Effective May 1, 2026, the Department will implement a policy change for third-party credit card processing fees for electronic application transactions. Customers who choose to pay by credit card will see a processing fee applied at checkout.
•What is changing?
Effective May 1, 2026, credit card payments will include a third-party processing fee. DEP will no longer cover these charges.
•Who receives the fee?
The fee is not a DEP program fee and is not retained by DEP. It is charged by the payment processor.
•Will customers be informed?
Yes. The fee will be clearly disclosed at checkout before the transaction is completed.
•How can customers avoid the fee?
Customers may select the ACH (electronic check) option, which does not include a processing fee.
•Why is this change being made?
This change aligns with statewide financial practices and supports responsible management of Department resources.
