Ticketmaster eliminated its order processing fee in response to federal regulations targeting hidden charges that appear at the end of online transactions, according to documents obtained by The Guardian.

The order processing fee, typically a few dollars added to each ticket purchase at checkout, was previously shared with venues and generated significant revenue for the global ticketing platform, which processes hundreds of millions of ticket sales annually.

However, internal documents reveal that while Ticketmaster removed the order processing fee to comply with Federal Trade Commission rules banning surprise fees, the company simultaneously increased other fees at various venues to maintain its revenue levels.

The fee adjustment represents Ticketmaster's response to a broader regulatory crackdown on hidden charges that consumers only discover during the final stages of online purchases. The FTC has been working to increase pricing transparency across e-commerce platforms.

Ticketmaster's fee restructuring occurs as the company faces ongoing scrutiny over its business practices. The Justice Department recently settled its antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company, though several states including New York, California, and Texas continue to pursue their own legal actions.

The documents suggest the fee changes were designed specifically to "offset revenue loss" from the elimination of the order processing charge, maintaining the company's income while technically complying with the new transparency requirements.