardized numerical 7-digit NIGP commodity code used to classify products for customs. Attached is a partial list of available 7-digit codes. | Note |
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Warning: This field cannot be blank, null, or all zeros or spaces and must contain a relevant value. |
| Product Code | A unique identifier used by the Merchant business to identify the specific product. | Note |
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Warning: This field cannot be blank, null, or all zeros or spaces and must contain a relevant value. |
| Item Price | The price per item unit. | Item Discount | Monetary reductions applied to the product or service price for the line item. Note: This value can be '0' if there is no applicable item discount. | Quantity | The number of units sold. | Unit of Measure | A standardized unit used to quantify the quantity of the product or service. | Info |
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Examples: each, kilogram, pound, month. |
| Item Total | Total transaction line item cost, calculated with quantity, unit price, discounts, tax, and shipping. |
Discount, Shipping & Duty - Must provide shipping, duty, and tax information (if applicable) including: Shipping Amount | The cost associated with transporting products from Merchant to customer. Note: This value can be '0' if there is no applicable shipping amount. | Duty Amount | The monetary value of customs duties or taxes related to product import and export. Note: This value can be '0' if there is no applicable duty amount. | Order Discount | Monetary reductions applied to the transaction total. Note: This value can be '0' if there is no applicable order discount. | Tax | Note: The tax amount can be zero (or the tax field can be omitted entirely). If the Merchant sends a tax amount greater than $0.00, it needs to be between 0.1% & 22% of the transaction amount. |
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| title | Visa - Prohibited Merchant Business Types (MCCs) |
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Warning: Any of the following Merchant Commercial Code (MCC) types are disqualified from Level II 2 or Level III 3 data submission for interchange rate improvements. |
Non-Compliant MCCs | Description of Merchant Business Type |
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3000–3299 | Airlines | 3501-3999 | Car Rental Companies/Hotels | 4112 | Passenger Railways | 4411 | Steamship and Cruise Lines | 4511 | Airlines and Air Carriers | 4722 | Travel Agencies and Tour Operators | 5812 | Eating Places and Restaurants | 5814 | Fast Food Restaurants | 5962 | Direct Marketing – Travel Related Arrangements Services (High Risk) | 5966 | Direct Marketing – Outbound Telemarketing Merchant (High Risk) | 5967 | Direct Marketing – Inbound Teleservices Merchant (High Risk) | 7011 | Lodging – Hotels, Motels, and Resorts | 7512 | Automobile Rental Agency | 7513 | Truck & Utility Trailer Rentals | 7519 | Motor Home and Recreational Vehicle Rentals |
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| title | MasterCard - Qualifying Card Types for Interchange Data Submission |
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The following card types can be used for Level II 2 data submission: Note: MasterCard uses the term “Data Rate 2 and 3” to refer to Level 2 and Level 3 interchange data when referring to corporate/business purchases and cards.
In addition to the above, the following card types can be used for Level III 3 data submission: Corporate Credit Purchasing Credit
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Commercial Prepaid card type is not eligible. |
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Warning: The following card types are ineligible for Level III 3 data submission with MasterCard: |
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| title | MasterCard - Level II Data Requirements |
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Level II 2 data must include all Level I 1 data requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Sales Tax Information - Sales tax information for each transaction including: Sales Tax Amount | The total amount of sales tax applied to the transaction. | Note |
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Warning: The tax amount must be between 0.1% - 30% of the payment total to qualify. This is submitted using either a Sale or a Capture transaction type. |
| Order Number | A unique identifier used by the merchant to locate the specific transaction information. Note: “Order Number”, “Invoice Number”, and “Customer Code” are interchangeable terms for Level II 2 and Level III 3 data submissions. | Note |
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Warning: This field cannot be blank, null, or all zeros and must contain a relevant value. |
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| title | MasterCard - Level III Data Requirements |
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Level III 3 data must include all Level II 2 data requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Item Details - Must provide detailed information for each item listed in a transaction including: Item | Name or title of the item. | Description | A detailed description of the product or service sold. | Note |
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Warning: This field cannot be blank, null, or all zeros or spaces and must contain a relevant value. |
| Line Item Total | Total transaction line item cost, calculated with quantity, unit price, discounts, tax, and shipping. | Product Code | A unique identifier used by the Merchant business to identify the specific product. | Note |
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Warning: This field cannot be blank, null, or all zeros or spaces and must contain a relevant value. |
| Quantity | The number of units sold. | Unit of Measure | A standardized unit used to quantify the quantity of the product or service. |
Note: When submitting a Level III 3 transaction, the tax amount must be a percent between 0.1% & 30% of the transaction; it cannot be zero unless tax-exempt status is enabled by the Facilitator. | Note |
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Warning: The following card types are ineligible for Level III 3 interchange with MasterCard: |
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| title | MasterCard - Prohibited Merchant Business Types (MCCs) |
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Warning: Any of the following Merchant Commercial Code (MCC) types are disqualified from Level II 2 or Level III 3 data submission for interchange rate improvements. |
MasterCard Non-Compliant MCCs List: Non-Compliant MCCs | Description of Merchant Business Type |
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3000–3299 | Airlines | 3501-3999 | Car Rental Companies/Hotels | 4112 | Passenger Railways | 4411 | Steamship and Cruise Lines | 4511 | Airlines and Air Carriers | 4722 | Travel Agencies and Tour Operators | 5812 | Eating Places and Restaurants | 5814 | Fast Food Restaurants | 5962 | Direct Marketing – Travel Related Arrangements Services (High Risk) | 5966 | Direct Marketing – Outbound Telemarketing Merchant (High Risk) | 5967 | Direct Marketing – Inbound Teleservices Merchant (High Risk) | 7011 | Lodging – Hotels, Motels, and Resorts | 7512 | Automobile Rental Agency | 7513 | Truck & Utility Trailer Rentals | 7519 | Motor Home and Recreational Vehicle Rentals |
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