What PayPal is (in plain English)

• PayPal is a familiar, global way to move money and get paid online or in person. It lets people and businesses accept cards and digital wallets, send payouts, offer “pay over time,” and even manage crypto—all in one place. The focus is on security, convenience, and flexibility for everyday payments and business operations. (paypal.com)

Why Back Office teams like it

• You get one platform for sales, refunds, disputes, payouts, and reporting, which means cleaner reconciliation and fewer silos across accounting, support, finance, and ops. (developer.paypal.com)

• Built‑in statements, CSV/PDF exports, and advanced reports simplify month‑end close and audit trails. You can generate monthly and custom statements and download activity in bulk. (developer.paypal.com)

• User roles and access controls let you safely delegate tasks (e.g., refunds, reporting) to team members without sharing one login. (paypal.com)

• The Resolution Center centralizes disputes and chargebacks, so support and finance stay in sync. You’ll also find annual forms like the 1099‑K in the Tax Center. (paypal.com)

Core ways to accept payments

• Online checkout: Offer PayPal, cards, Pay Later, Venmo, and popular wallets like Apple Pay/Google Pay with one integration. This meets customers where they are and helps conversion. (developer.paypal.com)

• In‑person: Use PayPal Point of Sale with readers/terminal, or Tap to Pay on iPhone or Android—no extra hardware needed—for quick, encrypted contactless payments. Funds are typically available fast in your PayPal Business account. (paypal.com)

• Invoicing: Create branded invoices, send by email/link/QR, and let customers pay instantly—even without a PayPal account. Invoices show up in your reports and can be automated via API. (paypal.com)

• Virtual Terminal: Key in card payments by phone/mail or for custom orders using only a browser; activity flows into your standard PayPal reports. (paypal.com)

Pay Later options customers love (and you get paid up front)

• Pay in 4: Interest‑free installments over 6 weeks for eligible purchases; no late fees. Availability varies by state and merchant. (paypal.com)

• Pay Monthly: Fixed monthly payments over 3–24 months for eligible purchases; issued by WebBank, APR varies by credit. (paypal.com)

• Both Pay Later options include PayPal Purchase Protection on eligible transactions while merchants receive funds upfront—good for cash flow. (paypal.com)

Protections and risk tools that reduce headaches

• Buyer side: PayPal Purchase Protection helps reimburse eligible items that don’t arrive or aren’t as described (U.S. program; terms apply). This builds trust and can reduce support time. (paypal.com)

• Seller side: Seller Protection helps you keep the sale for eligible “Unauthorized Transaction” and “Item Not Received” claims when requirements are met. (paypal.com)

• Fraud and disputes: Fraud Protection / Fraud Protection Advanced add machine‑learning filters, risk scores, and dashboards; Chargeback Protection can waive chargeback fees for eligible card disputes when you submit required info. 3D Secure is available for card authentication and liability shift. (paypal.com)

• Always‑on security: Encrypted transactions and 24/7 monitoring help keep accounts safer. Purchase Protection is built in for eligible purchases. (paypal.com)

Payouts (mass disbursements)

• Send bulk payouts to contractors, creators, partners, or winners—by email, mobile number, PayPal ID, or even Venmo handles—across 156+ markets and 23 currencies, with tracking and downloadable details for reconciliation. (paypal.com)

Reporting, reconciliation, and tax support

• Generate **monthly and