Card Number Truncation on Merchant Receipts

Update: March 2011

There are federal laws, various state laws and association rules which require merchants to truncate the cardholder copy of receipts.   It is the merchant's responsibility to comply with applicable laws and regulations regarding truncation.  Please check your POS and terminal receipts to insure you are in compliance.

Seven (7) states have passed legislation that requires merchants to truncate both cardholder and merchant receipts.  The states are:

  • New Mexico - as of 01/01/2004
  • Wisconsin - as of 08/01/2005
  • Colorado - as of 01/01/2006
  • Tennessee - as of 01/01/2007
  • California - as of 01/01/2009
  • Alaska - as of 07/01/2009
  • Nevada - as of 07/01/2009
  • Washington State - as of 07/26/2009

Additional states have legislation in progress which may be enacted in the near future which may require merchants to truncate both cardholder and merchant receipts. Under the current legislation merchants in the above states are required to truncate both the cardholder and merchant copy of the receipt by masking the card number and the expiration date as follows:

  • Card number truncation is defined as masking all but the last 4 digits of the card number by using * or X. (Example: XXXXXXXXXXXX1234 OR ************1234)
  • Expiration date truncation is defined as masking the expiration date by using * or X. (Example: XX/XX OR **/**)

If you need help, contact us at 800-397-2380.

by Ty Hardison

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