Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) are four-digit codes assigned to businesses by credit card companies to classify the type of products or services they offer. These codes are used to categorise transactions for reporting and tracking purposes, as well as to determine interchange fees charged by the credit card networks to the merchants.
Payment Context Codes (PCCs) are codes used to provide additional information about the context of a payment transaction. They are used by payment processors and networks to determine the level of authentication required for a transaction, based on the risk associated with the transaction. For example, a PCC might indicate whether a transaction was conducted in person or online, or whether it was a recurring payment or a one-time purchase. PCCs are particularly important for complying with regulatory requirements such as the Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements under the European Union's Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2).
What PCC and MCC codes are available?
Here is a short list we would advise you to use, depending on your merchant's use case:
Payment Context Code (PCC)
- PCC 10: E-commerce transaction
- PCC 11: Mail Order / Telephone Order (MOTO) transaction
- PCC 12: Standing Order
- PCC 13: Direct Debit
- PCC 14: Card Present Transaction
- PCC 15: ATM Transaction
- PCC 16: Transactions carried out by a mobile device
- PCC 17: Digital wallet transaction
- PCC 18: Contactless transaction
- PCC 19: Transaction carried out on a public transport system
- PCC 20: Automated Fuel Dispenser (AFD) transaction
- PCC 21: Payment transaction executed by means of a telecommunications device, digital or IT device or digitalized card
- PCC 22: Payment to a governmental agency
- PCC 23: Peer-to-peer (P2P) payment
- PCC 24: Bill Payment
- PCC 25: Donation
- PCC 26: Betting, lottery, and gambling
- PCC 27: Cash withdrawal at a point of sale (POS) or cashback transaction
Merchant Category Code (MCC)
- MCC 742: Veterinary Services
- MCC 763: Agricultural Cooperatives
- MCC 780: Horticultural Services
- MCC 1520: General Contractors-Residential and Commercial
- MCC 1711: Air Conditioning Contractors
- MCC 1731: Electrical Contractors
- MCC 1740: Masonry, Stonework, and Plastering
- MCC 1750: Carpentry Contractors
- MCC 1761: Roofing, Siding, and Sheet Metal Work
- MCC 1771: Concrete Work Contractors
- MCC 1799: Special Trade Contractors, Not Elsewhere Classified
- MCC 2741: Miscellaneous Publishing and Printing Services
- MCC 2791: Typesetting, Plate Making, and Related Services
- MCC 2842: Speciality Cleaning, Polishing, and Sanitation Preparations
- MCC 3000: United Airlines
- MCC 3001: American Airlines
- MCC 4111: Local and Suburban Commuter Passenger Transportation, Including Ferries
- MCC 4112: Passenger Railways
- MCC 4214: Motor Freight Carriers and Trucking, Local and Long Distance, Moving and Storage Companies, and Local Delivery Services, Including Visiting Merchants
- MCC 4814: Telecommunication Services, Including Local and Long Distance Calls, Credit Card Calls, Calls Through Use of Magnetic-Stripe Reading Telephones, and Fax Services
- MCC 4900: Utilities-Electric, Gas, Water, and Sanitary Services
- MCC 5013: Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts
- MCC 5039: Construction Materials, Not Elsewhere Classified
- MCC 5045: Computers, Computer Peripheral Equipment, Software
- MCC 5047: Medical, Dental, Ophthalmic, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies
- MCC 5051: Metal Service Centres and Offices
- MCC 5065: Electrical Parts and Equipment
- MCC 5072: Hardware, Equipment, and Supplies
- MCC 5074: Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies
- MCC 5085: Industrial Supplies, Not Elsewhere Classified
- MCC 5094: Jewellery, Watches, Precious Stones, and Precious Metals
- MCC 5099: Durable Goods, Not Elsewhere Classified
- MCC 5111: Stationery, Office Supplies, Printing, and Writing Paper
- MCC 5122: Drugs, Drug Proprietaries, and Druggiest Sundries
- MCC 5131: Piece Goods, Notions, and Other Dry Goods
- MCC 5137: Men's and Boys' Clothing and Accessories
- MCC 5139: Commercial Footwear
- MCC 5172: Petroleum and Petroleum Products
- MCC 5192: Books, Periodicals, and Newspapers
- MCC 5193: Florists' Supplies, Nursery Stock, and Flowers
- MCC 5198: Paints, Varnishes, and Supplies
- MCC 5199: Nondurable Goods, Not Elsewhere Classified
- MCC 5261: Retail Nurseries, Lawn, and Garden Supply Stores
- MCC 5300: Wholesale Clubs
- MCC 5309: Duty-Free Stores
- MCC 5310: Discount Stores
- MCC 5311: Department Stores
- MCC 5331: Variety Stores
- MCC 5399: Miscellaneous General Merchandise Stores
- MCC 5411: Grocery Stores, Supermarkets
- MCC 5499: Miscellaneous Food Stores
- MCC 5712: Furniture, Home Furnishings, and Equipment Stores, Except Appliances