The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates New York City’s subways, buses, commuter railroads, and related public transportation services. The "NYCT PAYGO" descriptor refers to pay-as-you-go fares for MTA New York City Transit services.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is the public transit agency serving the New York City metropolitan area, operating the NYC subway, local and express buses, Staten Island Railway, and regional commuter railroads such as the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad. When you see “Metropolitan Transportation Authority,” “MTA,” “MTA NYCT,” or “NYCT PAYGO” on your bank or card statement, it typically refers to fares paid for New York City Transit services, most often subway and local bus rides. These fares are commonly processed through the MTA’s contactless payment system (OMNY) or MetroCard vending and ticketing systems.
A “NYCT PAYGO” charge usually appears when you tap a contactless credit/debit card or a linked digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, etc.) at an OMNY reader to pay as you go for subway or bus rides. Individual taps are generally charged at the standard base fare (currently around $2.90 per ride for subways and local buses), and multiple taps within a week may be grouped together under the OMNY fare-capping system, which limits how much you pay per week. You may also see MTA charges for one-time purchases or reloads at MetroCard vending machines, commuter rail tickets, monthly or weekly passes, or authorization holds when a new payment method is first tested for validity.
If you have questions about an MTA or “NYCT PAYGO” charge, first review your recent travel in New York City—think about days you rode the subway or bus using a contactless card or phone, or when you purchased tickets or MetroCards at stations. Check your OMNY trip and charges history by creating or logging into an account at omny.info and linking the card in question; for MetroCard or rail ticket purchases, look for paper receipts or email confirmations. To dispute a suspected error or request assistance, contact MTA Customer Service through mta.info (Customer Self-Service Portal) or by calling 511 from within New York. Your bank or card issuer can also provide details about transaction dates and amounts, and can help you formally dispute a charge if you believe it is unauthorized.
Bank Statement Variations
1 known variations
These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Why do I see a “NYCT PAYGO” or MTA charge for about $2.90 on my card?
A “NYCT PAYGO” charge around $2.90 is typically a single subway or local bus ride paid through the MTA’s OMNY system using your contactless card or digital wallet. Each tap at an OMNY reader generally generates a separate fare charge, though your bank may show several rides grouped closely together by time. Consider whether you, a family member, or someone you authorized used that card or phone to ride NYC Transit recently. You can confirm trip details by creating an account at omny.info and adding the card to view your ride history.
Why was I charged multiple times in one day by MTA / NYCT PAYGO?
You’ll see multiple MTA or NYCT PAYGO charges if you used the same card or device for several trips in the same day (for example, round trips, transfers that required separate taps, or rides for multiple people). Each tap at an OMNY reader for a new rider is billed as a separate fare at the current base rate. If you frequently ride, OMNY’s weekly fare-capping may limit how much you pay in a Monday–Sunday period, but individual charges will still appear on your statement. Check omny.info with your card details to see a breakdown of each tap and charge.
What are the typical MTA / NYCT PAYGO amounts I might see on my statement?
For NYC Transit, the most common NYCT PAYGO amounts are the standard base fare per ride (currently about $2.90 per subway or local bus trip). You might also see higher amounts such as roughly $6–$7 for express buses, or larger round figures (e.g., $10, $20, $40) from MetroCard vending machines or commuter rail ticket purchases. Monthly or weekly passes for commuter rail lines and certain unlimited-ride products will appear as larger single charges, often labeled with “LIRR” or “MNR” rather than NYCT PAYGO. Your exact amount depends on the service, distance, and ticket type you purchased.
Why do I see a small temporary MTA or NYCT PAYGO charge that later disappeared?
A small pending charge (often $1 or another low amount) can be an authorization hold placed when you first use a new card or device on OMNY to confirm that your bank account is valid. This is not a final fare and should automatically drop off or adjust to the correct ride amount after the transaction fully processes. If a small test charge remains pending for more than several business days, contact your card issuer for status. You can also verify actual paid fares versus authorizations by checking your OMNY history at omny.info.
How do I cancel or stop recurring MTA charges on my card?
Most NYCT PAYGO trips are pay-as-you-go and not true subscriptions, so charges stop when you stop tapping that card or device at OMNY readers. If you signed up for a recurring product such as an automatic refill, a commuter-benefits card, or a subscription-like railroad pass, you must cancel through the program that issued the card (e.g., your employer’s commuter benefits portal) or the ticket office where you purchased the pass. For OMNY accounts, log in at omny.info to manage stored payment methods and unlink any card you no longer wish to use. If you suspect someone else is using your card, immediately report it to your bank and request a replacement card.
How can I get a receipt or view details of my MTA / NYCT PAYGO trips and charges?
For OMNY contactless payments, go to omny.info, create an account, and add the card or device that was charged to see a full history of taps, dates, times, and amounts; you can download your activity for your records. For MetroCard or ticket machine purchases, receipts are typically printed or offered at the time of purchase—check your wallet, email, or transit benefit account if applicable. For commuter rail (LIRR or Metro-North) purchases made via apps, log into the corresponding MTA eTix or ticketing app or account to view your ticket history and receipts. Your bank statement will also show posting dates and amounts, which you can cross-reference with your trip records.
How do I request a fare adjustment or refund for an incorrect MTA charge?
If you believe you were overcharged (for example, a defective turnstile read, double charge, or incorrect fare), you can submit a claim through the MTA’s Customer Self-Service Portal at mta.info or by calling 511 within New York State and following prompts for NYC Transit or OMNY. Provide the last four digits of the card, transaction date and time, amount, and station or bus route so they can investigate. Refunds or adjustments, when approved, are generally issued back to the original payment method. If the MTA confirms the charge is correct but you still believe it’s unauthorized, contact your card issuer to file a formal dispute.
What should I do if I don’t recognize an MTA / NYCT PAYGO charge and I haven’t been to New York recently?
First, verify that no authorized user on your account (family member, employee, or someone with access to your phone/wallet) recently traveled to New York and used your card for transit. If no one recognizes the trip and you have not used your card in the NYC area, treat the transaction as potentially fraudulent: lock or cancel the card via your bank’s app or customer service and request a new card number. You can also report the suspected fraudulent transit charge to the MTA through mta.info, but your bank or card issuer is your primary point of contact for reversing unauthorized charges. Monitor your account for any additional unexpected MTA or transit-related transactions.