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Last updated: June 12, 2026
Important: NVP/SOAP is a legacy integration method. We accept new integrations and support existing integrations, but there are newer solutions. If you're starting an integration, we recommend our latest solutions.
When merchants process a payment that requires Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), they must provide additional context about the transaction. The additional context, or payment indicator, ensures that buyer authentication and card on file, among other factors, are appropriately handled. Failure to pass these payment indicators might result in rejected transactions.
Customer Initiated Transaction (CIT) recurring first
ACCT=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX&AMT=1.00&ITEMAMT=1.00&SHIPPINGAMT=0.00&HANDLINGAMT=0.00&TAXAMT=0.00&L_NAME0=Student chemistry set 8 kits&CURRENCYCODE=USD&USER=idc-automation-amex-us-pro-t1_api1.paypal.com&SIGNATURE=XXXXXXXXX&PWD=XXXXXX&METHOD=DoDirectPayment&EXPDATE=112020&PAYMENTACTION=Authorization&L_TAXAMT0=0.00&L_AMT0=1.00&L_QTY0=1&RETURNFMFDETAILS=1&phonenum=5555555555&VERSION=217&PAYMENTCATEGORY=RECURRING&PAYMENTINITIATOR=CUSTOMER&CARDONFILE=FIRSTMerchant Initiated Transaction (MIT) recurring subsequent
ACCT=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX&AMT=1.00&ITEMAMT=1.00&SHIPPINGAMT=0.00&HANDLINGAMT=0.00&TAXAMT=0.00&L_NAME0=Student chemistry set 8 kits&CURRENCYCODE=USD&USER=idc-automation-amex-us-pro-t1_api1.paypal.com&SIGNATURE=XXXX&PWD=XXXXX&METHOD=DoDirectPayment&EXPDATE=112020&PAYMENTACTION=Authorization&L_TAXAMT0=0.00&L_AMT0=1.00&L_QTY0=1&RETURNFMFDETAILS=1&phonenum=5555555555&VERSION=217&PAYMENTCATEGORY=RECURRING&PAYMENTINITIATOR=MERCHANT&CARDONFILE=SUBSEQUENT&PREVIOUSTRANSACTIONID=1SJ82848KJ814470TCIT unscheduled first
ACCT=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX&AMT=1.00&ITEMAMT=1.00&SHIPPINGAMT=0.00&HANDLINGAMT=0.00&TAXAMT=0.00&L_NAME0=Student chemistry set 8 kits&CURRENCYCODE=USD&USER=qa76-ukbus-seller1_api1.paypal.com&SIGNATURE=XXXXX&PWD=XXXXXX&METHOD=DoDirectPayment&EXPDATE=112020&PAYMENTACTION=Authorization&L_TAXAMT0=0.00&L_AMT0=1.00&L_QTY0=1&RETURNFMFDETAILS=1&phonenum=5555555555&VERSION=217&PAYMENTCATEGORY=UNSCHEDULED&PAYMENTINITIATOR=CUSTOMER&CARDONFILE=FIRSTMIT unscheduled subsequent
ACCT=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX&AMT=1.00&ITEMAMT=1.00&SHIPPINGAMT=0.00&HANDLINGAMT=0.00&TAXAMT=0.00&L_NAME0=Student chemistry set 8 kits&CURRENCYCODE=USD&USER=idc-automation-amex-us-pro-t1_api1.paypal.com&SIGNATURE=XXXXXX&PWD=XXXXXXX&METHOD=DoDirectPayment&EXPDATE=112020&PAYMENTACTION=Authorization&L_TAXAMT0=0.00&L_AMT0=1.00&L_QTY0=1&RETURNFMFDETAILS=1&phonenum=5555555555&VERSION=217&PAYMENTCATEGORY=UNSCHEDULED&PAYMENTINITIATOR=MERCHANT&CARDONFILE=SUBSEQUENT&PREVIOUSTRANSACTIONID=1JJ124387D132544EMIT recurring subsequent using network transaction ID
ACCT=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX&AMT=1.00&ITEMAMT=1.00&SHIPPINGAMT=0.00&HANDLINGAMT=0.00&TAXAMT=0.00&L_NAME0=Student chemistry set 8 kits&CURRENCYCODE=USD&USER=idc-automation-amex-us-pro-t1_api1.paypal.com&SIGNATURE=XXXXXX&PWD=XXXXXXXX&METHOD=DoDirectPayment&EXPDATE=112020&PAYMENTACTION=Authorization&L_TAXAMT0=0.00&L_AMT0=1.00&L_QTY0=1&RETURNFMFDETAILS=1&phonenum=5555555555&VERSION=217&PAYMENTCATEGORY=RECURRING&PAYMENTINITIATOR=MERCHANT&CARDONFILE=SUBSEQUENT&PREVIOUSNETWORKTRANSACTIONID=123456789&PREVIOUSNETWORKTRANSACTIONDATE=1120&PREVIOUSNETWORKTRANSACTIONBRAND=VisaCopy the code snippet and modify the values, as needed.
Note: We recommended that you pass these parameters for full network compliance.
PAYMENTINITIATOR values (required if parameters in this list are passed):
CUSTOMER — Customer initiates the payment. Also referred to as a Customer Initiated Transaction (CIT).MERCHANT — Merchant initiates the transaction and the merchant has established consent to charge the buyer. Also referred to as a Merchant Initiated Transaction (MIT).PAYMENTCATEGORY values (required if parameters in this list are passed):
UNSCHEDULED — Payments that the merchant initiates and are not on a specified schedule. For example, this includes preauthorized transactions where the merchant can charge the buyer once a balance falls within a specified range. These transactions are also referred to as top-up.RECURRING — Merchant initiates a payment as part of a series of recurring payments. The payment amounts can be variable and are on a fixed time interval.ONE_TIME — Single, one-time payment.CARDONFILE values:
FIRST — Save card information or payment token to use in subsequent transactions. Collect consent from the buyer that you intend to save their payment information.SUBSEQUENT — Card information or payment token was previously saved and is used in the transaction.PREVIOUSTRANSACTIONID — PayPal transaction ID previously used to charge the buyer. Shows payment processors that you have established a contract with the buyer.PREVIOUSNETWORKTRANSACTIONID, PREVIOUSNETWORKTRANSACTIONDATE, and PREVIOUSNETWORKTRANSACTIONBRAND values:
PREVIOUSNETWORKTRANSACTIONID — Transaction ID from a non-PayPal payment processor that you have previously used to process the payment.NETWORK — TransactionID from a non-PayPal payment processor that you have previously used to process the payment.VERSION — Send the appropriate version to indicate that you are passing the SCA payment indicators.You can use these common scenarios to determine how you'll update your integration.
| Scenario | Payment initiator | Payment category | Card on file |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single payment. Buyer doesn't intend to do a follow-on purchase or save their card. | CUSTOMER | ONE_TIME | — |
| Single payment. Buyer saves their card details for a future single payment. | CUSTOMER | ONE_TIME | FIRST |
| Single payment. Buyer uses a previously-saved card to complete the transaction. | CUSTOMER | ONE_TIME | SUBSEQUENT |
| Scenario | Payment initiator | Payment category | Card on file |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial transaction to sign up for the recurring charges. Buyer hasn't saved their card with you. | CUSTOMER | RECURRING | FIRST |
| Initial transaction to sign up for the recurring charges. Buyer has already saved their card with you. | CUSTOMER | RECURRING | SUBSEQUENT |
| Subsequent payments as part of a recurring plan. | MERCHANT | RECURRING | SUBSEQUENT |
| Initial customer-initiated transaction wasn't processed with PayPal. Merchant processes recurring charge with PayPal. | MERCHANT | RECURRING | SUBSEQUENT |
| Scenario | Payment initiator | Payment category | Card on file |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial transaction to sign up for an unscheduled payment. Buyer has not saved their card with you. | CUSTOMER | UNSCHEDULED | FIRST |
| Initial transaction to sign up for an unscheduled payment. Buyer has already saved their card with you. | CUSTOMER | UNSCHEDULED | SUBSEQUENT |
| Subsequent payments as part of the unscheduled contract. | MERCHANT | UNSCHEDULED | SUBSEQUENT |
| Initial customer-initiated transaction wasn't processed with PayPal. Merchant processes unscheduled charge with PayPal. | MERCHANT | UNSCHEDULED | SUBSEQUENT |
PAYMENTCATEGORY is not passed for Merchant Initiated Transactions
TIMESTAMP=2020%2d08%2d26T14%3a44%3a35Z&CORRELATIONID=13bf2a9e3682b&ACK=Failure&VERSION=217&BUILD=54790461&L_ERRORCODE0=10004&L_SHORTMESSAGE0=Transaction%20refused%20because%20of%20an%20invalid%20argument%2e%20See%20additional%20error%20messages%20for%20details%2e&L_LONGMESSAGE0=Please%20provide%20PaymentCategory%20for%20Merchant%20Initiated%20Transactions%2e&L_SEVERITYCODE0=Error&AMT=1%2e00&CURRENCYCODE=USDCARDONFILE is sent as FIRST for Merchant Initiated Transactions
TIMESTAMP=2020%2d08%2d26T14%3a46%3a26Z&CORRELATIONID=35d1fc1835079&ACK=Failure&VERSION=217&BUILD=54790461&L_ERRORCODE0=10004&L_SHORTMESSAGE0=Transaction%20refused%20because%20of%20an%20invalid%20argument%2e%20See%20additional%20error%20messages%20for%20details%2e&L_LONGMESSAGE0=Merchant%20Initiated%20Transaction%20is%20not%20supported%20when%20CardOnFile%20is%20FIRST%2e&L_SEVERITYCODE0=Error&AMT=1%2e00&CURRENCYCODE=USDCVV2 is passed for Merchant Initiated Transactions
TIMESTAMP=2020%2d08%2d26T14%3a48%3a06Z&CORRELATIONID=7da02e70aa567&ACK=Failure&VERSION=217&BUILD=54790461&L_ERRORCODE0=10004&L_SHORTMESSAGE0=Transaction%20refused%20because%20of%20an%20invalid%20argument%2e%20See%20additional%20error%20messages%20for%20details%2e&L_LONGMESSAGE0=Merchant%20Initiated%20Transaction%20is%20not%20supported%20when%20CVV%20is%20present%20in%20the%20request&L_SEVERITYCODE0=Error&AMT=1%2e00&CURRENCYCODE=USD3D-Secure results are passed for Merchant Initiated Transactions
TIMESTAMP=2020%2d08%2d26T14%3a49%3a10Z&CORRELATIONID=a7e5231fa344f&ACK=Failure&VERSION=217&BUILD=54790461&L_ERRORCODE0=10004&L_SHORTMESSAGE0=Transaction%20refused%20because%20of%20an%20invalid%20argument%2e%20See%20additional%20error%20messages%20for%20details%2e&L_LONGMESSAGE0=Merchant%20Initiated%20Transaction%20is%20not%20supported%20when%203%2dD%20Secure%20authentication%20results%20are%20present%20in%20the%20request&L_SEVERITYCODE0=Error&AMT=1%2e00&CURRENCYCODE=USDBoth PREVIOUSTRANSACTIONID and previous network transaction related data are passed for Merchant Initiated Transactions
TIMESTAMP=2020%2d08%2d26T14%3a50%3a14Z&CORRELATIONID=2609542dfc839&ACK=Failure&VERSION=217&BUILD=54790461&L_ERRORCODE0=10004&L_SHORTMESSAGE0=Transaction%20refused%20because%20of%20an%20invalid%20argument%2e%20See%20additional%20error%20messages%20for%20details%2e&L_LONGMESSAGE0=Please%20pass%20either%20Previous%20Transaction%20or%20Previous%20Network%20Transaction%20for%20Merchant%20Initiated%20Transactions%2e&L_SEVERITYCODE0=Error&AMT=1%2e00&CURRENCYCODE=USDPREVIOUSTRANSACTIONID or previous network transaction related data are passed for Customer Initiated Transactions
TIMESTAMP=2020%2d08%2d26T14%3a51%3a51Z&CORRELATIONID=3338bc0949ca1&ACK=Failure&VERSION=217&BUILD=54790461&L_ERRORCODE0=10004&L_SHORTMESSAGE0=Transaction%20refused%20because%20of%20an%20invalid%20argument%2e%20See%20additional%20error%20messages%20for%20details%2e&L_LONGMESSAGE0=Customer%20Initiated%20Transaction%20is%20not%20supported%20when%20Previous%20Transaction%20or%20Previous%20Network%20Transaction%20is%20present%20in%20the%20request%2e&L_SEVERITYCODE0=Error&AMT=1%2e00&CURRENCYCODE=USD