How to Get a Receipt from PayPal (2026): Invoices & Transaction History

PayPal doesn't issue traditional receipts the way a retail store does. Instead, every payment you send or receive generates a transaction record that serves as your receipt. Whether you need proof of payment for a business expense, a receipt for a client invoice, or a complete transaction history for tax time, this guide shows you exactly where to find it.

PayPal processes over $1.5 trillion in payment volume annually, and if you're a freelancer, small business owner, or gig worker who uses PayPal, having clean records of your PayPal activity is essential for bookkeeping and tax compliance.

How to Find a PayPal Receipt (Website)

The PayPal website gives you the most complete access to your transaction records and receipts.

Viewing Individual Transaction Receipts

1. Log in to paypal.com
2. Click Activity in the top navigation bar
3. Use the filters to narrow by date range, transaction type, or amount
4. Click on any transaction to open the Transaction Details page
5. On the detail page, click Print or use your browser's print function (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P) to save as PDF

The Transaction Details page is your receipt. It shows the payment amount, date, recipient or sender, transaction ID, and any fees charged.

Downloading a Transaction Receipt as PDF

For a formal receipt document:

1. Open the transaction from the Activity page
2. Scroll to the bottom of the Transaction Details page
3. Click Get a receipt or Invoice details (the label varies depending on the transaction type)
4. PayPal generates a printable receipt with all transaction information
5. Use your browser's print dialog to save as PDF

Viewing PayPal Invoices

If you sent or received a PayPal invoice (not just a payment), you can find it separately:

1. Log in to PayPal and go to Pay & Get Paid > Invoices
2. You'll see tabs for Invoiced (sent) and Received (incoming invoices)
3. Click any invoice to view the full details including line items, tax, and payment status
4. Click Download PDF to save the invoice as a document

PayPal invoices include itemized descriptions, quantities, rates, tax amounts, and your business details — making them more detailed than a basic transaction receipt.

How to Find a PayPal Receipt (Mobile App)

1. Open the PayPal app on your phone
2. Tap Activity at the bottom of the screen
3. Scroll or search to find the transaction you need
4. Tap the transaction to view its details
5. Tap Share to send the receipt via email, text, or other apps
6. Alternatively, take a screenshot of the transaction detail screen

The mobile app shows the same core information as the website: amount, date, recipient, transaction ID, and status. For a more detailed or printable receipt, use the website.

How to Export PayPal Transaction History

For bookkeeping and tax filing, you'll need your complete transaction history rather than individual receipts.

Downloading Activity Reports

1. Log in to PayPal and click Activity
2. Click Statements in the left sidebar (or navigate to Activity > All Transactions)
3. Click Download or Create Report
4. Select your date range (e.g., January 1 to December 31 for a tax year)
5. Choose the file format:
   • CSV — best for importing into spreadsheets or bookkeeping software
   • PDF — best for a formatted statement to share with your accountant
   • QIF/IIF — for importing into QuickBooks or similar accounting software
6. Click Download Report

Monthly and Annual Statements

PayPal also generates monthly and annual statements automatically:

1. Go to Activity > Statements
2. Select Monthly or Annual statement
3. Choose the month or year
4. Download as PDF

These statements summarize your total payments sent, received, fees charged, and ending balance — useful for reconciling with your bank account.

What Information Appears on a PayPal Receipt

PayPal transaction records contain different information depending on the transaction type.

Payment Sent (Purchase Receipt)

Payment Received (Income Receipt)

PayPal Invoice

Invoices contain all the above plus itemized line items, quantities, unit prices, tax amounts, discount amounts, shipping costs, and your business contact information.

Using PayPal Receipts for Tax Deductions

United States

PayPal transaction records are valid documentation for IRS tax deductions. The IRS requires records showing the amount, date, business purpose, and vendor — PayPal receipts provide all of these except the business purpose, which you should add to your bookkeeping records.

Key tax considerations for US PayPal users:

• 1099-K reporting: PayPal is required to issue a 1099-K if you receive over $600 in goods and services payments in a calendar year. Download your 1099-K from Activity > Statements > Tax Documents
• PayPal fees are deductible: Processing fees (typically 2.99% + $0.49 per transaction for Business accounts) are deductible as a business expense
• Foreign currency conversions: PayPal's conversion fees are also deductible. The transaction record shows the exchange rate used
• Business vs. personal: Only transactions through your PayPal Business account (or clearly business-related personal transactions) qualify as deductions. Keep business and personal PayPal activity separate if possible

Canada

Canadian freelancers and small business owners who receive payments through PayPal need to report all business income to the CRA, regardless of amount. There is no 1099-K equivalent threshold in Canada — all income is reportable.

Key tax considerations for Canadian PayPal users:

• Self-employment income: Report PayPal business income on your T2125 Statement of Business Activities. PayPal's CSV export makes it straightforward to total your annual business receipts
• PayPal fees are deductible: Processing fees are deductible as "Other expenses" or "Management and administration fees" on your T2125
• Currency conversion: If you receive payments in USD (common for Canadian freelancers with US clients), PayPal converts to CAD. The conversion fee and any exchange rate differences are relevant for your records
• GST/HST on PayPal fees: PayPal's Canadian processing fees include GST/HST. You can claim ITCs on these fees if you're registered. Check your PayPal monthly statements for the tax breakdown
• No T5018 for most users: The T5018 (Contract Payments) is filed by construction businesses, not by PayPal. However, if you receive contractor payments via PayPal, the payer may report them on their T5018

For a complete guide on self-employed tax filing, see our self-employed tax guide for Canada.

PayPal in Canada: GST/HST Specifics

GST/HST on PayPal Processing Fees

PayPal charges GST/HST on its processing fees for Canadian merchants. This is important because it means you can claim Input Tax Credits.

To find the GST/HST charged on your PayPal fees:

1. Log in to PayPal and go to Activity > Statements
2. Download your Monthly Statement for the relevant period
3. The statement breaks down total fees and the GST/HST charged on those fees
4. Use this amount when filing your GST/HST return to claim ITCs

Invoicing with GST/HST in PayPal

If you use PayPal's invoicing feature and you're registered for GST/HST:

1. When creating an invoice in PayPal, add a tax line for GST (5%) or HST (13% in Ontario, 15% in Atlantic provinces, etc.)
2. PayPal will calculate the tax and show it as a separate line on the invoice
3. The tax collected through PayPal invoices must be remitted to the CRA on your regular filing schedule

Canadian Freelancers with US Clients

If you're a Canadian freelancer receiving USD payments through PayPal:

• PayPal converts USD to CAD using their exchange rate (which includes a conversion spread)
• Record the CAD amount received (not the USD amount sent) as your business income
• The conversion fee is a deductible business expense
• Keep records of the exchange rate used for each transaction — PayPal includes this in the transaction details

For detailed guidance on tracking business expenses, see our bookkeeping guide for Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far back can I access PayPal transaction history?

PayPal retains your transaction history for up to 7 years through the Activity page. For records older than 3 years, you may need to use the Statements section and request specific date ranges. Annual statements are available for each year your account has been active.

Can I get a PayPal receipt if I paid as a guest (without a PayPal account)?

Yes. PayPal sends a confirmation email to the email address you used during checkout. Search your inbox for "PayPal" and the merchant's name. If you can't find the email, contact the merchant — they have the transaction record in their PayPal account and can resend the receipt.

How do I separate business and personal PayPal transactions for taxes?

The best approach is to use a PayPal Business account exclusively for business transactions and a separate Personal account for everything else. If you've been mixing them, download your full transaction history as CSV and manually tag business vs. personal transactions. Going forward, keep them separate to simplify bookkeeping.

Does PayPal charge fees on receiving money from friends and family?

No. PayPal does not charge fees for domestic Friends and Family payments funded by PayPal balance or bank account. However, payments funded by credit card or debit card may incur a fee. Friends and Family payments are not reported on 1099-K forms and should not be treated as business income.

Can I use PayPal transaction records instead of receipts for tax purposes?

PayPal transaction records are generally accepted by the IRS and CRA as proof of payment. However, for larger expenses, it's best to also keep the vendor's invoice or receipt alongside the PayPal transaction record. The PayPal record proves you paid; the vendor's receipt proves what you paid for.