Merchant category codes
MCC codes for books, gifts and stationery
Checked
Printed books use 5942, which also covers magazines, maps, audiobooks and calendars. Stationery and office supplies use 5943, gift and novelty shops 5947, religious goods 5973 and newspapers and magazines 5994. Ebooks are a digital good and use 5815. Visa's own example: a store selling books, stationery and newspapers uses 5942 when books are most of its sales.
| MCC | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 5942 | New and used books, magazines, textbooks, maps, audiobooks and calendars. |
| 5943 | Paper goods, office and school supplies, small office equipment. |
| 5947 | Gifts, novelty items, greeting cards, souvenirs, decorations and wrapping. |
| 5973 | Religious figurines, cards, devotional supplies, pictures, books and decor. |
| 5994 | Newspapers, magazines, journals and other periodicals. |
Gift shops and their limits
Visa's 5947 covers gifts and novelty items, greeting cards, balloons, souvenirs, holiday decorations, stationery and wrapping paper. A gift brand whose sales are mostly one category, such as jewelry or chocolate, fits that category's code instead.
Frequently asked questions
- What MCC does a print-on-demand gift store use?
- If most sales are gifts, novelty items and cards, 5947 Gift, Card, Novelty and Souvenir Shops. If most sales are T-shirts, 5699 Miscellaneous Apparel and Accessory Shops fits better.
- What MCC does a bookstore use?
- 5942 Book Stores for new or used printed books, magazines, maps, audiobooks and calendars. Ebooks use 5815 Digital Goods Media.