LifterLMS PayPal Reference Transactions

LifterLMS PayPal utilizes PayPal Reference Transactions to facilitate automatic recurring payments. By default, Reference Transactions may not be enabled on your PayPal account. PayPal’s current policy states: ‘PayPal isn’t accepting new users for this feature,’ which means new accounts cannot have Reference Transactions activated.

LifterLMS PayPal can check if reference transactions are enabled for you. Head to LifterLMS -> Settings -> Checkout and find the PayPal section. Locate the PayPal Reference Transactions area and click the “Check Now” button.

LifterLMS PayPal will let you know whether or not reference transactions are enabled on your live account because reference transactions are always enabled for sandbox accounts.

A notice will let you know whether or not reference transactions are enabled. If they are, your customers will be able to purchase recurring access plans via PayPal.

PayPal no longer enables Reference Transactions for new accounts. PayPal states publicly:

“PayPal isn’t accepting new users for this feature.”

Existing PayPal users who previously had Reference Transactions may continue using them, although PayPal notes they may be required to upgrade to the Advanced Debit and Credit solution.

If Reference Transactions are not already active on your PayPal account, you will not be able to request activation. Contacting PayPal Support will not result in Reference Transactions being enabled on accounts that do not already have them.

If you need to sell recurring subscriptions with LifterLMS and your PayPal account does not support Reference Transactions, you can use:

• Stripe for automated recurring subscriptions
• WooCommerce with a PayPal gateway that supports subscriptions
• Manual recurring PayPal payments