The fastest way to accept a payment on PayPal
To accept a payment on PayPal, the person sending you money needs your email address or phone number linked to your PayPal account. They log into their PayPal account, click "Send & Request," enter your email or phone, type the amount, and hit send. The money lands in your PayPal balance within minutes if both of you have confirmed accounts. You see the transaction in your Activity tab right away.
If someone tries to pay you without a PayPal account, they can use a guest checkout option (if you've set that up), but most payments come from people who already have accounts. The sender bears any fees—you receive the full amount.
You don't have to do anything to "accept" in the technical sense. The money arrives automatically. But you should check your Activity tab to confirm it landed, especially if it's a large or unexpected payment, because scams do happen and you need to spot them before you ship goods or provide a service.
Key Takeaways
- Someone sends you money by entering your PayPal email or phone number, and it appears in your account within minutes if both accounts are confirmed.
- You receive the full amount—the sender pays any fees, not you.
- Check your Activity tab to confirm the payment arrived before you deliver goods or services, because some payments can be reversed.
- If you're selling goods or services, use PayPal's invoice or checkout tools instead of the basic "Send & Request" feature to protect yourself.
- Payments from unconfirmed accounts or from outside the US may take longer or require additional verification.
When a payment arrives but you can't spend it yet
Sometimes PayPal holds a payment for 21 days before you can withdraw it to your bank account. This happens most often when you're a new seller, when the payment is unusually large, or when the sender's account looks risky to PayPal's system. The money is in your PayPal balance and you can see it, but you cannot transfer it out or use it to pay someone else.
You can still use the balance to send money to other PayPal users or make purchases through PayPal's checkout system. But if you need the cash in your bank account right away, you're stuck waiting. PayPal usually releases the hold early if the buyer confirms they received the goods or if enough time passes without a dispute.
If a hold is blocking you, log into your account, go to your Activity, find the transaction, and click on it. PayPal will tell you the reason for the hold and when it will be released. If the hold is longer than 21 days, contact PayPal support—sometimes they'll release it sooner if you have a good history.
How to set up invoice or checkout links so people can pay you
If you're selling something or providing a service, don't rely on the basic "Send & Request" feature. Instead, use PayPal's invoice tool or create a payment link. These give you proof of what was sold, protect you if there's a dispute, and make it clear to the buyer what they're paying for.
To send an invoice: log in, click "Tools," then "Create an invoice." Fill in the buyer's email, describe what you're selling, enter the price, and send it. The buyer gets an email with a link to pay. Once they pay, the transaction is recorded as a sale, not just a transfer of money.
To create a payment link: go to "Tools," then "PayPal.me" or "Payment Links." You can set a fixed amount or let the buyer enter their own. Share the link anywhere—text, email, social media. Anyone who clicks it can pay you without needing to know your email address. These links are useful if you sell the same thing repeatedly or want a simple way for customers to find you.
Both methods protect you because PayPal records them as sales. If a buyer later claims they didn't authorize the payment or that you didn't deliver, you have documentation. Basic "Send & Request" payments offer less protection and can be reversed more easily.
What happens if someone disputes a payment you received
A buyer can open a dispute with PayPal if they say they didn't receive goods, didn't receive what they ordered, or didn't authorize the payment. When this happens, PayPal freezes the money and asks you to respond. You have a limited time—usually 10 days—to provide evidence that you delivered what you promised.
Evidence that helps: a tracking number showing the package was delivered to the address the buyer provided, photos of the item you shipped, emails where the buyer confirmed the order, or messages showing you delivered a service. PayPal weighs your evidence against the buyer's claim and decides who keeps the money.
If you lose the dispute, PayPal takes the money back from your account. If your balance is too low, PayPal may charge your linked bank account or credit card for the difference. This is why using PayPal's invoice or checkout tools matters—they give you a paper trail. A basic "Send & Request" payment with no documentation is much harder to defend.
Payments from outside the US or in other currencies
If someone sends you money from another country, the payment may take longer to arrive—sometimes 3 to 5 business days instead of minutes. PayPal also converts the currency, and you'll see a conversion fee deducted from the amount you receive. The fee varies but is usually 2 to 3 percent of the payment.
You can see the conversion rate and fee before you accept the payment. If the sender's account is not confirmed or if PayPal flags the transaction as high-risk, the hold may be longer than 21 days. Some countries have restrictions on PayPal transfers, so the payment might fail entirely.
If you regularly receive international payments, consider setting up a PayPal Business account. It gives you access to better conversion rates and more detailed reporting. You can also choose to receive payments in multiple currencies and hold them in your PayPal balance without converting immediately.
How to withdraw money from PayPal to your bank account
Once a payment has cleared (no hold), you can transfer it to your bank account. Log in, click "Wallet," then "Transfer Money." Choose "Transfer to your bank" and enter the amount. PayPal will ask which bank account to use if you've linked more than one.
The transfer takes 1 to 3 business days. PayPal does not charge a fee for standard transfers to a US bank account. If you want the money faster, you can pay for an instant transfer, but that costs a small percentage of the amount (usually around 1 percent).
Make sure your bank account is confirmed before you try to transfer. If PayPal hasn't verified it yet, you'll see a message asking you to confirm it first. This usually involves PayPal depositing two small amounts to your account and asking you to enter those amounts back into PayPal to prove you own the account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone pay me on PayPal if they don't have an account?
They can use a guest checkout option if you've set that up, but most PayPal payments require both people to have accounts. If they don't have one, they can create a free account in a few minutes using an email address and a debit or credit card. Alternatively, you can send them a PayPal.me link and they can pay as a guest.
What if I receive a payment by mistake or from someone I don't know?
Do not spend it. Contact PayPal support and explain the situation. If the payment was sent to the wrong person, PayPal can help reverse it. If it looks like a scam or fraud, report it. Never send money back to the sender's account without confirming with PayPal first—scammers sometimes send money, get you to send something back, then reverse their original payment.
Do I have to pay fees when someone sends me money?
No. The sender pays any fees. You receive the full amount they sent. The only exception is if you receive money in a foreign currency—PayPal deducts a conversion fee, so you get slightly less than the original amount.
How long does it take to receive a payment on PayPal?
If both accounts are confirmed and in the US, the money appears in your balance within minutes. International payments take 3 to 5 business days. Holds can extend this to 21 days or longer if PayPal flags the transaction as risky or if you're a new seller.
Can I cancel a payment I received?
No, you cannot cancel it yourself. But the sender can request a refund, and you can choose to refund them. If you refund a payment, the money goes back to their PayPal account or their original payment method. You can also contact PayPal support if you believe the payment was fraudulent.