Can You Pay Your Cable Bill Using PayPal?

Payment Overview
Paying utilities such as a cable bill with a PayPal account means you do not have to keep your credit card or bank account information handy to type into the cable provider's website. You also don't have to write monthly checks and calculate your register by hand. You are behind a wall of security protection that the site promises. In most cases, paying by PayPal requires you to click a PayPal button, log into your account with an ID and password, enter the amount to pay -- which the cable company may have already auto-filled -- and approve the payment.
Requirements
There are two requirements to being able to pay your cable bill with PayPal. First, you need a PayPal account. An account is free, but you must have the payment sources PayPal requires, such as a bank account or credit card. The other requirement is up to the merchant. In most cases, you'll know whether the cable supplier accepts PayPal with a quick glance at its website -- check for a horizontal yellow PayPal button or icon displayed on the home page. Also check the 'Submit Payment' page for the button or PayPal selection. You can also contact the customer service phone number and ask a representative.
Process
If a cable supplier does allow bill payments through PayPal, there may be one of two payment options. The first is the one-time payment structure, where you'll receive a bill and indicate how much money to pay from your PayPal account. This will occur monthly or however frequently your cable company bills. For example, you receive a bill for your monthly cable for $50. Log into your PayPal account, elect to send $50 to your cable company and send the payment, which would then be deducted from the balance. Another option, though not always available, is a recurring payment and/or automatic billing. This is where you provide your cable company your PayPal account information. While you may still get a bill, the charges will be automatically deducted from or charged to the account.
Considerations
The main consideration to paying cable bills with PayPal is that the money in the account has to come from somewhere. If you elect to use PayPal money -- funds from selling something or earning income -- it must be enough to cover your bill. If it's not, PayPal uses one of the other financial options linked to your account, such as a credit card or your bank account. If either of these default, you could default on your transaction, risk your cable being cut off and may be reported to collections. Another factor to consider is security. While PayPal offers high standards to protect its users, with a dispute center and payment protection, people uncomfortable with putting their personal information online may not feel secure using the service.

How to Send Payments Through PayPal

1. Get the PayPal email address of the person you want to send your payment to. Their PayPal email address may not be the same as their personal email address, so be sure to ask them.
2. Register for an account or log in to your account. To register, you need a valid email address and you have to fill out a short form with your name, address, phone number and other information. To start sending or receiving money, you must input your bank account number, a credit card number or a debit card number. PayPal accepts Visa, Mastercard or Discover.
3. Locate and click the 'Send Money' link at the top of the page.
4. Type the PayPal email address--or phone number,if applicable--of the payment recipient into the 'To' box.
5. Enter the amount of the transaction, without dollar signs, in the 'Amount' box. Enter it in dollars and cents. Instead of '10 dollars,' make it '10.00.' Select the correct currency, usually 'USD' or 'U.S. dollars.'
6. Choose the appropriate circle for the type of transaction. Then click the 'Continue' link at the bottom.
7. Input the information you want included in the subject of the email for your PayPal payment recipient. You may include a message to them.
8. Hit the 'Send Money' link and you're done.

What Does PayPal Report to the IRS?

Housing Assistance Tax Act
Beginning in 2011, the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 will require companies such as PayPal to report certain information to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Reporting Requirements
Under this act, PayPal is required to report to the IRS any individual or business receiving at least $20,000 in payments from a minimum of 200 transactions.
Preparing and Implementing
The gap between the passage of the 2008 Housing Assistance Tax Act and the law going into effect in 2011 gives PayPal users who receive payments time to prepare for tax reporting and gives the IRS a chance to figure out how to implement the new law.

How to Add a PayPal Button to My Forum

1. Set up a PayPal account. To access PayPal's button functions, you must have an account with the Web site.
2. Determine HTML functionality. Some Web sites have an easy system for adding HTML buttons and other widgets to your profile--just look for the key that allows for third-party functionality. Other sites do not, so you will have to look for the HTML code of your site or forum. Click the link to "edit HTML."
3. Choose your button. PayPal offers five different buttons to add to your forum or site: "Buy Now," "Add to Cart," "Donate," "Buy Gift Certificate" and "Subscribe." Choose the one that is most appropriate for your forum.
4. Personalize your button: After you are logged into your PayPal account, go to the "Merchant Services" tab. There will be a menu entitled "Create Buttons." Click the appropriate button. You will then be prompted to complete three steps that will allow you to personalize the button for your site needs. Click "Create Button."
5. Copy the HTML code generated by PayPal. Paste the code in the appropriate place on your site. Save the changes and refresh the page to see the button appear on the forum or site.

Can You Use PayPal From Singapore?

Local Site
Visit PayPal's local site, paypal.com.sg, to use the Singaporean version of PayPal. Singapore-registered PayPal users must meet certain requirements mandated under the Monetary Authority of Singapore, ensuring the identity of customers who open an account. The procedure is called 'Know Your Customer,' and is similar to requirements that must be met when opening a bank or credit card account.
Banking
Sign up or log in to the site for access. Link your bank account in Singapore to your PayPal account for access to your funds in Singapore.
International Usage
If you are traveling to Singapore but want to use your national PayPal site, simply log on to the local PayPal site from your country to transfer funds while in Singapore. According to its website, PayPal has 'more than 87 million active accounts in 190 markets and 24 currencies around the world.'

How to Return a PayPal Payment to the Sender

1. Visit the PayPal Web site at PayPal.com, and log in to your account.
2. Click the 'Details' link next to the transaction containing the money you received and the sender you want to return the money to.
3. Select the 'Issue a refund' link located under the 'Amount received' information.
4. Type in the refund amount, and then click the 'Continue' button.
5. Click 'Issue Refund' to verify the refund and send it to the original payer.

How to Set Up a PayPal Tip Jar for Your Blog

1. Log in to your PayPal account. If you do not have one, visit PayPal.com and follow the onscreen prompts to set one up.
2. Click on 'Merchant Services' and scroll down to the 'Create buttons' menu. Click on the 'Donate' option.
3. Make sure the button field on the next screen says 'Donations,' then under 'Organization Name/Service,' enter the name of your tip jar. This might be 'Tip Jar,' 'Tips for John,' or whatever you choose to identify the button.
4. Click on 'Customize button text or appearance.' Select from the options offered. If you have created your own tip jar image, you can enter the url (Internet address) of the image as it is hosted on your site. There are also free and low-cost tip jar icons available online at various stock image websites; you can link to one of these if you desire.
5. Select your country's currency and the box that allows users to select their own donation amount.
6. Scroll down past Steps 2 and 3 (these are for business accounts only) and click 'Create Button.' PayPal will generate your button code.
7. Click 'Select code,' then press 'Ctrl' (PC computers) or 'Command' (Mac computers) and the 'C' key simultaneously to copy the code. Keep this page open in case you need to re-copy the code. Without a business account, PayPal will not save the code for you.
8. Sign into your blog account and access the page you use to alter the look of your blog by adding code, 'gadgets,' 'widgets' or other items.
9. Select the option that allows you to add a section of HTML coding.
10. Click inside the box for HTML coding and press 'Ctrl' (PC computers) or 'Command' (Mac computers) and the 'V' key simultaneously to paste the code. If your blog software allows you to title the section, type 'Tip Jar' or another title into the title line.
11. Save your changes and view your blog. Test the process by donating a small amount, such as 50 cents, to yourself. If it does not work, try copying and pasting the code again, making sure you have the entire code copied.
12. Let your readers know that the donation jar is available and how it works.