SOURCE-BACKED REFERENCE ENTRY · VISA · OCTOBER 2026
MCC 5993:
Cigar Stores and Stands
A classification for cigar shops; tobacco retailers.
View the source & scope ↓THE CLASSIFICATION
What does MCC 5993 cover?
A classification for cigar shops; tobacco retailers.
The code belongs to the Alcohol & tobacco retail group in this directory. The acquirer must confirm the appropriate assignment for the merchant and the relevant card network.
ILLUSTRATIVE BUSINESS FIT
What could a matching business look like?
- Cigar shops
- Tobacco retailers
These examples illustrate the classification. They are not verified NUMUS customers or confirmed transaction-level assignments.
LOOK BEYOND THE LABEL
Risk & provider review
Tobacco-related retail requires specialist attention to products, age controls and permitted sales channels, particularly for remote transactions.
Why this category sits here
- Age-restricted products
- Sales-channel controls
Operating assumptions
Lawful products or services with applicable permissions and verifiable counterparties; eligibility still requires specialist review.
What could raise the risk?
- Remote or cross-border tobacco sales
- Unclear provenance or age verification
Assessment basis: Individual business-category assessment. This is an editorial category assessment, not a bank’s rating, an individual merchant decision, a forecast of losses or a promise of approval.
How we assess risk & source references ↗Questions worth preparing
- What goods or services generate the largest share of your sales?
- How and when do customers pay, and when are products or services delivered?
- Does a more specific network classification describe your actual business?
Your provider may also ask about transaction size, monthly volume, refunds, disputes, customer locations and delivery timing. Use your actual business facts when discussing the code.
CHECK THE REFERENCE
Source, date & scope
Code and classification reference: Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual, October 2026. Directory reviewed November 3, 2026.
Visa source · PDF page 81 · printed page 78 ↗Network descriptions and requirements can differ. This entry does not assert complete Mastercard coverage. Confirm current classifications and any special registration requirements with your acquirer.
Read the directory methodology →CONNECT THE NEXT PIECE
Build the payment setup around it.
THE BUSINESS BEHIND THE CODE
Find processing that fits
your actual business.
Your MCC is one piece of the conversation. Tell NUMUS what you sell, how you deliver it, and how your customers pay. We’ll help you take the next step.