Understanding Processing Fees

Every dues payment processed through Fourplex goes through Stripe, the payment processor we use. Fourplex adds a processing fee to each payment so the HOA receives the full dues amount in every deposit.

How fees are calculated

The fee depends on your payment method:

Payment method	Fee formula	Example on $300 dues
US credit or debit card	3% + $0.30	$9.30
ACH bank transfer	0.9%, max $5.00	$2.70
International card (non-US issued)	4.7% + $0.30	$14.40

ACH is almost always cheaper for monthly HOA dues. For a $300 dues amount, ACH costs $2.70 versus $9.30 for a card — a $6.60 difference every month.

The ACH fee is capped at $5.00, so for dues above approximately $556 per month, ACH costs exactly $5.00 regardless of the amount.

International card surcharge

If your credit or debit card was issued outside the United States, a 1.7% international card surcharge is added on top of the standard 3% + $0.30 card rate.

If you use an international card and want to reduce fees, enrolling with a US-based bank account via ACH is the most cost-effective option.

When your HOA absorbs the fee

Some HOAs choose to absorb processing fees on behalf of their members. In that case, the fee line will show $0.00 on your payment review screen and you'll only be charged your dues amount. Your board sets this policy — if you're not sure whether your HOA covers fees, check with your board.

HOAs can choose to absorb fees for cards, for ACH, or for both. It's also possible your HOA absorbs ACH fees but not card fees (encouraging members to use the lower-cost option).

Where you'll see the fee

The fee is always shown before you confirm a payment:

• Autopay setup: The first setup screen compares estimated ACH and card totals. The final review screen shows your dues, the payment processing fee, and the total that will apply when you click Confirm autopay. ACH totals follow the ACH fee policy directly; card totals use the standard US card rate unless Stripe identifies an international card during confirmation.
• One-time payment: The review screen before you click Pay shows the same breakdown.

The comparison screen uses the standard ACH and US card rates your HOA passes through. If you use an international card, the final fee can be higher because of the published international surcharge.

After a payment is made, your payment history and each receipt show the rate that was charged next to the processing fee (for example, "3% + $0.30"). Because the rate is recorded at the time of payment, an old receipt always reflects the rate you actually paid — even if the published rate changes later.

Common questions

Why isn't Stripe's fee built into my dues amount?

Showing the fee separately keeps your dues amount consistent with what your board set. It also lets you make an informed choice about which payment method to use.

Will the fee ever change?

Stripe occasionally adjusts its pricing. If the fee formula changes, we'll update this page and future autopay charges will use the current published rate. You'll also see the latest rate the next time you set up autopay or change your payment method. Past receipts keep showing the rate that applied when each payment was made, so a rate change never rewrites your history.

Is the fee tax-deductible?

We're not able to provide tax advice. Consult a tax professional if you want to know whether HOA dues or payment fees are deductible for your situation.

My receipt shows a different amount than I expected. What happened?

Compare the receipt total to the breakdown shown before you confirmed. If they match, the charge is correct. If they don't match, contact your board with your receipt details and they can look into it.