# PayPal Commerce - LinkTime Documentation

> PayPal Commerce Platform integration for accepting PayPal payments on paid events.
> Source: https://linktime.io/docs/developers/paypal-commerce
> Last updated: February 2026

## Overview

PayPal Commerce Platform lets LinkTime users accept PayPal payments for paid events. It mirrors the Stripe Connect integration -- money flows directly to the merchant's PayPal account, while LinkTime automatically collects a platform fee on each transaction.

This integration uses PayPal's Partner Referrals API for onboarding. Merchants complete PayPal's KYC (Know Your Customer) process, and once verified, guests booking paid events can pay via PayPal Checkout.

> **Coming soon.** The PayPal Commerce integration is fully built and tested. We are completing the final account verification steps with PayPal. Once live, it will appear alongside Stripe in your Integrations settings.

## How It Works

The integration follows a standard platform commerce flow:

1. **Host connects PayPal** -- The host clicks "Connect PayPal" in Settings > Integrations. LinkTime generates a secure tracking ID and redirects to PayPal's Partner Referrals onboarding flow.
2. **Merchant completes KYC** -- On PayPal's hosted onboarding page, the merchant verifies their identity, confirms their email, and grants LinkTime permission to process payments on their behalf.
3. **Return to LinkTime** -- PayPal redirects back to LinkTime with the merchant's PayPal ID. LinkTime verifies the merchant's status (payments receivable and email confirmed) and enables the integration.
4. **Guests pay via PayPal** -- When a guest books a paid event, they can pay via PayPal Checkout. The payment goes directly to the merchant's PayPal account, and LinkTime's platform fee is deducted automatically.

## Setup Guide

Follow these steps to connect your PayPal Business account to LinkTime:

1. **Go to Integrations** -- Navigate to Settings > Integrations in your LinkTime dashboard.
2. **Click "Connect PayPal"** -- Find the PayPal Commerce section under Payment Processing and click the Connect button. You will be redirected to PayPal.
3. **Complete merchant verification** -- On PayPal's onboarding page, verify your identity, confirm your business email, and grant permissions. This is PayPal's standard KYC process.
4. **Return to LinkTime** -- After completing onboarding, PayPal redirects you back to LinkTime. If your payments are receivable and email is confirmed, the integration shows as connected. If verification is still pending, the status shows as pending.

> **Tip:** Make sure you use a PayPal Business account (not a personal account). Personal accounts cannot receive commerce payments through platform integrations.

## Merchant Status

After connecting, LinkTime checks two conditions with PayPal to determine if your account is fully active:

| Check | What it means | Required? |
|-------|---------------|-----------|
| `paymentsReceivable` | The merchant account can receive payments through the platform | Yes |
| `primaryEmailConfirmed` | The merchant's primary email address has been verified by PayPal | Yes |

Both checks must return `true` for the integration to be fully active. If either is false, the integration appears as "pending" in your Integrations page.

You can re-check your status at any time from the Integrations page. LinkTime calls PayPal's Merchant Integrations API and automatically syncs the `paypalCommerceEnabled` flag if the status has changed.

## Platform Fees

LinkTime collects a platform fee on each PayPal payment. The fee percentage depends on your plan -- the same structure used by Stripe Connect:

| Plan | Platform Fee |
|------|-------------|
| All paid plans | Flat 2% |

The platform fee is automatically deducted from each payment using PayPal's `payment_instruction.platform_fees` mechanism. The guest pays the full event price, the merchant receives the price minus the platform fee, and LinkTime receives the fee. Disbursement is instant.

Standard PayPal processing fees (charged by PayPal to the merchant) apply on top of the platform fee.

## Disconnecting

You can disconnect PayPal Commerce at any time:

1. Go to Settings > Integrations
2. Find PayPal Commerce under Payment Processing
3. Click "Disconnect"

### What happens when you disconnect

- Your PayPal merchant ID and tracking data are cleared from LinkTime.
- New paid bookings will no longer offer PayPal as a payment method.
- Existing completed payments are not affected -- they have already been settled.
- Your PayPal Business account itself is not modified. This only removes the connection to LinkTime.

You can reconnect at any time by following the setup steps above.

## Requirements

1. **LinkTime Pro plan or higher** -- Payment integrations require at least a Pro plan. See [pricing](https://linktime.io/pricing).
2. **PayPal Business account** -- A PayPal Business account is required for commerce platform integrations. Personal accounts are not supported. You can [upgrade or create a Business account on PayPal](https://www.paypal.com/business).
3. **At least one paid event type** -- You need a paid event type configured with a price. PayPal Checkout will appear as a payment option for guests when booking that event.

## FAQ

### Can I use both Stripe Connect and PayPal Commerce at the same time?

Yes. If both are connected, guests will see both payment options at checkout and can choose their preferred method.

### Do I need to do anything on PayPal's side after connecting?

No. The onboarding flow handles everything. Once you complete PayPal's KYC process and both status checks pass (payments receivable and email confirmed), you are ready to accept payments.

### What happens if my merchant status is pending?

If PayPal has not yet verified your account, the integration shows as pending. You can check the status from the Integrations page at any time. Once PayPal completes verification, the status will update automatically the next time it is checked.

### Where does the money go?

Payments go directly to your PayPal Business account. LinkTime never holds your funds. The platform fee is deducted at the time of payment and sent to LinkTime via PayPal's platform fees mechanism.

### Are refunds supported?

Yes. The integration includes REFUND capabilities as part of the PayPal partner features. Refunds are processed through PayPal's standard refund flow.

### When will this integration be live?

Very soon. The code is complete and tested. We are finishing the final account verification steps with PayPal. No code changes will be needed — it will go live automatically.