# What is level 2 and level 3 data?

URL: https://www.paydude.io/resources/what-is-level-2-and-level-3-data
Type: Guide
Published: 2026-09-02 · Updated: 2026-09-02
Summary: Level 2 and 3 data qualify commercial card transactions for cheaper interchange — often a full point. What fields to send and when it is worth it.

**Level 2 and level 3 data are additional fields you can send with a commercial card transaction to qualify it for cheaper interchange.** The card networks charge less when they receive richer data, because it reduces fraud and dispute risk. For B2B merchants the saving is often around a percentage point.

## Summary

Applies to commercial, corporate and purchasing cards only. Level 2 is a handful of fields; level 3 is full line-item detail. Savings are typically 0.5–1 point of interchange on qualifying transactions. Only visible on interchange-plus pricing, not flat rate.

## What each level requires

**Data levels and their fields**

| Level | Fields required | Typical benefit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Level 1 | Standard transaction data | Baseline |
| Level 2 | Tax amount, customer reference, tax ID | Moderate reduction |
| Level 3 | Line items: description, quantity, unit price, product code, freight, duty | Largest reduction |

Level 2 is usually a small change — most systems already know the tax amount and can pass a purchase order reference. Level 3 means sending the invoice detail with the payment, which is more work but rarely difficult if you already produce invoices.

## Why the networks discount it

Enhanced data serves the card issuer''s corporate customers: it lets a company see exactly what was bought on each card, feeding expense management and procurement controls. The networks pass some of that value back as lower [interchange](https://www.paydude.io/resources/what-is-interchange).

> **You only benefit on interchange-plus:** On [flat-rate pricing](https://www.paydude.io/resources/what-is-flat-rate-pricing) you pay the same percentage regardless of what data you send — so the interchange saving goes to your processor, not to you. If you are B2B with significant commercial card volume, that is one of the strongest arguments for moving to interchange-plus.

## Is it worth doing?

1. **Check your card mix.** If commercial cards are a small share of volume, the work will not pay back.
2. **Check your pricing model.** On flat rate, the saving is not yours to capture.
3. **Start with level 2.** It is a fraction of the effort and captures a real part of the benefit.
4. **Measure before and after.** Compare your [effective rate](https://www.paydude.io/resources/tools/effective-rate-calculator) on commercial card transactions across a full month.

For a B2B business on interchange-plus with meaningful corporate card volume, this is one of the highest-return changes available — a one-off integration cost against a permanent reduction in the largest fee you pay.

**Published rates, whatever your card mix** Tiers that improve automatically with volume. — [See pricing](https://www.paydude.io/pricing)

## Frequently asked questions

### How much can level 3 data save?

On qualifying commercial card transactions, often 0.5 to 1 percentage point of interchange. On a business processing $200,000 a month largely on corporate cards, that is meaningful money for a one-off integration change.

### Does level 2 and 3 data help consumer cards?

No. The enhanced data rates apply to commercial, corporate and purchasing cards only. If your customers pay with personal cards, there is nothing to gain.

### Do I need to be on interchange-plus to benefit?

Effectively yes. On flat-rate pricing you pay the same rate regardless, so any interchange saving accrues to the processor rather than to you. This is a genuine argument for interchange-plus if you are B2B.

### Is it hard to implement?

Level 2 is straightforward — a tax amount and a customer reference. Level 3 requires full line-item detail per transaction, which is more work but usually mechanical if you already generate invoices.