Frequently Asked Question

Do small merchants with limited transaction volumes need comply with PCI DSS?

PCI DSS is intended for all entities involved in payment processing, including merchants, regardless of their size or transaction volume.  When compared with larger merchants, small merchants often have simpler environments, with limited amounts of cardholder data and fewer systems that need protecting, which can help reduce their PCI DSS compliance effort.  

Whether a small merchant is required to validate compliance is determined by the individual payment brands. For questions regarding compliance validation and reporting requirements, merchants should contact their acquirer (merchant bank) or payment brand they do business with, as applicable. 
Last updated: July 2015
Originally published: April 2012
Article Number: 1022

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