Parliament has introduced a legislative package initiated by Georgian Dream MPs aimed at reducing card payment fees and introducing a new universal cash register system. The bill was authored by Finance and Budget Committee Chair Paata Kvizhinadze, his deputy Bezhan Tsakadze, and MPs Irakli Kheladze, Zurab Rurua, Giorgi Barvenashvili, and Levan Machavariani.
The amendments to the Law on Payment Systems and Payment Services set a maximum interchange fee of 0.3% per card transaction. The proposal also defines any equivalent charges as part of the interchange fee and prohibits practices aimed at bypassing the cap, including reclassification or splitting of fees. According to the explanatory note, the goal is to reduce costs for businesses accepting card payments.
A second draft law introduces a universal cash register system that combines payment terminal and fiscal recording functions in one device. It will enable both cash and non-cash transactions to be processed and reported in real time to the Revenue Service. From January 1, 2027, only the new type of cash registers will be eligible for registration, with a transition period until May 1, 2028, after which their use will become mandatory.
The package also centralizes the supply and maintenance of cash register systems through a government-selected operator, with participation from the Revenue Service and the National Bank. A similar initiative was previously proposed in 2025, initially setting a 0.5% cap, but was later withdrawn with plans to revisit the issue in the future.
