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What is the Cash a Check service in the PayPal app?

The Cash a Check feature in the PayPal app allows you to cash checks and have them credited to your PayPal Balance account on your mobile device. You simply take a picture of the check you want to cash and send it to us for review. Once your check is approved, you have the option to pay a fee and get your money credited to your PayPal account in minutes. If you don’t need the money immediately, you can get it in 10 days with no fee, if the check is not returned unpaid.


This feature is only available to Personal accounts and Individual or Sole Proprietor Business accounts. Business account owners need to have a PayPal Business Debit Mastercard®.

Here’s how to cash a check from your PayPal app:

  1. Tap Wallet.
  2. Tap Cash a check (we'll ask for permission to access your location and camera).
  3. You'll be asked to set up a PayPal Balance account (if you don't have one already).
  4. Enter the check amount, take a picture of the front and back of your endorsed check with your mobile device and tap Next.
  5. Select how quickly you want to have access to your money and tap Confirm.

Due to a recent change outside of PayPal, the Cash a Check feature is no longer available to customers in the state of New York.

It usually takes a few seconds to review a check for approval, although it can take 3-5 minutes and in rare circumstances, up to an hour to verify enough check information to approve your check.

If your check is approved, you’ll be prompted to write “VOID” across the front of your check and submit another photo showing it has been voided. Do not write “VOID” on your check until you are prompted to do so, after you receive confirmation that your check was approved.

Once finalized, you’ll see a confirmation page verifying the amount of the credit and when the money will be available in your PayPal account.

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