You can buy almost anything with a credit card these days. Thus, there may be scenarios where you want to know how your credit card company identifies a purchase. Examples include when you want to make sure you earn Reward Points with a Rewards Credit Card, or when you want to know if a certain type of purchase will result in a credit statement.
In either case, how credit card networks identify your purchases depends on the Merchant Category Code (MCC) assigned to them. This guide explains how seller category codes work, where to find this information, and how knowing the company’s Customer Center can help you.
What is a seller category code?
The MCC is a four-digit number that the major credit card networks (Visa, Discover, American Express, and Mastercard) assign to every company that applies for credit cards. The number corresponds to the type of business or service the company offers, so many companies in the same industry can have the same MCC.
Generally speaking, credit card networks use MCC to classify and track purchases. When a purchase is added to a statement, the category assigned to it, such as building materials or car rental, is linked to the seller’s category code. However, major airlines and hotels have their own MCC codes.
List of vendor category codes
MCCs may vary by processor, but there are some general trends. Here are some typical merchant categories provided by Citi:
- Agricultural services: ICC 0001-1499
- Airlines: MSS 3000-3299
- Business Services: MCC 7300-7999
- Car rental: MCC 3300-3499
- Clothing stores: MCC 5600-5699
- Contracted Services: MCC 1500-2999
- Public services: MSS 9000-9999
- Residence: MCC 3500-3999
- Various stores: MCC 5700-7299
- Retail outlet services: MCC 5000-5599
- Professional Services and Membership Organizations: MCC 8000-8999
- Transport services: MCC 4000-4799
- Utilities: MCC 4800-4999
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also provides a list of Visa trade codes, including MCCs, that apply to airlines and hotels. Some of them include:
Airline MCCs
- Aer Lingus: 3043
- Air Canada: 3009
- Air France: 3007
- Cathay Pacific: 3099
- Delta: 3058
- Icelandair: 3050
- Lufthansa: 3008
- Southwest: 3066
- United: 3000
- Virgin Atlantic: 3144
Location of MCCs
- Days Inn: 3510
- Fairmont: 3590
- Hilton: 3504
- Holiday Inn: 3501
- Marriott: 3509
- Omni: 3592
- Sheraton: 3503
- Sonesta: 3591
- Quality hotel: 3508
- Westin: 3053
How to find a company’s MCC
So how do you find the MCC of a specific business? Generally speaking, each credit card network has its own master list, so some merchants will have a different MCC code for different credit card networks. Meanwhile, some codes are used across all credit card networks, so they are always the same.
In addition to the MCC Citi list above, you can seek help from other online resources, including the Visa Merchant Data Standards Guide and Quick Reference Booklet – Merchant Edition for Mastercard.
If you have a question about how a particular purchase can be coded on your credit card statement, you can also call the number on the back of your card and ask.
Why do you need to know the company’s MCC
Whether you are a consumer or own or operate a small business, there are several situations in which you may need to know a company’s MCC. This includes:
Do you want to earn bonus points
If you are a consumer who uses credit cards for cash back, flexible rewards, or travel points, knowing the MCCs of various companies can be helpful. After all, many credit cards offer reward points for certain types of purchases, but you may not know how a purchase will be encoded on your credit card statement without knowing the MCC.
As an example, let’s say you have a Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which offers a 6 percent return on up to $6,000 spent in US supermarkets each year (then 1 percent is returned). If you’ve been thinking about shopping at a small grocery store but would like to earn bonus rewards for those purchases, knowing the company’s MCC can help.
Your credit card offers credit for certain purchases
You may have a credit card that offers checkout credits for certain types of purchases, such as travel expenses. An example is the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which offers a $300 annual credit that is eligible for all purchases that are coded as travel. In this case, knowing the MCC for the company you plan to book your trip with can help you figure out if your purchase will get you the credit you need.
Or maybe you have a card that offers restaurant statement credits, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card (effective September 2, 2022). In this scenario, you should watch out for restaurants that may have a different Customer Center due to their location. For example, you can pay attention to whether a fast food restaurant at a gas station counts as a restaurant or belongs to a gas station, and only use this card at a diner if it counts.
You run a business that accepts credit cards
If you operate a business that accepts credit cards, your MCC will determine how much it will cost you to process them. Please note that businesses with “high risk” MCCs (such as merchants operating in the CBD, gaming, and gaming) typically pay higher commissions and often have to seek out merchant processing contracts meant for those who belongs to this category.
The MCCs on your reports can come into play when it’s time to file your tax return. Specifically, the MCCs help determine whether a bank that transfers money from credit card transactions to your bank account must report it to you on Form 1099-MISC. For more information, see the IRS Frequently Asked Questions about Payment Card Transactions.
bottom line
In many situations, it matters which MCC a company is assigned, and this is true whether you are a consumer trying to maximize rewards or a business owner who accepts credit cards. However, finding a company’s MCC is not always easy, especially since each credit card network may assign different ones.
Often the best way to find a company’s MCC for a consumer is to make a small purchase and see how it’s coded on a credit card statement. This strategy may not be perfect, but at least you will know exactly the MCC of the business.
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