MCC Code Lookup

Frequently asked questions

What is an MCC code?

A merchant category code is a four-digit ISO 18245 number that card networks assign to every merchant account to classify what the business sells — 5812 for restaurants, 5411 for grocery stores, 7372 for software services. Your acquirer assigns it during underwriting.

Why does my MCC matter?

It drives interchange rates (some categories cost meaningfully more or less to process), card rewards eligibility, whether certain cards (HSA/FSA, corporate) work at your business, tax reporting (1099-K rules reference MCCs), and risk screening — some MCCs are treated as high-risk by banks and processors.

Can I choose or change my MCC?

You can’t freely choose it, but you can ask your processor to reassign you if the current code misrepresents your business — worth doing, since a wrong MCC can mean paying higher interchange than you should, or being wrongly flagged as high-risk.

What MCC does Stripe or Square give me?

Payment facilitators assign an MCC based on the business description you provide at signup (Stripe lets you view and update it in dashboard settings). If your category looks wrong, update your business profile or contact support — it affects your costs and card acceptance.