Import PayPal Transactions into Your Accounting Software

Convert your PayPal transaction history to MT940 or CAMT.053 for import into Exact Online, Twinfield, Xero, and other accounting packages.

Why convert PayPal transactions?

PayPal is a key payment channel for many businesses — for webshop sales, international payments, and subscriptions. However, most accounting software cannot import PayPal exports directly. PayPal provides CSV or Excel files with a proprietary column structure (Gross, Fee, Net, Balance Impact) that does not match standard bank statement formats.

The solution: convert your PayPal transaction overview to MT940 or CAMT.053 with StatementBridge. This way you can import your PayPal transactions just like regular bank statements.

Download PayPal transactions

  1. Log in to paypal.com and go to Activity.
  2. Click All Transactions, then Download > Statements.
  3. Select the desired date range.
  4. Choose file type CSV (recommended) or Excel (experimental: Tab-delimited Balances).
  5. Click Create Report and download the file.

Convert PayPal CSV with StatementBridge

  1. Go to StatementBridge and upload your PayPal CSV or Excel file.
  2. StatementBridge shows a preview of your data.
  3. Map the columns:
    PayPal columnStatementBridge field
    DateTransaction date
    GrossAmount
    NameCounterparty name
    SubjectDescription
    Transaction IDReference
  4. Account details: enter the IBAN of your PayPal account (found under PayPal > Settings > Bank accounts). No IBAN? Use a placeholder such as NL00PAYP0000000000.
  5. Choose the output format: MT940 (widely supported) or CAMT.053.
  6. Click Convert and download the result.
  7. Import the file into your accounting software.

Tips for PayPal conversion

  • Gross vs. Net: use the Gross column as the amount. This is the full transaction amount including PayPal fees. The Fee column contains the fees separately.
  • Currency: PayPal exports may contain multiple currencies. Filter by currency first, or process each currency separately.
  • Duplicate entries: PayPal sometimes shows multiple lines per transaction (payment + fee + conversion). Check that you only import the main transactions, or filter by Type = Payment or Refund.
  • Date format: PayPal often uses DD/MM/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY depending on your language settings. Verify this in the preview.
  • AI extraction: is your PayPal statement a PDF? Use the Enrich with AI feature for automatic recognition (Pro).

Which output format to choose?

FormatSuitable for
MT940 Widely supported: Exact Online, Twinfield, Xero, AFAS, and virtually all other accounting packages.
CAMT.053 Recommended for Exact Online and Visma eAccounting. Contains more detail and follows the ISO 20022 standard.

Booking PayPal fees separately

PayPal charges transaction fees that you probably want to book separately. You have two options:

  • Option 1 — Import gross: use the Gross column as the amount. Book PayPal fees manually or via a journal entry.
  • Option 2 — Import net: use the Net column as the amount. Fees are already deducted, but you lose the detail for cost analysis.
Convert PayPal transactions

Frequently asked questions

Can I import PayPal transactions directly into my accounting software?

No, most accounting packages do not accept PayPal CSV or Excel files. Convert your PayPal export to MT940 or CAMT.053 with StatementBridge, after which you can import it as a regular bank statement.

Should I use Gross or Net as the amount?

We recommend using Gross. This is the full transaction amount. PayPal fees are listed separately in the Fee column and can be booked separately. If you use Net, fees are already deducted but you lose the detail.

Which IBAN should I use for my PayPal account?

PayPal often links an IBAN to your account (found in PayPal > Settings > Bank accounts). If you don't have an IBAN, use a placeholder like NL00PAYP0000000000. Make sure to create the same account in your accounting software.

How do I handle multiple currencies in my PayPal export?

PayPal exports may contain transactions in multiple currencies. Filter the CSV file by currency first (e.g. EUR only) and process each currency separately to avoid import errors.

Can I also convert a PayPal PDF?

Yes. Upload the PDF file in StatementBridge and use the 'Enrich with AI' feature (Pro) to automatically recognise the transactions. For best results, however, we recommend the CSV export.

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