MCC code4 min readUpdated October 15, 2026

MCC 9399: Government Services (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MCC 9399 is Visa's catch-all code for government services: DMV, libraries, parks. What it covers, 9399 vs 9311 and 9222, Visa fee rules and Stripe limits.

Nick Bonnassies, CMO at Tagada · checked against 6 sources

Article summary

TL;DR

MCC 9399 is the merchant category code for government services that don't have a more specific code. Visa lists the DMV, fire and police departments, libraries, and parks and recreation. Taxes use 9311, fines 9222, court costs 9211, and government post offices 9402.

Visa's definition: government entities that provide general support services to government and communities, with no more specific MCC.
Visa names the DMV, fire departments, libraries, parks and recreation, and police departments as included.
A government payment goes to its specific code first: 9311 for taxes, 9222 for fines, 9211 for court costs. 9399 is the fallback.
Visa's April 2026 rules allow a service fee on 9399 in the US, Thailand, Egypt, Brazil, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago, but not in Canada.
9399 isn't on Visa's high integrity risk list. Stripe marks it as restricted, including for Cash App Pay.

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On this page

You saw "9399" or "Government Services" next to a card payment, or in a processor's list. It's the catch-all code for public bodies. Here is Visa's exact wording, the government codes that come first, and the rules that name 9399.

What MCC 9399 means

MCC 9399 is the merchant category code for Government Services (Not Elsewhere Classified). Visa's manual defines it this way:1

Merchants classified with this MCC are government entities that provide general support services to government and communities are not classified with a more specific MCC.

Visa, Merchant Data Standards Manual, April 2026

Visa lists what is included: DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles), fire departments, libraries, parks and recreation, and police departments.1

Passports, visa centers and permits aren't on Visa's list. Directories place them here: PXP names passport offices, driving license agencies and local councils, and Finance Mail.ru adds visa centers, school meal payments and public service centers in Russia.5 6 These aren't official sources. The code on a given payment is set by the agency's acquirer.

Visa's manual shows how the fallback works. A county takes property taxes under 9311. Its ballpark also takes youth league registrations. Those must go to 9399, "because it is a payment to the county government that does not fall under any other government related MCC."1

Codes it is not: 9399 vs 9311, 9222, 9402 and others

MCC	Visa title	What it covers	Use 9399 instead when
9311	Tax Payments	Collection of taxes and penalties	The payment isn't a tax
9222	Fines	Fines, penalties, motor vehicle violations	It's a service fee, not a fine
9211	Court Costs, Including Alimony and Child Support	Court fees, alimony, child support	It isn't paid to a court
9223	Bail and Bond Payments	Bail posted to the court system	It isn't bail
9402	Postal Services – Government Only	Government post offices	It isn't mail or stamps
9405	U.S. Federal Government Agencies or Departments	US federal transactions through the IGOTS program	It isn't an IGOTS transaction
8220	Colleges, Universities, Professional Schools, and Junior Colleges	Degree-granting schools	It isn't tuition
7523	Parking Lots, Parking Meters and Garages	Temporary parking, hourly to monthly	Visa lists it as similar to 9399
4784	Tolls and Bridge Fees	Toll roads, highways, bridges	Visa lists it as similar to 9399

Verdict

Taxes: 9311. Fines: 9222. Court costs: 9211. Post office: 9402. Any other payment to a government body: 9399.

Some directories put tax offices and fines under 9399. Visa's manual gives each its own code.1

Visa rules and processors that name 9399

Who	What they say about 9399	Source
Visa, high-risk list	Absent from the April 2026 list of high integrity risk MCCs	Merchant Data Standards Manual1
Visa, Table 5-6	A service fee is permitted on 9399 in Thailand, Egypt, Brazil, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US. Canada's list leaves it out	Core Rules, section 5.5.3.12
Visa, Table 5-7	In the US, a government agency or its third party may charge the service fee	Core Rules2
Visa, Australia surcharges	A government merchant on 9399 may collect the surcharge separately and use a third party to deposit transactions	Core Rules, section 5.5.1.12
Visa, Table 5-35	Bill payment providers may use 9311 for billers, but 9399 isn't on the list. A biller that can't use a listed code must use 4829	Core Rules, section 5.12.12
Visa, Table 7-3	In Canada, acquirers must support partial authorization for 9399	Core Rules2
Stripe	"Government Services (Not Elsewhere Classified)" is marked restricted. You must contact Stripe to use it	Set merchant category codes3
Stripe, Cash App Pay	9399 is restricted: it may be supported, with more information at account creation	Cash App Pay docs4

A service fee is an extra charge Visa allows only for the countries and codes in Table 5-6.2 More in our guide to credit card surcharges.

For cardholders and merchants

For cardholders. Paying the DMV or a city park can show as 9399. Your bank decides whether it earns rewards or cashback. Check your card's terms before you pay a large fee by card.

For merchants. Only a government body belongs in 9399, and only when no specific government code fits. Stripe uses MCCs to calculate interchange fees, authorize payments and prevent fraud.3 To check or fix your code, see how to find your MCC code.

Updated on October 15, 2026

Nick Bonnassies

CMO at Tagada

CMO at Tagada. Before Tagada, Nick built direct-to-consumer brands that generated over $115M in sales, raised over $25M in crowdfunding and sold two of them. He also works as a fractional CMO on marketing operations and AI systems.

Frequently asked questions

What is MCC 9399?

MCC 9399 is the merchant category code for Government Services (Not Elsewhere Classified). Visa uses it for government entities that serve the government or the community and have no more specific code, such as the DMV, libraries, parks, and fire and police departments.

Does MCC 9399 cover passports and permits?

Visa's manual doesn't name passports or permits. It names the DMV, fire departments, libraries, parks and recreation, and police departments. A government office with no more specific code falls under 9399 by definition, and directories such as PXP list passport offices there. The acquirer sets the code on each payment.

What is the difference between MCC 9399 and 9311?

9311 is for collecting taxes and penalties. 9399 is for government payments that fit no other government code. Visa's own example: a county takes property taxes under 9311 but must use 9399 for youth league registrations at its ballpark.

Is MCC 9399 high risk?

No. 9399 isn't on Visa's April 2026 list of high integrity risk MCCs. Stripe still marks it as restricted, so a business must contact Stripe before using it.

Sources

Checked October 15, 2026

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