As of October 1, 2026, Microsoft applies a 5% cost-of-capital uplift to Cloud Solution Provider software subscriptions — such as SQL Server, Windows Server, Client Access Licenses, and System Center — that carry an annual-term commitment but are billed monthly. Annual billing and month-to-month subscriptions aren’t affected, and existing subscriptions pick up the uplift at their first renewal on or after that date. If you buy server licenses or CALs through a partner, paying annually instead of monthly at renewal avoids the surcharge; confirm in your quote which billing plan your renewal is priced on.
Source: Microsoft Partner Center announcements — August 2026 ↗