Credit: Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
PayPal accounts are great — they’re easy to make, free, and can be used to buy all kinds of products. But all good things must come to an end, and if you’re here you’re probably ready to permanently delete your PayPal account.
Read also: What is PayPal? How do you use it?
Before you do so, there are a few things you need to know. We’ve listed all the details as well as step-by-step instructions on how to delete your PayPal account below. Let’s get started!
Why should you delete a PayPal account?
PayPal accounts don’t cost any money to maintain, but there are still some reasons why you might want to delete it. Maybe you have a business account and your business is closing down. Maybe you’ve switched to an alternative like Venmo or Transferwise. Or maybe you just want to open another account using a different email address.
Whatever your reason, it’s a good idea to delete your PayPal account if you never plan on using it again. PayPal is secure, but any place on the web where your personal and financial details are listed should be watched with caution.
What to know before closing a PayPal account
Credit: Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
Before we get into how to delete your PayPal account, there are a few things you need to know. First and most importantly, once you delete your account it’s gone for good. You can create a new PayPal account using a different (or even the same) email address, but everything else tied to your account will be permanently deleted. This means that your transaction history will be lost, so make sure you create a copy before closing down your account.
Read also: Top 5 side hustle jobs to make extra money
The other thing you’ll want to do is withdraw any remaining balance you have in your account. You can do this by transferring it to another PayPal account, transferring it to a bank account, or requesting a check from PayPal. Of course, you can also use the balance to buy goods online or donate it to a worthy cause.
If you have an outstanding balance from PayPal credit, you will not be able to close the account until it’s paid off. The same goes for any pending payments or other unresolved issues tied to your account. You may need to contact customer service to resolve these depending on what the problem is.
Steps to take before closing your PayPal account:
- Empty your PayPal balance.
- Pay off any outstanding balance.
- Fix any unresolved issues (may involve contacting customer service).
- (optional) Create a copy of your transaction history.
How to close and permanently delete a PayPal account
Once you’re sure you want to close your PayPal account and have finished the prerequisites above, it’s time to start the process. Although it’s permanent, the full process still just takes a few minutes. It’s worth noting, however, that it can only be done from the web. You will not be able to delete your PayPal account from the Android or iOS app.
The process for how to delete your PayPal account is the same regardless of whether you have a personal or business account. If you have a business account it’s also possible to downgrade to a personal account, but you’ll have to contact customer service to do so.
How to delete a PayPal account:
- Log into your account on PayPal.com.
- Click the Settings icon in the top right.
- Under Account Options, click Close your account.
- If requested, enter your bank account information.
- Click Close account.
Once finished, your account will be closed and everything associated with it permanently deleted.
That’s it for our guide to how to delete a PayPal account! Check out some of our other guides for payment services below.
Via Phandroid