Shopee PayLater users should take note of a significant backend change that could impact credit card rewards eligibility. Based on some users’ reports, a different MCC is reflected on their SPayLater transaction receipt lately (Thanks to ST in my telegram group for the tip-off!).
Shopee PayLater transactions have been reclassified from MCC 5999 to MCC 6540, and the transaction descriptor now appears as “ShopeePay” on card statements.
While this may look like a minor technical update, it has meaningful implications for those who previously earned cashback or miles when paying their PayLater bills with credit cards.
Can No Longer Earn Rewards
For most Singapore-issued credit cards, MCC 6540 is explicitly excluded from earning rewards. Banks typically treat this MCC as a wallet top-up or quasi-cash–type transaction, which means:
❌ No cashback
❌ No miles
❌ No points
This applies even if the transaction looks like a regular Shopee-related payment on your statement. In short, card rewards that previously worked under MCC 5999 are unlikely to apply under MCC 6540.
While Shopee PayLater may no longer work for credit card rewards, other Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) services or instalment platforms historically post under merchant category codes (like MCC 5999, 5399, or similar) that can still be eligible for rewards—at least with some cards. You can check out this post for alternatives:
Conclusion:
If you were previously using a credit card to pay Shopee PayLater bills specifically to earn rewards, this change effectively ends that strategy. With Shopee PayLater now tagged under MCC 6540 and billed as “ShopeePay,” users should expect no further cashback or miles from these transactions.
As always, MCC treatment can change without notice, so stay updated for timely updates via my telegram channel!
