You can delete your PayPal account, but you need to settle any balance first
PayPal lets you close your account permanently, but the process has a specific order. You must resolve any outstanding balance — whether money owed to PayPal or money sitting in your account — before deletion goes through. If you have a positive balance, PayPal will transfer it to your linked bank account or issue a check. If you owe money, you need to pay it before the account closes.
The deletion itself takes a few minutes to request, but PayPal may take up to 90 days to fully remove your data from their system. During that waiting period, your account is closed and you cannot use it, but the company is still processing the removal. You will not be able to log in or access any transaction history once the account is closed.
Key Takeaways
- You must have a zero balance in your PayPal account before you can delete it — either withdraw your money or pay what you owe.
- Close any linked credit cards, debit cards, or bank accounts from your PayPal settings before you request deletion.
- The deletion request takes a few minutes, but PayPal takes up to 90 days to fully remove your account and data.
- Once your account is closed, you cannot reopen it — you would have to create a brand new PayPal account with a different email address.
- If you have an active dispute, pending transaction, or subscription, PayPal will not let you delete until those are resolved.
Check your balance and resolve any money owed
Log into your PayPal account and go to your Wallet. Look at the balance shown there — it should say zero, or show money you can withdraw. If you have money in your account, you can transfer it to your bank account by clicking "Transfer Money" and selecting your linked bank. This usually takes one to three business days.
If you owe PayPal money — for example, from a chargeback, a refund you issued, or a fee dispute — you must pay that balance before deletion. PayPal will show you the amount owed on your account overview. Pay it using a linked credit card, debit card, or bank account. Once the payment clears, your balance will be zero and you can proceed with deletion.
Check your account for any active subscriptions or recurring payments you have set up. PayPal will not let you delete if money is scheduled to be charged. Cancel any subscriptions through the merchant's website or through PayPal's subscription settings before you request account closure.
Unlink all payment methods from your account
Go to your PayPal Settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner. Select "Wallet" or "Payment Methods" depending on your account type. You will see all linked credit cards, debit cards, and bank accounts.
Click the three dots or menu icon next to each payment method and select "Remove" or "Unlink". Do this for every card and bank account connected to your account. PayPal requires this step because it prevents accidental charges after your account is closed and removes the connection between your financial information and PayPal's system.
If you have a PayPal Cash or PayPal Cash Plus account with a debit card, you will need to close that card separately through PayPal or request a replacement card before deletion. Some account types do not allow deletion until the associated card is handled.
Request account deletion through Settings
Log into PayPal and click the gear icon in the top right. Scroll down and look for "Close your account" or "Account closure" — the exact wording varies by account type and region. Click that option.
PayPal will show you a confirmation screen listing what will happen: your account will close, you will lose access to your transaction history, and any linked payment methods will be disconnected. Read through this carefully. If you have a Business account, PayPal may ask you to confirm that you understand business records will be deleted.
Click the button to confirm closure. PayPal will send you a confirmation email to the address on file. Your account is now closed and you cannot log in. The company will spend the next 90 days removing your data from their servers.
What happens to your transaction history and data
Once your account is deleted, you cannot view any past transactions, invoices, or payment records through PayPal. If you need records for tax purposes or disputes, download or screenshot them before you request deletion. You can usually do this by going to your Activity or Transaction History and exporting to a file.
PayPal keeps some data for legal and tax reasons even after deletion — for example, records of transactions that involved other users. However, your personal information, login credentials, and account settings are removed within 90 days. If you need proof that a transaction occurred for a dispute or refund claim, contact PayPal support before you delete your account.
If you had a Business account, invoices and records related to other users' accounts may still exist in their records, but your access to them is gone. Inform any customers or business partners before you close a Business account so they know to contact PayPal directly if they need transaction records.
What to do if PayPal won't let you delete your account
If you try to close your account and PayPal shows an error or blocks the request, there is usually a specific reason. The most common blockers are: an active dispute or claim, a pending transaction that has not cleared, a balance that is not actually zero, or an active subscription.
Go back to your account overview and look for any warnings or alerts. If PayPal shows a dispute or claim, you must wait for it to resolve or contact PayPal support to close it. If a transaction is pending, wait for it to complete — this usually takes three to five business days. If a subscription is still active, cancel it through the merchant's website first.
If you cannot find the reason, contact PayPal support through the Help Center. Click "Contact Us" and describe that you want to close your account but are getting an error. Support can tell you what is preventing deletion and walk you through fixing it. This usually takes one to two business days.
Creating a new PayPal account after deletion
Once your account is deleted, you cannot reopen it or recover it. If you want to use PayPal again in the future, you will need to create a completely new account with a email address. You can use the same phone number and bank account, but the email must be different.
Wait at least a few days after deletion before creating a new account. PayPal's system sometimes needs time to fully process the old account removal, and creating a new account too quickly can cause confusion or temporary blocks. If you get an error when signing up, wait 24 hours and try again.
Your new account will start fresh with no transaction history, no linked payment methods, and no balance. You will need to add payment methods and go through any verification steps again, just like a brand new user.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my PayPal account if I have money in it?
No, you must withdraw the money first. Go to your Wallet, click "Transfer Money", and send it to your linked bank account. Once the transfer completes and your balance shows zero, you can request deletion. The transfer usually takes one to three business days.
What if I forgot my PayPal password and can't log in to delete my account?
Click "Forgot Password" on the PayPal login page and follow the recovery steps. PayPal will send a reset link to your email. If you cannot access that email, click "I can't access this email" and PayPal will ask security questions or send a code to your phone. Once you regain access, log in and proceed with deletion.
Will deleting my PayPal account affect my credit score?
No. Closing a PayPal account does not show up on your credit report and does not impact your credit score. PayPal is not a credit provider unless you used PayPal Credit (their buy-now-pay-later service), in which case closing the account does not hurt your score either.
How long does it take for PayPal to completely delete my account?
Your account closes immediately after you request deletion and you lose login access right away. However, PayPal takes up to 90 days to remove your personal data from their servers. During this time, your account is closed but the deletion process is still running in the background.
Can I delete my PayPal account if I have a pending refund?
No. You must wait for the refund to complete and show in your account before deletion. If a refund is stuck or delayed, contact PayPal support to resolve it first. Once the refund clears and your balance is zero, you can request account closure.