How to close your PayPal account
To close your PayPal account, log in, go to Settings, select Account, then find the Close Your Account option at the bottom of the page. PayPal will walk you through a few screens asking why you're leaving and confirming you want to proceed. The account closes immediately, but you should expect to see PayPal's final records and any pending transactions settle over the next few days.
Before you close, make sure your account balance is zero—either spend it, transfer it to your bank, or request a refund. If money is sitting in your account when you close it, PayPal will hold it for a set period (usually 180 days) before returning it. Any open disputes, pending payments, or active subscriptions will be cancelled, so check those first.
Key Takeaways
- Close your account through Settings > Account > Close Your Account; the process takes minutes and the account closes right away.
- Empty your PayPal balance before closing—transfer money to your bank or spend it, because PayPal holds unclaimed balances for months before returning them.
- Cancel any active subscriptions, recurring payments, or open disputes before closing, because they will be terminated when the account shuts down.
- After closing, you cannot reopen the same account, but you can create a new one with the same email address after a waiting period.
- If you have a business account or seller history, closing may affect your ability to sell on linked platforms like eBay.
What happens to money in your account when you close
PayPal does not delete money sitting in your account balance when you close. Instead, it holds the funds in an inactive account for 180 days. If you don't claim the money during that time, PayPal returns it to the original source—usually your linked bank account or the payment method you used to load the balance.
The safest move is to transfer your balance to your bank account before you close. Log in, go to Wallet, select your bank account, and choose Transfer Money. This takes one to two business days. If you have a small balance and want to avoid the wait, you can also spend it on any purchase PayPal accepts.
If you close your account and forget about the money, you will get it back eventually, but the 180-day hold means you won't see it for months. During that time, you have no way to access or move it.
Cancelling subscriptions and recurring payments before closing
Any subscription or recurring payment tied to your PayPal account will stop working the moment you close the account. This means if you have a gym membership, software subscription, or any other service charging your PayPal account monthly, that payment method will fail on the next billing date.
Before closing, log into your PayPal account and go to Settings > Payments > Manage Automatic Payments. You'll see a list of every subscription and recurring charge. Click each one and select Cancel. This prevents the merchant from trying to charge you after your account is gone—and it keeps you from getting hit with failed-payment fees.
If you forget to cancel and a merchant tries to charge your closed PayPal account, the charge will fail and they may contact you directly. You'll then have to update your payment method with them or cancel manually.
Resolving open disputes and pending transactions
PayPal will not let you close your account if you have an open dispute or a transaction that hasn't fully settled. If you try to close and see an error message, check your Resolution Center for any cases you filed or that were filed against you.
Disputes can take weeks to resolve. If you're in the middle of one, you have two choices: wait for PayPal to close the case, or withdraw the dispute if you're the one who filed it. To withdraw, go to Resolution Center, find the case, and select Withdraw Dispute. Once the case is closed or withdrawn, you can proceed with closing your account.
Pending transactions—payments you sent or received that haven't cleared yet—will also block closure. Wait for these to complete, which usually takes one to three business days depending on the payment method.
What happens to your seller account and transaction history
If you have a PayPal seller account or have sold items on eBay or other platforms using PayPal, closing your account has real consequences. You lose access to your sales history, and any active listings tied to your PayPal account may be affected. On eBay specifically, closing your PayPal account does not automatically close your eBay account, but it removes your payment method, and you won't be able to sell until you link a new one.
Your transaction history does not disappear—PayPal keeps records for your protection and for tax purposes. You can request a copy of your transaction history before closing by going to Settings > Account Information > Download Your Data. This gives you a record of all payments, refunds, and disputes for your records.
If you plan to sell again in the future, closing your account now means you'll have to start fresh with a new account, which may affect your seller rating or history on platforms like eBay.
Reopening a PayPal account after closing
Once you close your PayPal account, you cannot reopen it. However, you can create a new PayPal account using the same email address, but PayPal typically enforces a waiting period—usually 6 months to a year—before you can sign up again with that email.
If you need to use PayPal sooner, you can create a new account with a different email address right away. This new account will start with no history, no seller rating, and no transaction record, so it functions as a completely separate account.
Before you close, think carefully about whether you might need PayPal again. If there's any chance you'll want to use it in the near future, consider deactivating instead—some users simply stop using their account rather than closing it permanently.
Deactivating instead of closing: the middle ground
PayPal does not offer an official "deactivate" or "pause" option, but you can simply stop using your account without closing it. This keeps your account, history, and any balance intact while you're away. If you come back later, everything is still there.
The downside is that your account remains active, which means you're still subject to PayPal's terms and any changes they make. You also can't use the same email address to create a new PayPal account while the old one is open.
If you're closing because you're frustrated or taking a break, consider whether simply not logging in for a while might work better. You can always close later if you decide you don't need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I close my PayPal account if I have a pending refund?
No. PayPal will not let you close if money is in transit to or from your account. Wait for the refund to complete—this usually takes three to five business days—then close. If the refund is delayed, contact PayPal support to find out the status before attempting to close again.
What if I close my account and then need to receive a payment?
Once your account is closed, no one can send you money through it. If someone tries, the payment will fail or be returned to them. You would need to create a new account to receive payments, which means a new email address or waiting for the 6-month to 1-year waiting period to pass if you want to use the same email.
Does closing my PayPal account affect my credit score?
No. Closing a PayPal account does not show up on your credit report or affect your credit score. PayPal is not a credit provider unless you use PayPal Credit (their buy-now-pay-later product), in which case closing your account does not affect credit either—only missed payments do.
Will I get my money back if I close with a balance?
Yes, but it takes time. PayPal holds the balance for 180 days, then returns it to your original funding source. To get it faster, transfer the balance to your bank account before closing, which takes one to two business days.
Can I close my account on the PayPal mobile app?
No. The Close Your Account option is only available on the PayPal website, not in the mobile app. Log in on a computer or mobile browser, go to Settings > Account, and look for the close option at the bottom of the page.