How to Get Your PayPal Money Off Hold

PayPal places funds on hold to enhance security and protect buyers and sellers. This practice addresses potential issues like fraud, disputes, or chargebacks. Understanding the reasons for these holds and how to resolve them helps users manage their funds.

Identifying the Hold Type

To address a fund hold, determine its specific reason. PayPal communicates hold notifications within your account, visible in transaction details or the Resolution Center. Common indicators include new seller status, high-value transactions, customer disputes, unusual account activity, changes in selling patterns, or high-risk items.

Resolving Transactional Holds

Holds for specific sales require direct action to release funds. For physical items, sellers can expedite release by adding tracking information from an approved shipping carrier to transaction details. Funds are often released approximately 24 hours after delivery confirmation. If a shipping label is printed through PayPal, tracking updates automatically.

For services or intangible items, update the order status to “Completed” or “Order Processed” within the transaction details. Funds are generally released within seven days. New sellers, or those resuming sales after inactivity, may experience holds for up to 21 days while establishing a positive selling history. Consistently providing tracking and completing transactions can lead to quicker fund availability.

Addressing Account and Dispute Holds

Holds from account reviews, security concerns, or customer disputes require different actions. For account reviews or security flags, PayPal requests additional information or documentation. This may include proof of identity (e.g., government ID), proof of address (e.g., utility bill), or business operation documents. Provide clear, legible copies matching your PayPal account information.

For customer disputes (e.g., “Item Not Received”), funds are held until resolved. Sellers typically have 20 days to communicate and resolve the dispute directly with the buyer. If unresolved, either party can escalate the dispute to a claim for PayPal investigation. Provide compelling evidence, such as delivery tracking or invoices for intangible items.

Accessing Released Funds

Once a hold is released, PayPal notifies the user. Available funds can then be transferred from the PayPal balance to a linked bank account or debit card. To initiate a transfer, navigate to your Wallet or Balance section, select the transfer option, and choose your desired linked account.

Standard transfers to a linked bank account are free and typically take one to three business days, though some banks may take up to five. For quicker access, instant transfers are available to eligible debit cards or bank accounts. This service usually completes within minutes but incurs a small fee, often 1.75% of the transfer amount.