How to accept a payment someone sent you on PayPal
When someone sends you money through PayPal, you have a limited window to accept it before it expires and returns to the sender. If you see a notification that you have an unclaimed payment, you need to log into your PayPal account, find the payment in your transaction history, and click the button to accept it. The payment then moves into your PayPal balance and is yours to keep, spend, or transfer to your bank account.
The exact steps depend on whether you already have a PayPal account or need to create one. If you do not have an account yet, PayPal will prompt you to set one up before you can accept the money. If you already have an account, the process takes less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Unclaimed PayPal payments expire after 30 days if you do not accept them, and the money returns to the sender's account.
- You must log into your PayPal account or create one to accept the payment — you cannot accept it through email alone.
- Once you accept the payment, it sits in your PayPal balance and you can spend it immediately or transfer it to your bank account within one to three business days.
- If the payment expires before you accept it, the sender can send it again, but you will need to accept the new payment within the 30-day window.
Steps to accept an unclaimed payment if you have a PayPal account
Log into your PayPal account using your email address and password. Go to your Activity or Transaction History — the exact name depends on which version of PayPal you use, but it is usually in the main menu or under your account settings.
Look for the payment marked as "Unclaimed" or "Pending." Click on it to open the transaction details. You will see a button that says "Accept" or "Accept Payment." Click that button. PayPal will ask you to confirm, and once you do, the money moves into your available balance immediately.
You do not need to do anything else. The payment is now yours. You can leave it in PayPal, spend it through the PayPal app or website, or transfer it to your linked bank account.
Steps to accept an unclaimed payment if you do not have a PayPal account
If you receive a notification about an unclaimed payment but do not have a PayPal account, click the link in the email or notification. PayPal will take you to a page asking you to create an account. You will need to provide your name, email address, and a password.
After you create your account, PayPal will show you the payment waiting for you. Click "Accept" to claim it. The money will then appear in your new PayPal balance. You can use it right away or link a bank account later if you want to transfer the money out.
Do not create multiple accounts to accept the same payment. PayPal will reject duplicate accounts, and you may lose access to the money. Stick with one account per email address.
What happens if you do not accept the payment in time
PayPal holds unclaimed payments for 30 days. If you do not accept the payment within that window, it automatically returns to the sender's account. The sender will see the money back in their balance, and you will receive a notification that the payment expired.
If this happens, ask the sender to send the payment again. There is no penalty for resending — they can do it as many times as needed. Just make sure you accept it before the new 30-day window closes.
Some senders may also choose to send the money a different way if PayPal does not work for them — for example, through a bank transfer or a different payment app. If you are expecting money and do not see it, reach out to the sender directly to confirm they sent it and ask when they sent it.
How to transfer the accepted payment to your bank account
Once you accept the payment, it sits in your PayPal balance. You can spend it through PayPal, or you can move it to your bank account. To transfer it, log into PayPal and go to your Wallet or Balance section. Look for the option to "Transfer Money" or "Withdraw." Select your linked bank account and enter the amount you want to transfer.
The transfer usually takes one to three business days, depending on your bank. Some banks are faster than others. PayPal will send you a confirmation email when the transfer is complete. There is no fee to transfer money from PayPal to your own bank account.
If you have not linked a bank account yet, PayPal will prompt you to do so. You will need your bank's routing number and your account number, which you can find on a check or by logging into your bank's website.
What to do if you see a payment but cannot accept it
If you see an unclaimed payment in your account but the "Accept" button is missing or grayed out, the payment may have already expired or there may be a problem with your account. Try logging out and logging back in. If the button still does not appear, contact PayPal Support through the Help Center in your account.
If you receive an email about an unclaimed payment but cannot find it in your account, the email may be a phishing scam. Do not click links in the email. Instead, go directly to PayPal.com, log in, and check your transaction history yourself. Real PayPal notifications will always direct you to log in through the official website, not through a link in an email.
If you have trouble accepting a payment and PayPal Support cannot resolve it, ask the sender to try sending the money again using a different method — for example, as a "Friends and Family" payment instead of a standard payment, or through PayPal's invoice feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to accept an unclaimed PayPal payment?
You have 30 days from the date the sender sent the payment. After 30 days, the money returns to the sender's account automatically. PayPal will send you a notification when the payment is about to expire, usually a few days before the deadline.
Can I accept a payment on my phone?
Yes. Open the PayPal app, go to your Activity or Transaction History, find the unclaimed payment, and tap "Accept." The process is the same as on a computer. Make sure you are using the official PayPal app from the App Store or Google Play, not a web browser.
What if I accept a payment by mistake?
Once you accept a payment, it is yours. You cannot undo the acceptance. However, you can send the money back to the sender by going to your PayPal balance, clicking "Send Money," and entering their email address or phone number. You will need to send it as a new payment.
Do I have to pay taxes on an accepted PayPal payment?
That depends on what the payment is for. If it is a personal gift from a friend or family member, you typically do not owe taxes. If it is payment for work or goods you sold, you may owe income tax. Keep records of all payments you receive, and talk to a tax professional if you are unsure.
Can someone else accept a payment that was sent to me?
No. Only the person whose email address or phone number the payment was sent to can accept it. If the sender sent it to the wrong address by mistake, they will need to cancel that payment and send it again to the correct address.