Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
US eligibility, age of majority, and business residency requirements
PayPal US accounts require individual users to reside in the United States or its territories and be at least 18 years old or the state age of majority; businesses must be organized in or operating in the US.
Supporting quotations
If you are an individual, you must be a resident of the United States or one of its territories and at least 18 years old, or the age of majority in your state of residence to open a U.S. PayPal account and use the PayPal services. If you are a business, the business must be organized in, operating in, or a resident of, the United States or one of its territories to open a U.S. PayPal account and use the PayPal services.
Terms acceptance by continuing use and right to close account
Continuing to use PayPal after terms changes take effect constitutes binding acceptance; users who disagree may close their account.
Supporting quotations
By continuing to use our services after any changes to this user agreement or any of the other applicable terms, agreements, or policies, you agree to abide and be bound by those changes. If you do not agree with any changes to this user agreement, you may close your account.
Qualifications & exceptions
Continued use after changes takes effect accepts them; account closure is available if you disagree.
Account & Service Control · Context
Personal and business account classifications
PayPal provides two distinct account categories—personal accounts and business accounts—both subject to the user agreement.
Supporting quotations
We offer two types of PayPal accounts: PayPal personal accounts (or "personal accounts") and PayPal business accounts (or "business accounts"), both covered by this user agreement.
Qualifications & exceptions
Covers personal and business accounts
data: account_data · purpose: service_operation
Account & Service Control · Procedure
Account closure procedure and surviving obligations
You can close an account without cost, but remain liable for obligations. Withdraw or transfer funds first; scheduled or incomplete transactions are canceled and a linked Balance Account closes with its personal account. Gift cards cannot be withdrawn or transferred, but emailed redemption codes remain usable.
Supporting quotations
You may close your PayPal account and terminate your relationship with us at any time without cost, but you will remain liable for all obligations related to your PayPal account even after the PayPal account is closed. When you close your PayPal account, we will cancel any scheduled or incomplete transactions. If you have a Balance Account linked to a personal account, you must withdraw or transfer any funds held in your Balance Account before closing your personal account, and closing a personal account will result in PayPal automatically closing any linked Balance Account.
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Restrictions on account closure during disputes or investigations
You cannot close an account to evade investigation, while a transaction, dispute or claim is pending, while its balance is negative, or while it is subject to a hold, limitation or reserve.
Supporting quotations
To evade an investigation.
If you have a pending transaction or an open dispute or claim.
If your PayPal account has a negative balance.
If your PayPal account is subject to a hold, limitation or reserve.
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Discretionary sanctions for engaging in restricted activities
If PayPal believes you engaged in restricted activities, it may immediately terminate the agreement, restrict services or suspend or close accounts at its discretion without penalty to PayPal.
Supporting quotations
If we believe that you’ve engaged
immediately and without penalty to us.
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Refusal of future service upon policy violation
PayPal reserves the right to refuse to provide PayPal services to users who have engaged in restricted activities in the future.
Supporting quotations
Refusing to provide the PayPal services to you in the future.
Qualifications & exceptions
PayPal reserves the right to refuse future service.
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Discretionary suspension and termination of services upon notice
PayPal reserves the right in its sole discretion to terminate the agreement or suspend access to services at any time for any reason upon notice, returning unrestricted funds.
Supporting quotations
PayPal, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to suspend or terminate this user agreement, access to or use of its websites, software, systems (including any networks and servers used to provide any of the PayPal services) operated by us or on our behalf or some or all of the PayPal services for any reason and at any time upon notice to you and, upon termination of this user agreement, the payment to you of any unrestricted funds held in your PayPal account.
Qualifications & exceptions
Sole discretion at any time for any reason
purpose: terms_administration
Account & Service Control · Procedure
Two-year inactivity account closure and state escheatment
After two years without login, PayPal may close the account and send funds to a verified primary address or, where required, transfer them as unclaimed property to the state. Unknown or foreign addresses use Delaware. Required notice precedes escheatment, and funds can be reclaimed through the state administrator.
Supporting quotations
If you do not log in to your PayPal account for two or more years, PayPal may close your PayPal account and send any funds in the PayPal account, including any balance in a linked Balance Account to your primary address (if we have verified the required identifying information that you have provided to us) or, if required, escheat (send) those funds to your state of residency. PayPal will determine your state of residency based on the state listed in the primary address for your PayPal account. If your address is unknown or registered in a foreign country, the funds in your PayPal account, including any balance in a linked Balance Account will be escheated to the State of Delaware. Where required, PayPal will send you a notice prior to escheating any funds in your PayPal account, including any balance in a linked Balance Account. If you fail to respond to this notice, the funds in your PayPal account, including any balance in a linked Balance Account will be escheated to the applicable state. If you would like to claim any escheated funds from the applicable state, please contact the applicable state's unclaimed property administrator.
Qualifications & exceptions
Closure and legally required escheatment are distinct steps.
Required notice is sent before escheatment.
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Account type must fit the primary purpose of use
Personal or household use requires a personal account; primary business use requires a business account, even without incorporation. PayPal may close a mismatched account unless the activity stops or the account converts. Business accounts cannot receive personal transactions, and their linked payment methods must be primarily commercial.
Supporting quotations
unless you agree to cease the business or commercial activity or convert
not eligible to receive
each payment method you link to your business account
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Stored loyalty cards remain the user’s responsibility
Users must enter and update loyalty-card details and check reward receipt. PayPal does not manage the loyalty account; the seller’s rules apply. The separate PayPal Rewards Program Agreement governs PayPal rewards.
Supporting quotations
It is also your responsibility to ensure that you are receiving the rewards
Such agreement governs participation in the PayPal Rewards Program
Account & Service Control · Company practice
Eligible charities may be automatically enrolled in Giving Fund
Qualifying charities may be enrolled in PayPal Giving Fund when accepting this agreement and receive confirmation by email. Its separate nonprofit agreement governs. Email can be opted out of in the profile; enrollment and donations can be declined by contacting PayPal.
Supporting quotations
you may be automatically enrolled
you can opt-out at any time by contacting us.
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Restricted activities include fraud, abuse and avoiding account limits
Rules prohibit unlawful or infringing activity, counterfeits, harassment, misleading information, suspected fraudulent funds, refusing identity checks, double recovery in disputes, abusive card use, negative balances, self cash advances, prohibited-country access and evading account restrictions. Accounts linked to restricted activity and conduct generating complaints or liability can also be restricted.
Supporting quotations
Violate any law
Refuse to cooperate in an investigation
Attempt to double dip
negative balance
Circumvent any PayPal policy
Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception
Providing requested information does not guarantee removal of limits
Account limitations can reflect unusual activity, legal requirements, rule violations or seller risk. Nonpermanent restrictions normally require resolving issues and supplying information, but PayPal may keep taking protective action if it reasonably believes risk remains.