Your MCC code affects your interchange fees, your customers' credit card rewards, and how card networks classify your risk. Despite that, most merchants have never looked up what MCC their processor assigned them.
If you are on Stripe, Adyen, Shopify Payments, Checkout.com, or PayPal, finding your MCC takes less than two minutes once you know where to look.
Why Knowing Your MCC Matters
Before jumping into platform-specific steps, it helps to understand why this is worth checking.
Your merchant category code is a four-digit number that classifies your business type. Every processor assigns one when you onboard. It influences:
- Interchange fees — different MCCs pay different rates on every transaction
- Card rewards eligibility — issuers use your MCC to decide if purchases earn bonus points
- Risk classification — card networks monitor chargeback rates by MCC, with tighter thresholds for some categories
- Processor acceptance — some processors restrict or decline certain MCC categories entirely
A wrong MCC can cost you money on every transaction and create friction you never see.
How to Find Your MCC Code on Stripe
Stripe is the most straightforward platform for checking your MCC.
Steps
- Log in to your Stripe Dashboard
- Go to Settings (gear icon in the top right)
- Click Business details under Your business
- Scroll to the Merchant Category Code field
Your MCC is displayed as a four-digit number with a description. For example: 5734 — Computer Software Stores.
How Stripe Assigns Your MCC
Stripe auto-assigns your MCC during onboarding based on the business description and website you provided. The assignment is largely automated. Stripe's system reads your business type, product descriptions, and industry classification, then maps it to the closest MCC.
If your business has changed since onboarding, your Stripe MCC may be outdated. Stripe does not automatically re-evaluate your classification.
How to Change Your MCC on Stripe
You cannot edit your MCC directly in the dashboard. To request a change:
- Contact Stripe Support through the dashboard
- Explain why your current MCC is incorrect
- Provide documentation showing your actual primary business activity
- Stripe will review and update the code, typically within 5–10 business days
How to Find Your MCC Code on Adyen
Adyen's merchant configuration is managed through their Customer Area.
Steps
- Log in to the Adyen Customer Area
- Navigate to Account → Company settings
- Your MCC is listed in the merchant configuration section for each merchant account
If you have multiple merchant accounts (common in Adyen's account structure), each one may have its own MCC. Check each account individually.
How Adyen Assigns Your MCC
Adyen assigns your MCC during the merchant configuration process. Unlike Stripe's automated approach, Adyen's assignment is typically handled by your account manager or onboarding team during integration setup.
Adyen also allows more granular MCC assignment across merchant accounts, which is useful if your business operates in multiple verticals.
How to Change Your MCC on Adyen
- Contact your Adyen account manager directly
- Submit a support request through the Customer Area
- Provide business documentation supporting the change
- Adyen's compliance team will review and process the update
Adyen's MCC changes may require re-evaluation by their risk team, especially if the new code changes your risk classification. Allow 1–3 weeks for processing.
How to Find Your MCC Code on Shopify Payments
Shopify Payments integrates payment processing directly into your Shopify store, powered by Stripe's infrastructure.
Steps
- Log in to your Shopify admin
- Go to Settings → Payments
- In the Shopify Payments section, click View merchant info or Manage
- Your MCC is displayed in the account details
How Shopify Assigns Your MCC
Shopify assigns your MCC based on the store category you selected when setting up your shop. If you picked "Clothing" during setup, you will likely have an apparel-related MCC. If you selected "Food and drink," you will get a food service MCC.
The assignment is automatic and tied to Shopify's category mapping.
How to Change Your MCC on Shopify
Since Shopify Payments runs on Stripe's infrastructure:
- Contact Shopify Payments support through your admin panel
- Explain why your store category and MCC do not match your actual business
- You may also need to update your store category in Shopify settings
- Changes route through Shopify's payment team and may take 1–2 weeks
How to Find Your MCC Code on Checkout.com
Checkout.com provides MCC information through their Hub platform.
Steps
- Log in to the Checkout.com Hub
- Navigate to Processing Settings under your account configuration
- Your MCC should be listed in the merchant account details
If you cannot find it in the Hub, the fastest route is to contact your Checkout.com account manager. Their account structure sometimes requires direct assistance for configuration details.
How Checkout.com Assigns Your MCC
Checkout.com assigns MCC codes during the onboarding and risk assessment process. Their team reviews your business documentation and assigns a code based on your primary activity.
How to Change Your MCC on Checkout.com
- Contact your account manager at Checkout.com
- Submit documentation showing your correct business classification
- The change goes through their compliance review
- Expect 1–2 weeks for processing
How to Find Your MCC Code on PayPal and Braintree
PayPal and Braintree (PayPal's developer-facing platform) are less transparent about MCC assignment.
PayPal
PayPal does not display your MCC code in the standard merchant dashboard. To find it:
- Check your original merchant agreement — the MCC is typically referenced in the terms
- Contact PayPal Merchant Support and ask for your assigned MCC
- Review any underwriting correspondence from when your account was approved
Braintree
- Log in to the Braintree Control Panel
- Check Settings → Processing for merchant account details
- If the MCC is not visible, contact Braintree support directly
PayPal and Braintree may assign different MCCs to the same business depending on which product you are using. If you process through both, verify both codes.
How to Request an MCC Code Change
Regardless of your processor, the process for changing your MCC follows a similar pattern:
Identify the Correct MCC
Use the MCC code lookup tool to find the code that best matches your primary business activity. Focus on what generates the most revenue, not secondary activities.
Gather Documentation
Prepare your business license, website URL, product catalog, and a revenue breakdown showing your primary business activity. The more evidence you provide, the faster the review.
Contact Your Processor
Reach out to your processor's support or account management team. Be specific about which MCC you have now and which one you believe is correct.
Follow Up
MCC changes typically take 1–4 weeks depending on the processor. If the change affects your risk classification, expect additional review from the compliance team.
What to Do If Your MCC Is Wrong
A wrong MCC has real financial consequences:
- Overpaying on interchange — if your correct MCC qualifies for lower interchange tiers, every transaction costs more than it should
- Missing rewards eligibility — your customers may not earn bonus points on purchases, making your business less attractive for rewards-driven buyers
- Wrong risk classification — a higher-risk MCC than warranted can trigger reserve requirements, enhanced monitoring, or even account restrictions
- Reporting errors — expense management systems and corporate cards categorize spending by MCC, so a wrong code creates downstream confusion
Fix it as soon as you notice it. The process is not difficult, but it does require proactive outreach to your processor.
How Tagada Handles MCC Routing Across Multiple Processors
When you use multiple payment processors, MCC management becomes more complex. Each processor assigns their own MCC independently, which can lead to inconsistencies.
A payment orchestration layer like Tagada helps by:
- Centralizing MCC visibility across all connected processors
- Routing transactions to the processor that offers the best interchange program for your MCC
- Flagging inconsistencies when processors assign different MCCs to the same merchant
- Optimizing for high-risk MCCs by routing to processors with specialized programs for your category
This is particularly valuable for merchants in categories where processor options vary significantly. A business with a high-risk MCC benefits from having multiple acquirer options that Tagada can route between based on approval rates, fees, and account stability.
If you are unsure which MCC code your business should have, start with the MCC lookup tool to search by code or business type. If you find that your assigned code does not match, reach out to your processor with the correct code and supporting documentation.