Also called: Value-Added Reseller sheet, Parameter sheet, Tear sheet
What a VAR sheet is
A VAR sheet is a file or document containing account and technical settings used to connect your merchant account with a payment gateway, terminal, or point-of-sale system. VAR stands for Value-Added Reseller. You may also hear the document called a parameter sheet or tear sheet.
The sheet can include your Merchant ID (MID), Terminal ID (TID), acquiring bank, processor, merchant category code, and gateway settings. The fields and layout differ by payment setup. Its job is to give the systems the information they need to route transactions to the right merchant account.
A VAR sheet does not lower your rate, but one wrong account detail can interrupt payments or delay deposits.
How it works
Your processor or acquiring bank issues the sheet for a specific merchant account. The person configuring your gateway, terminal, or POS enters the listed settings into the payment system. A business with separate merchant accounts under different MIDs needs separate account configurations.
You need a VAR sheet when your payment setup connects separate systems, such as a standalone gateway and merchant account, or when installing new equipment. An all-in-one payment setup can handle the connection behind the scenes, so you may not receive or use a separate sheet. The account must be approved and set up before its configuration can be applied.
What it means for your costs and operations
A VAR sheet is not a card-fee category, and it does not determine interchange or your processor's markup. The research does not establish a standard VAR-sheet fee. Your cost exposure comes from configuration problems: a wrong MID or gateway setting can cause declined transactions, misrouted payments, or delayed deposits.
The sheet can also contain settings that affect how transactions are handled, such as batch cutoff or statement descriptor details. If the descriptor is wrong, customers may not recognize the charge. A sheet does not guarantee that the settings work correctly, so test the connection and confirm that a test payment settles into the intended account.
When to get a new sheet
A VAR sheet is tied to a particular merchant account and acquiring setup. Changing processors or accounts means the old configuration should not be carried over without confirmation. Get the new account's settings before switching off the old connection, then update every affected terminal and gateway.
Update the configuration when you add a MID, replace payment equipment, change gateway connections, or alter settings such as currency or statement descriptor. Give the configurator the sheet itself rather than relying on details retyped from an email. After changes, run a test transaction and verify that it settles to the right account.
What you can actually change
- Get the current sheet. Request the configuration for the specific merchant account and gateway or equipment you are using. Do not reuse an old sheet after changing processors or accounts.
- Verify key details. Compare the MID, TID, processor, gateway, and any listed currency or descriptor settings with your current setup before configuration.
- Test before switching. Run a test payment after installation or an account change. Confirm it is approved and settles into the intended account before retiring the old connection.
Frequently asked questions
Who provides a VAR sheet?
Your processor or acquiring bank provides the account-specific configuration after your merchant account is approved and set up. Give it to the person configuring your gateway, terminal, or POS system.
Does a VAR sheet affect my processing fees?
The sheet records account and technical settings. It does not set interchange or your processor markup, and the research does not establish a standard VAR-sheet fee. Incorrect settings can still disrupt transactions or delay deposits.
Can I reuse a VAR sheet after changing processors?
Do not assume you can. The sheet is tied to a merchant account and acquiring setup, so a new processor or account needs its own configuration. Obtain the new details and update each connected terminal or gateway.
Does every business need a VAR sheet?
No. A separate sheet is used when payment systems need account-specific configuration, such as a standalone gateway connecting to a merchant account. An all-in-one payment setup can handle that connection internally.