The short answer
Reported figures, as of 24 October 2026:
When do UPI charges start?
No date is announced yet. The charge was due on 15 October 2026. After the deferral, reports say it will start after 8 November 2026, with the exact date announced separately.
Until then, nothing changes for your UPI payments. Customers do not pay this charge at any time.
Who pays and who stays free
Only the charge on some customer to shop UPI payments above Rs 2,000 was deferred. The framework itself, notified on 15 September 2026, still stands. Reports estimate that 95 to 96 percent of shop UPI payments are not affected.
The rate: 0.4% above Rs 2,000, capped at Rs 300
The shop pays the charge. Your customer does not. Try a payment amount to see what a charged payment would cost.
What would this payment cost?
Uses the reported rate. Final rules may differ.
0.4% of the payment.
Only applies to eligible shops. Small merchants under the exemption pay nothing.
| Payment | Charge at 0.4% |
|---|---|
| ₹3,000 | ₹12 |
| ₹10,000 | ₹40 |
| ₹75,000 and above | ₹300 (cap) |
Some sectors (railways, telecom, insurance, fuel, utilities and farm inputs) reportedly pay a flat Rs 5 instead. Kirana shops are not in that list.
Four checks for this week
0 of 4 done
Where Ambel POS fits
Check 3 is easier when every sale is in one app and not in a notebook. Ambel POS is a billing app for kirana and retail shops, built so one owner can set it up alone with the guided tour.
Get Ambel POS on the Play Store or try it from the website at ambelpos.com, or WhatsApp us on 63016 58275.
Sources
As of 24 October 2026. Figures are from news reports. Check them against the final NPCI notice and your bank's circular, and expect an update when the start date is announced.
- TaxGuru: UPI MDR deferred until after Diwali
- Organiser, 14 Oct 2026: MDR on UPI transactions postponed
- SCC Times, 19 Sep 2026: UPI MDR rules explained
This is general information, not tax advice. Ask your CA how the charge and any GST on it are treated in your books.