Paypal Webhook event not triggering when making direct payment from sandbox account
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Hi Guys,
I am trying to set up a webhook event that will get triggered when someone makes a direct payment(send money) to my business account. I have added the webhook and also verified that the endpoint is working. However, when I send money from my test Paypal account to my business account the webhook event does not show up in the Webhook Events. In the webhook, I have selected all events.
If I make a payment using the rest API then it shows in the webhook events but not while making direct payments to my account.
Please suggest!
Thanks

- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Good day @Amardeep2,
Thank you for posting to the PayPal community.
We understand that you are using the Direct Payment API, which is an NVP/SOAP-based API. We would like to inform you that this API is considered a legacy integration.
To ensure that you receive timely notifications after payment, we recommend that you use our Instant Payment Notification (IPN) service. By utilizing IPN, you can stay updated on all payment-related activities.
To assist you further, we have provided a guide that explains how to set up and use the IPN service. You can access the guide through the following link: https://developer.paypal.com/docs/api-basics/notifications/ipn/
If you are still facing the issue, please create an MTS ticket via - https://www.paypal-support.com/s/?language=en_US with the detailed information and error details.
Sincerely,
Vaishnavi
PayPal MTS
If this post or any other was helpful, please enrich the community by giving kudos or accepting it as a solution.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
I am not using the Direct Payment API, instead I am making direct payments using the UI by logging into the sandbox account on Paypal(as a buyer) and making direct payment from the Paypal using the UI. I am not using any API to make the payments.
Will the webhook event be triggered in such a case?
If I am making the payment or doing a refund using the API then it is working but not in the case as mentioned above.
Please suggest!
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Hi,
Were you able to solve this because im having the same problem.
I have a paypal BUY button on my wordpress site using a plugin
https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-ecommerce-paypal/
When the person buys with that button, i want to get a notification on my website with the buyers email and the amount using IPN, but i never receive it.
To receive the IPN notification in using another plugin:
https://www.angelleye.com/product/paypal-webhooks-for-wordpress/
When i use the webhook simulator it works, but when someone actually uses the buy button i get no events, however the money shows in my paypal account, even though i turn on all the IPN events.
Can anybody help?
Thanks

Haven't Found your Answer?
It happens. Hit the "Login to Ask the community" button to create a question for the PayPal community.
- Sandbox account collect billing and shipping address in Sandbox Environment
- "System error. Please try again later" when connecting to paypal sandbox account with my android app in Sandbox Environment
- NOT ENABLED TO VAULT PAYMENT SOURCE in Sandbox Environment
- Not receiving any confirmation emails for sandbox account in Sandbox Environment
- failed to pay with sandbox account in Sandbox Environment