You sold something on Swappa, opened the payment in PayPal, and found a line called Partner Fee that is a lot bigger than 3%. Nothing is wrong. This guide explains what the Partner Fee includes, which parts you actually pay, and how to check that your payout is right.
Quick Answer
The PayPal Partner Fee on a Swappa sale is the money PayPal routes to Swappa from the buyer’s payment. It bundles three things: your 3% seller fee, the buyer’s 3% buyer fee, and any sales tax Swappa collects for the buyer’s state. As the seller, you pay only the 3% seller fee, plus PayPal’s own processing fee of 3.49% + $0.49. Your payout is your Ask Price minus those two fees.
Why PayPal Shows a Partner Fee
Swappa uses PayPal for Marketplaces. When a buyer checks out, they make one payment that covers the item, Swappa’s buyer fee, and any sales tax. PayPal sends that payment to the seller and, in the same transaction, sends Swappa its share.
Because the whole payment passes through the seller’s PayPal account, your transaction details show everything the buyer paid, including money that was never yours. The Partner Fee line is PayPal’s label for the part that goes to Swappa. It is not an extra PayPal charge, and it is not a fee for using PayPal.
What the Partner Fee Includes
| Part of the Partner Fee | Who Pays It | How Much |
|---|---|---|
| Swappa seller fee | Seller | 3% of your Ask Price |
| Swappa buyer fee | Buyer | 3% of your Ask Price, added to the listing price |
| Sales tax | Buyer | Set by the buyer’s state, collected by Swappa where required |
The buyer fee and sales tax are added on top of your price, so they come out of the buyer’s pocket, not yours. They only show up in your PayPal details because the buyer’s single payment carried them. That is why the Partner Fee often looks like 6% of your price, or more when tax applies.
Worked Example: A $300 Sale
Here is a $300 Ask Price shipped to a buyer in a state with an 8% sales tax. Tax rates vary by state, so treat this rate as an example.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Your Ask Price | $300.00 |
| Buyer fee (3% of $300), added for the buyer | $9.00 |
| Listing price the buyer sees | $309.00 |
| Sales tax (8% of $309), added for the buyer | $24.72 |
| Total the buyer pays | $333.72 |
| Partner Fee ($9.00 seller fee + $9.00 buyer fee + $24.72 tax) | $42.72 |
| PayPal processing fee (3.49% of $333.72 + $0.49) | $12.14 |
| You receive | $278.86 |
Check the math from your side: $300.00 Ask Price, minus your $9.00 seller fee, minus the $12.14 PayPal fee, is $278.86. The buyer fee and tax passed through your account without costing you anything.
One detail catches sellers off guard. PayPal charges its processing fee on the full payment total, so it is calculated on the $333.72 the buyer paid, not just your $300. That is why the PayPal fee on a taxed sale is a little higher than on an untaxed one.
How to Check Your Payout in PayPal
- Open the payment. Find the sale in your PayPal activity and open the transaction details.
- Find the three numbers. Look for the total the buyer paid, PayPal’s fee, and the Partner Fee.
- Start from your Ask Price. Take your Ask Price, subtract 3%, then subtract PayPal’s fee. That should match what landed in your account.
- Compare it with the sale page. Your Swappa sale page shows the Ask Price you set when you created the listing.
If the numbers still do not line up, contact Swappa Support about Swappa’s fees or sales tax, and contact PayPal support about PayPal’s processing fee.
Why the Partner Fee Changes From Sale to Sale
Your seller fee is always 3% of your Ask Price. The Partner Fee moves because of the parts you do not pay:
- Sales tax depends on the buyer. Marketplace facilitator tax is usually based on the buyer’s shipping address, so two sales of the same item at the same price can show different Partner Fees.
- No tax, smaller Partner Fee. When no sales tax is due, the Partner Fee is just the two 3% fees, or 6% of your Ask Price.
- International buyers. A buyer paying from an international PayPal account can raise PayPal’s fee above the domestic 3.49% + $0.49. Swappa expects those buyers to cover the difference, so explain the adjustment in a comment on the private sale page.
For the full list of states where Swappa collects tax, see Swappa state sales tax.
What Happens to the Partner Fee on a Refund
When you issue a full refund from the original PayPal transaction, without editing the amount, the Partner Fee reverses. Your 3% seller fee comes back to you, and the buyer gets their 3% fee and any tax back. PayPal no longer refunds its own processing fee, and in a buyer’s remorse return you can withhold that fee from the refund.
Typing in a different amount turns the refund into a partial refund, and the Partner Fee will not reverse correctly. Swappa Refunds: How Returns Work for Buyers and Sellers walks through each case step by step.
What About Stripe Sales?
Select Power and Enterprise sellers can also take cards through Stripe. The Partner Fee is a PayPal for Marketplaces term, so it applies to PayPal orders. On Stripe card orders, the Swappa 3% seller fee is the same, and processing is 2.9% + $0.30 instead of PayPal’s rate. See Stripe on Swappa: How Business Sellers Accept Cards.
Why Swappa’s Fees Stay Low
Listing on Swappa is free, and the 3% seller fee is lower than typical auction-site fees. For a side-by-side look, see Marketplace Selling Fees: What You Pay on Every Platform. For how and when the money reaches you, see How Sellers Get Paid: Marketplace Payouts Explained, and if PayPal is holding a payment, see Why Is PayPal Holding My Money? How to Get It Released.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PayPal Partner Fee?
On Swappa, the PayPal Partner Fee is the part of the buyer’s payment that PayPal sends to Swappa. It combines the 3% seller fee, the 3% buyer fee, and any sales tax Swappa collects. It appears in the seller’s PayPal transaction details because the buyer’s single payment passes through the seller’s account.
Does the seller pay the whole Partner Fee?
No. The seller pays only the 3% seller fee inside it. The 3% buyer fee and any sales tax are added to the price the buyer pays, so they come from the buyer. The seller also pays PayPal’s processing fee of 3.49% + $0.49, which is separate from the Partner Fee.
Why is my Partner Fee more than 3%?
Because it includes more than your fee. The Partner Fee adds your 3% seller fee, the buyer’s 3% fee, and any sales tax together. With no tax, it is about 6% of your Ask Price. With tax, it is higher, depending on the buyer’s state.
How much will I receive from a Swappa sale?
Start with your Ask Price, subtract the 3% Swappa seller fee, then subtract PayPal’s fee of 3.49% of the payment total plus $0.49. On a $300 Ask Price with 8% sales tax, that works out to about $278.86. Stripe sellers pay 2.9% + $0.30 on card orders instead of PayPal’s rate.
Is the Partner Fee refunded if I refund the buyer?
Yes, on a full refund issued from the original PayPal transaction without editing the amount. Your 3% seller fee returns to you, and the buyer gets their fee and any tax back. PayPal does not refund its own processing fee.
Does the Partner Fee include sales tax?
Yes, when sales tax is due. Swappa collects marketplace facilitator tax in most US states, based on the buyer’s shipping address, and that tax is part of the Partner Fee. The buyer pays it, and Swappa sends it to the state.
The Bottom Line
The PayPal Partner Fee looks bigger than 3% because it carries the buyer’s fee and sales tax along with yours. Your cost is the same on every sale: 3% of your Ask Price to Swappa, plus PayPal’s processing fee. Set your Ask Price with that in mind, and the payout will match.
