Submitting Interchange Data with Transactions

To take advantage of lower interchange rates, this Level 2 and Level 3 data must be submitted alongside your transaction. This ensures the customer’s card brand network can receive and assess the data to determine which interchange rate the transaction will receive.

Tip: If you’re not sure what data each interchange level requires, visit Understanding Interchange Data Requirements.

Before you Begin - Identify the Card Type

Before you begin, we recommend checking each card’s Level 2 and Level 3 processing eligibility. Visa and MasterCard are the only card brands that can receive additional data to influence their interchange rates. As a result, it is important to verify the card brand before submitting data with the intention of reducing interchange rates.

A primary example is card brands American Express and Discover, which don’t offer direct data submission options for Level 2 or 3 data to obtain lower interchange rates.

A simple API query (below) will quickly identify the card type:

GET https://test-api.payrix.com/bins

The response will display the method (card brand), type (debit, credit, or both), and category (personal, corporate card, etc.), which will allow you to know before submitting the additional data if the card brand network supports lower interchange rates or Level 2 or Level 3 data submissions.

To qualify for interchange data submission with Visa or MasterCard, you must meet one of each of the following response values when checking card types using the /bins endpoint:

Required Parameter	Acceptable Values

Required Parameter	Acceptable Values
`method`	`2` - Visa `3` - MasterCard
`type`	`credit` - Credit Card `debit` - Debit Card `debitCredit` - Debit or Credit Card `charge` - Purchasing or Charge Card
`category`	`business` - Business credit or debit card. `corporate` - Corporate credit or debit card.

In the response, you’ll be looking specifically for the method, type, and category values.

{
  "response": {
    "data": [
      {
        "bin": "123456",
        "method": 2,
        "type": "credit",
        "category": "business",
        "name": "Big Bank",
        "address": "123 Golden Ave",
        "city": "Denver",
        "state": "CO",
        "country": "USA",
        "zip": "12345",
        "locationType": "branch",
        "newBin": "123455",
        "website": "https://website.com/",
        "phone": "5555555555",
        "transferEnabled": 0,
        "numberLength": 0,
        "debitOverCreditEnabled": 0,
        "billPayEnabled": 0,
        "pinlessSupport": "none"
      }
    ],
    "details": {}
    },
    "errors": []
  }
}

Parameters	Type	Description	Valid Values / Format

Parameters	Type	Description	Valid Values / Format
`bin`	string	The bank issuer number and first 6 digits of the card used in a Transaction.
`method`	string	The type of payment method used for a transaction.	Valid Values: `0` - Unknown Payment Method `1` - American Express `2` - Visa `3` - MasterCard `4` - Diners Club `5` - Discover `6` - PayPal `7` - Debit card `8` - Checking account `9` - Savings account `10` - Corporate checking account `11` - Corporate savings account `12` - Gift card `13` - EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) Card `14` - WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Card
`type`	string	The type of the card used in the Transaction.	Valid Values: `credit` - Credit Card `debit` - Debit Card `debitCredit` - Debit or Credit Card `charge` - Purchasing or Charge Card `prepaid` - Prepaid Debit Card `bankAccount` - Bank Account Card
`category`	integer	The card type category for the account.	Valid Values: `classic` - Classic credit or debit card. `business` - Business credit or debit card. `corporate` - Corporate credit or debit card. `fleet` - Fleet card for transportation related expenses. `hsaFsa` - HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) card. `platinum` - Platinum credit card. `prepaid` - Prepaid card. `coreCard` - Core card. `personal` - Personal account. `standard` - Standard account. `other` - Other type of account.
`name`	number	The name of the bank that issued the card used in the Transaction.
`address`	string	The issuing bank street address.
`city`	string	The city of issuing bank.
`state`	string	The 2-digit issuing bank state or province code.	Example: `CO` = Colorado
`country`	string	The 3-digit missing bank country code.	Valid Values: `USA` - United States `CAN` - Canada Default is `USA`
`zip`	string	The 5-digit issuing bank postal code.
`locationType`	string	The type of location of the issuing bank.	Valid Values: `branch` - Branch location `main` - Main headquarters
`newBin`	string	The bank issuer number (BIN) or routing number that replaces or supersedes the `bin` field value (where applicable).
`website`	string	The website of the bank that issued the card used in the Transaction.
`phone`	string	The phone number of the bank that issued the card used in the Transaction.
`transferEnabled`	integer		Valid Values: `0` - Push-to-card transfer disabled. `1` - Push-to-card transfer enabled.
`numberLength`	string	The number of digits expected for account numbers with this BIN.
`debitOverCreditEnabled`	integer	Whether this debit card may be charged as credit over the credit networks.	Valid Values: `0` - Debit charge as 'credit' disabled. `1` - Debit charge as 'credit' enabled.
`billPayEnabled`	integer	Whether this card may be used for bill pay features.	Valid Values: `0` - Bill pay capability disabled. `1` - Bill pay capability enabled.
`pinlessSupport`	string	What type of pinless charging is allowed on this debit card.	Valid Values: `none` - No pinless support, PIN (Personal Identification Number) must always be provided. `restricted` - Some pinless support, PIN (Personal Identification Number) may not always be necessary. `full` - Full pinless support, PIN (Personal Identification Number) may be omitted for pinless payments.

Tip: You can also view a card type, BIN, and additional card information in the Portal for previous transactions through the Payment Details tab on the Transaction Details page for the associated card type.

Submit Level 2 & Level 3 Data

There are multiple methods to submit Level 2 or Level 3 data, read through the basic methods below to find the best workflow for your business:

Portal

The Portal offers a very simple way to manually enter and submit Level 2 and Level 3 values with payment transactions. Read the steps below to learn more:

To submit Level 2 transaction data using the Create Payments page:

Step 1: Navigate to the Create Payment page under Payments
Step 2: Enter all applicable data. Then, under Customer Details, check “Submit this transaction as LEVEL 2 PROCESSING” to reveal Level 2 fields.
Step 3: Enter the TAX and ORDER NUMBER values.
- Note: If the entity is tax-exempt, you may enter '0'. See the steps below to enable tax-exempt status.
- Note: If you are not a tax-exempt entity, you must adhere to Visa, Mastercard, and local government sales tax rates and regulations to receive lower Level 2 interchange rates.
Step 4: (Optional) Follow the steps below to also include Level 3 data.

Click Process Payment to complete the submission.

Non-profit and Governmental entities that qualify for tax-exempt status can apply this setting to their platform entity. This provides the proper mapping for Level 2 data submission when tax amounts are set to 0%.

To apply tax-exempt status to non-profit entity groups from the Groups page:

Step 1: Navigate to the Groups page under the Management section.
Step 2: Click on the desired group (or Add a new Group if needed) & enter the Group Profile page.
Step 3: Click on the Parameters tab, then click the ADD PARAMETERS button.
Step 4: Click the edit icon in the upper-right corner, then check “Auto Tax Exempt Enabled” and confirm.
Step 5: Return to the Group Profile page, then click the ADD MEMBERS button to Add the Merchant as a Member.

Click Save to complete the Merchant enrollment in the Tax Exempt Group.

Tax Exempt Exceptions:

MCC	Type / Description

MCC	Type / Description
4111	Transportation—Suburban and Local Commuter Passenger, including Ferries
4131	Bus Lines
4215	Courier Services
4468	Marinas, Marine Service/Supplies
4784	Bridge and Road Fees, Tolls
5499	Misc Food Stores
5541	Service Stations
5542	Automated Fuel Dispenser
5983	Fuel Dealers
8211	Elementary and Secondary Schools
8220	Colleges
8398	Charities
8661	Religious Orgs
9211	Court Costs
9222	Gov’t Fines
9311	Tax Payments
9399	Gov’t Services Not Elsewhere Classified
9402	Gov’t Postal Services

To submit Level 3 transaction data using the Create Payments page:

Step 1: Complete steps 1-3 above from the Level 2 submission step above.
Step 2: Check “Submit this transaction as LEVEL 3 PROCESSING (All fields must be completed)” to reveal Level 3 fields.
Step 3: Enter the SHIPPING AMOUNT, DUTY AMOUNT & ORDER DISCOUNT value.
Step 4: Under Order Items, enter the DESCRIPTION, COMMODITY CODE, PRODUCT CODE, ITEM PRICE, ITEM DISCOUNT, QUANTITY, UNIT OF MEASURE, and ITEM TOTAL for each item.
Step 5: (Optional) Add additional Order Items as needed by clicking Add Item at the bottom of each new item form.

Click Process Payment to complete the submission.

API

The Payrix API provides a straightforward method of submitting Level 2 and Level 3 data values alongside transactions. Read the information below to learn more.

To submit Level 2 transaction data using the /txns Payrix API endpoint, send the following request:

POST https://test-api.payrix.com/txns

{
   "merchant":"{yourMerchantID}",
   "payment":{
      "number":"{customerCardNumber}",
      "cvv":"{customerCardCVV}"
   }
   "expiration":"MMYY",
   "type":2,
   "order":"INVOICE#1",
   "total":7799,
}

Required Parameters		Type	Description	Valid Values / Format

Required Parameters		Type	Description	Valid Values / Format
`merchant`		string	The identifier of the Merchant associated with this Transaction.
`payment`		object	The payment method associated with this Transaction, including the card details.
	`number`	number	For credit payment method, the card number of the credit card associated with this Transaction. For the eCheck payment method, the bank account number is associated with this Transaction.
	`cvv`	integer	The Card Verification Value (CVV) number of the credit card associated with this Transaction.	This field is expressed as a 3-digit integer.
`expiration`		number	The expiration date of the credit card associated with this Transaction.	This field is stored as a text string in 'MMYY' format, where 'MM' is the number of a month and 'YY' is the last two digits of a year. For example, '0623' for June 2023.
`type`		integer	The type of Transaction.	`1` - Credit Card Only: Sale Transaction. Processes a sale and charges the customer. `2` - Credit Card Only: Auth Transaction. Authorizes and holds the requested total on the credit card. `3` - Credit Card Only: Capture Transaction. Finalizes a prior Auth Transaction and charges the customer. `4` - Credit Card Only: Reverse Authorization. Reverses a prior Auth or Sale Transaction and releases the credit hold. `5` - Credit Card Only: Refund Transaction. Refunds a prior Capture or Sale Transaction (total may be specified for a partial refund). `7` - eCheck Only: eCheck Sale Transaction. Sale Transaction for eCheck payment. `8` - eCheck Only: eCheck Refund Transaction. Refund Transaction for prior eCheck Sale Transaction. `11` - eCheck Only: eCheck Redeposit Transaction. Attempt to redeposit a prior failed eCheck Sale Transaction. `12` - eCheck Only: eCheck Account Verification Transaction. Attempt to verify eCheck payment details.
`total`		number	The total amount of this Transaction.	This field is specified as an integer in cents.
`tax`		integer	The total sum of this Transaction’s tax amount.	This field is specified as an integer in cents.

PayFields

PayFields is a unique offering that seamlessly integrates a payment gateway into your existing HTML website package and eliminates PCI Compliance risk. Submitting Level 2 and Level 3 data values can be easily done by adding new fields. Read the information below to learn more: