Confused about Paypal ... when do they charge fees and how much?

[svleonard]

Okay, so I thought that Paypal did not charge fees if someone sends you a "gift" but I have not realized that sometimes they do. 

So, when do they charge fees and when do they not?  And what percentage do they charge?

[Sarahlacewing]

  https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/helpcenter/article/?articleID=94008&m=SRE

  Sending money: Fees

It's free to send money in the U.S. to friends and family when you use your PayPal balance or bank account. Fees apply when you use a debit or credit card, or the payment is international. In most cases, the sender decides who pays these fees.

    Receiving money: Fees

Receiving personal payments from friends or family in the U.S. is free when they send the money using only their PayPal balance or their bank account, or a combination of their PayPal balance and bank account. An example of a personal payment would be receiving $20 from a family member as a birthday gift.

PayPal has a standard rate for receiving payments for goods and services. An example of this might be receiving money for an item you sold through a classified ad, or a payment for work that you performed for someone else. If you have a Personal account, after a certain number of payments for goods and services you will need to upgrade to a Premier account.

If you receive more than $3,000.00 USD per month, you may apply for PayPal's Merchant Rate, which offers lower fees for higher sales volumes.

    Fees: Withdrawing money

Here are some of the options of how you can use the money in your PayPal balance:

    Transfer it to your bank account.
    Sent it to yourself using a paper check.
    Use it for purchases online.
    Make purchases with a PayPal Debit MasterCard®.
    Withdraw it at an ATM using a PayPal Debit MasterCard.

Depending on which option you choose, withdrawing money is either free or incurs a small fee. Read details about your options.

    Fees: Handling other currencies

When transactions involve different currencies, PayPal uses currency exchange rates that are competitive with rates offered by banks and by currency exchanges. PayPal always tells you when a currency conversion is required, the exchange rate, and about any related fees.

Information about fees and exchange rates appear in your History and on the Transaction Details page after your transaction is complete. You can also use our fee calculator.

You can choose to maintain a balance in another currency. Learn more about handling international currencies.

[svleonard]

So, if you link your checking account to your Paypal account, then it should be free to give and receive gifts in the US, right?

[Sarahlacewing]

I've never been charged a fee using my checking account to send gifts. But others may want to weigh in on this.

[Maniah]

I remember one time being charged a fee to send a gift.. But I don't remember it very well. I found it really odd, but it didn't happen again. It could have something to do with the laws in the country you are sending to maybe?

[ponylady]

They do not charge a fee as long as the payment was sent through their Paypal balance or their bank account or a combination of the two.  However if they use a debit card or credit card or it was from an International buyer a fee is charged.

The fee for using a debit or credit card is 2.9% of total amount sent plus $0.30 per transaction (the sender decides who pays this fee).

International fees are 0.5% to 2% (depends on destination) when fully funded with bank account or PayPal balance. 3.4% to 3.9% if paying with a credit or debit card.

[Maniah]

Ponylady, I send from my Paypal account or checking account always, but there have still been a couple times when I was charged a fee to send as a gift. It's been a long time ago, or I would go look up the transaction details. I remember being very confused.

[nsunshine]

I too have been charged a few times...and its seems to go at 1cent per dollar...Cause I sent 14.86 and got charged a .7cent fee for that one, 20.00 and charged .10cents, 24.00 and a .12cent fee....all of those were non US Verified...If that helps any! These were all prior to Aug 2012, so I don't know if they have changed or what. Fee's are not always applied so I really don't know how they decide when to charge...But it does happen!

Also ment to say that I don't use a Credit/Debit card on there, only transfered money from my bank account, moneypak card, or when someone pays me for something....but no credit cards!