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Some Shopify orders are paid using **PayPal eChecks**, which behave differently from standard instant PayPal payments. This article explains what eChecks are, why they appear as pending, and how Bookkeep manages them to keep your accounting accurate.

## What Are PayPal eChecks?

A PayPal **eCheck** is an electronic funds transfer sent from a customer’s bank account to your PayPal account. Unlike typical PayPal payments—which clear instantly—eChecks require bank processing time.

### Why is my payment pending?

PayPal may send a payment as an eCheck when:

- The buyer pays directly from a bank account
- PayPal cannot instantly verify available funds
- PayPal must process the transfer through traditional banking rails

**Processing time:** Typically **4–7 business days**, not counting weekends or holidays.

## How Bookkeep Handles PayPal eCheck Transactions

Because eChecks are not finalized at the time of order, Bookkeep manages them differently to prevent inaccurate accounting entries.

### 1. eCheck orders appear as “unpaid” in Bookkeep

Until the payment clears, Bookkeep treats the eCheck as **unpaid**.  
These orders will appear under the **Pending Payments** line in your daily entries.

### 2. Bookkeep tracks the payment until PayPal clears it

Bookkeep does not record the payment as completed because the funds have not yet transferred.

### 3. Once the eCheck clears, Bookkeep updates the entry automatically

When PayPal confirms a successful transfer:

- The entry is updated to reflect the order from **unpaid** to **paid**
- The payment moves out of the **Pending Payments** line
- Bookkeep posts the correct finalized payment amount

This ensures you don’t recognize payments before they actually occur.

## Why This Matters

PayPal eChecks can take several days to process, and treating them as completed payments too early can lead to reconciliation errors.

Bookkeep’s workflow ensures:

- Pending payments are clearly separated
- Only cleared payments are recognized in your accounting system
- No manual adjustments are needed later

If you have further questions about how Bookkeep handles payment timing or specific tender types, our support team is here to assist.