PayPal is an online payment account and digital wallet. In the United States, you can use it to receive a personal transfer, request money, send an invoice, share a Payment Link, accept website or QR-code payments, and move available funds to a linked bank account or eligible debit card. The right method depends on whether the payment is a genuine personal transfer or payment for goods and services.
What is PayPal?
PayPal connects a sender’s bank account, card or PayPal balance with a recipient’s PayPal account. You can generally identify a recipient by email address, phone number, username or PayPal.Me link (PayPal’s sending instructions). Businesses can also use invoices, Payment Links, checkout, QR codes, Tap to Pay and card readers.
A PayPal balance is not identical to a bank account in every respect. Funds can be held, reviewed, reversed or limited under PayPal’s agreements. Features, currencies, fees and protections vary by country; this guide focuses on U.S. accounts.
Who can receive money?
- Individuals receiving reimbursements or gifts
- Freelancers, contractors, tutors and consultants
- Online sellers and creators
- Charities and nonprofits
- Businesses accepting online or in-person payments
PayPal offers Personal and Business accounts. PayPal says opening a Business account has no fee or monthly maintenance charge, although transaction fees generally apply to commercial payments (Business account page).
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Personal versus Business accounts
| Feature | Personal | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Friends, family and occasional personal transfers | Products, services and customer payments |
| Invoices and Payment Links | Not the main use | Designed for these tools |
| Commercial records | Limited | Business-oriented transaction management |
| U.S. Friends and Family payments | Available for genuine personal transactions, subject to eligibility | U.S. Business accounts cannot receive Friends and Family payments from U.S. senders, a policy effective July 28, 2022 (PayPal) |
A Business account does not itself create a legal entity, tax registration or separate bank account.
How to receive money through PayPal
Receive a personal payment
For a real reimbursement, gift or shared expense, give the sender the exact email, phone number, username or PayPal.Me link connected to your account. Confirm your email and complete any identity checks PayPal requests. Do not ask a customer to use Friends and Family to avoid a fee: personal payments are not covered by PayPal Purchase Protection, while eligible Goods and Services payments may have purchase-related protections (PayPal’s payment-type explanation).
Request money with a link
- Open the U.S. PayPal app and sign in.
- Tap Send/Request, then Send and request money with a link.
- Enter the amount; add a note or currency if needed.
- Tap Request, review the details and choose Create PayPal Link.
- Tap Share PayPal Link and send it privately.
Creating a link is free, but normal transaction fees can apply. Anyone with the link can claim it; it expires after 10 days if unused and can be accepted only once (PayPal link rules).
Send an invoice
Invoices suit freelance work, consulting, repairs, tutoring, products, deposits and milestone billing. Include your name, customer details, line items, quantity, price, tax, shipping, due date, refund terms and an invoice number. PayPal says creating and sending an invoice is free and that a customer can pay without a PayPal account, but payment fees vary by method (PayPal invoicing).
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Create a Payment Link
With a Business account, add the product or service, price, currency, tax, shipping and customer-note options, then generate a hosted checkout URL or QR code. Payment Links require no website or coding and can be shared by text, email, social media or messaging apps (Payment Links).
Use online checkout
Checkout is for stores needing a cart and structured order flow. PayPal Checkout and Expanded Checkout have different pricing and responsibilities; Expanded Checkout gives the merchant more control but also more refund, chargeback and compliance work (Checkout details).
Accept payment in person
For markets, appointments and job sites, use a QR code, Tap to Pay, a card reader or PayPal POS. PayPal says QR payments go directly to the PayPal account (QR payments).
A safe receiving workflow
- Create or sign in to PayPal, verify your email and complete requested identity checks.
- Choose Personal for genuine personal transfers or Business for sales and services.
- Give the payer the exact account identifier or send an invoice or link.
- Check the amount, currency and transaction type in PayPal Activity.
- For goods, retain delivery evidence and do not ship until the payment is verified as completed.
- Transfer available funds to your bank or eligible debit card and save the records.
PayPal fees for receiving money
Opening an account or downloading the app is generally free (account-fee help). Commercial pricing depends on the product, funding method, currency and domestic or international status. PayPal’s U.S. merchant page was last updated July 15, 2026; the following are listed examples, not a universal rate.
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| Payment product | Listed U.S. rate or signal |
|---|---|
| Goods and Services | 2.99% |
| PayPal Checkout or Guest Checkout | 3.49% plus fixed fee |
| QR code | 2.29% plus fixed fee |
| Standard cards | 2.99% plus fixed fee |
| Pay Later | 4.99% plus fixed fee |
| International commercial payment | Domestic rate plus 1.50% |
| Payment Link (page accessed August 18, 2026) | PayPal/Venmo 3.49% + $0.10; Pay Later 4.99% + $0.10; cards, debit cards and Apple Pay 2.99% + $0.10 |
The merchant fee page lists a $0.49 fixed fee for U.S.-dollar commercial transactions, while individual products can show different fixed fees. A $100 payment at 2.99% with no additional fixed fee would net $97.01; at 3.49% plus $0.49, it would net $96.02. These are arithmetic examples, not guarantees. Currency conversion can include PayPal’s exchange-rate spread (User Agreement).
How to transfer PayPal money to a bank
Website
- Open Wallet.
- Select Transfer Money and Transfer to your bank.
- Choose Instant Transfer or Standard Transfer, where available.
- Review the destination and amount, then confirm.
App
- Tap your PayPal balance.
- Tap Transfer, then Transfer to bank.
- Select the instant or standard option and tap Transfer Now.
PayPal says Instant Transfer typically takes minutes, although bank processing can take about 30 minutes. Standard bank transfers typically take 1–3 business days; eligible debit-card transfers take about 48 hours. Reviews, weekends, holidays, incorrect bank details and limits can extend the time (withdrawal instructions).
Pending payments, holds and reversals
“Sent” does not always mean immediately spendable. Pending means processing is incomplete; on hold means access is restricted; under review means PayPal is checking the transaction; completed can still be followed by a dispute or reversal; and reversed or refunded means funds were returned or removed.
New sellers, unusual activity, disputes, higher-risk categories and compliance checks can trigger restrictions. PayPal says risk-based holds commonly last up to 21 days, though funds can be released earlier. Bank-funded eChecks can remain pending about 4–7 business days or longer (eCheck explanation).
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Scam prevention
- Log in through the app or by typing PayPal’s address yourself; never rely on an email, text, screenshot or buyer-provided receipt.
- Never pay a release, upgrade, insurance or verification fee to receive money.
- Do not refund an alleged overpayment until the original payment is verified and settled.
- Do not ship because an email says payment is pending.
- Do not click suspicious invoice links or call phone numbers in invoice notes.
- Report suspicious activity through PayPal’s fraud process (scam guidance; fraud reporting).
Seller Protection
PayPal’s Seller Protection terms, updated January 26, 2026, say eligible transactions may be protected when a buyer claims an unauthorized transaction or nonreceipt. Eligibility is not automatic: transaction details, product category, delivery method and documentation matter. Check the transaction and current terms, and keep tracking and proof of delivery (Seller Protection terms).
PayPal and taxes
A Form 1099-K is an information-reporting form, not a calculation of profit. IRS guidance identifies a $600 gross-payment reporting threshold for third-party settlement organizations for calendar year 2026 and later, subject to the applicable rules and exceptions (IRS guidance). Keep gross payments, fees, refunds, shipping, expenses, invoices, dates, forms and bank-transfer records. Whether money is taxable depends on whether it is business income, a reimbursement, a gift or another category; consult a tax professional for your situation.
Is PayPal right for you?
Choose PayPal when you want a familiar wallet, invoices, links, checkout or simple in-person acceptance. Stripe (Stripe Payments) is often considered for API-driven customization and subscriptions; Square (Square Payments) for integrated point-of-sale operations; Venmo for Business (Venmo) where customers prefer Venmo; and Zelle (Zelle) for certain bank-based transfers rather than storefront checkout or broad seller-protection tooling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone pay my PayPal invoice without a PayPal account?
PayPal says customers can pay an invoice without having a PayPal account, although available payment methods and fees depend on the invoice and market.
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Can I receive money with a Personal account?
Yes, for genuine personal transfers and occasional reimbursements. Use a Business account when you sell products or services or need commercial tools.
Can I receive international payments?
Often, but receiving capability, currencies, conversion costs, withdrawal options and protections vary by country and account eligibility.
Can I use PayPal without a bank account?
You may be able to keep funds in PayPal or spend them through eligible features, but transferring money out requires an eligible linked bank account or debit card.
What should I do about a fake payment email?
Do not click it or ship goods. Sign in directly to PayPal, check Activity, report the message or transaction, and change your password if your account may be compromised.
Quick Recap
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