Illinois Statutes Chapter 50. Local Government § 345/25. Payment of fees by cardholders

(a) The governing body of a local governmental entity authorizing acceptance of payment by credit card may, but is not required to, impose a convenience fee or surcharge upon a cardholder making payment by credit card in an amount to wholly or partially offset, but in no event exceed, the amount of any discount or processing fee incurred by the local governmental entity. This convenience fee or surcharge may be applied only when allowed under the operating rules and regulations of the credit card involved. When a cardholder elects to make a payment by credit card to a local governmental entity and a convenience fee or surcharge is imposed, the payment of the convenience fee or surcharge shall be deemed voluntary by the person and shall not be refundable.

(b) No fee, or accumulation of fees, that exceeds the lesser of $20 or 5% of the principal amount charged may be imposed in connection with the issuance of any license, sticker, or permit, or with respect to any other similar transaction. No fee, or accumulation of fees, that exceeds the lesser of $5 or 5% of the transaction involved may be imposed in connection with the payment of any fine. No fee, or accumulation of fees, in excess of the lesser of $40 or 3% of the principal amount charged may be imposed in connection with the payment of any real estate or other tax.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), a minimum fee of $1 may be imposed with respect to any transaction.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), a fee in excess of the limits in subsection (b) may be imposed by a local governmental entity on a transaction if (i) the fee imposed by the local governmental entity is no greater than a fee charged by the financial institution or service provider accepting and processing credit card payments on behalf of the local governmental entity; (ii) the financial institution or service provider accepting and processing the credit card payments was selected by competitive bid and, when applicable, in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Procurement Code;  1 and (iii) the local governmental entity fully discloses the amount of the fee to the cardholder.