NDIS Gap Fees: Can Providers Charge You Extra?

What are NDIS gap fees?

Many NDIS supports have a price limit, which is the most a registered provider can charge for that support. A gap fee is an extra charge that a provider asks you to pay on top of that limit, to cover the gap between the limit and the price they want to charge.

The NDIS says price limits are the maximum prices registered providers can charge participants for specific supports, and that you can negotiate lower prices with your providers. It also says registered providers must follow the rules when supports are delivered to NDIA-managed or plan-managed participants. See the NDIS page on getting paid.

What the NDIS says about gap fees

In an update on 23 July 2025, the NDIS set out its position in plain terms. It said that under NDIS rules, registered providers must not add any other charge to the cost of the supports they provide to any participant, such as gap fees, credit card surcharges or any additional fees.

It also said that plan managers, as registered providers, cannot pay invoices where the price is more than the NDIS price limit. This applies whether the participant buys the support from a registered or an unregistered provider. Plan managers must work with providers, both registered and unregistered, to let them know they cannot make the payment. If a provider tries to charge these types of fees, the NDIS said it must be reported to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Read the full update on travel claiming rules, gap fees and other costs.

What it means if you are plan managed

If your plan is plan managed, your plan manager sits between you and the provider. They check each claim against your plan, your budget and NDIS supports, and they get your approval before submitting it. The NDIS position means they will not pay an invoice above the price limit.

In practice, that gives you two protections. First, a provider cannot expect a plan manager to pay a gap fee. Second, your plan manager can tell you when an invoice is above the limit, so you can raise it before it becomes a dispute. Our guide to what a plan manager can pay for explains the other tests a claim has to meet.

You can also negotiate. The NDIS says that when you plan-manage your funding you can choose registered or unregistered providers, and you can negotiate the price of your NDIS supports. A provider who charges less than the limit is still within the rules.

Which extra charges are different from a gap fee?

Not every extra line on an invoice is a gap fee. This table shows what the NDIS update said about common charges:

Travel costs are the usual source of confusion. Our guide to NDIS provider travel explains what providers can charge for travel time and costs, and how to check a travel line on an invoice. GST is also separate. Invoices need to show the GST component if it applies, and the NDIS says most services are GST free.

What to do if a provider asks for a gap fee

The Commission does not resolve individual disputes, so use it to report the conduct. For how the routes differ, read our guide to how to complain about an NDIS plan manager, which sets out who deals with what.

How to avoid surprise charges

Most disputes about extra charges start with a missing conversation. A few habits help:

• Agree the price, any other fees and travel costs in writing before support starts.
• Ask for the support item number on every quote and invoice.
• Read each invoice before you approve it, and check it against your agreement. Our guide to NDIS invoice requirements shows what an invoice should include.
• Choose a plan manager who is registered. See are NDIS plan managers registered for how to check.
• If a payment has already gone wrong, follow the steps in our guide to an NDIS plan manager payment error.

Frequently Asked Questions About NDIS Gap Fees