How to set an IPN URL for PayPal Recurring Payments using ExpressCheckout?

Question

According to the PayPal documentation, it is not possible to have Instant Payment Notifications (IPN) for Recurring Payments when using ExpressCheckout.

Here is how I come up with that conclusion:

1. In the SetExpressCheckout documenation for NOTIFYURL they say:

   The notify URL applies only to DoExpressCheckoutPayment. This value is ignored when set in SetExpressCheckout or GetExpressCheckoutDetails.

2. I don't have a one-time payment with ExpressCheckout. I am just creating a recurring profile. So I am skipping the DoExpressCheckoutPayment call like it is specified in the Recurring Payments integration guide. Actually if I however do the DoExpressCheckoutPayment call it would not be valid, because I have set the amount to 0.

3. According to 1. the NOTIFYURL (to be precise PAYMENTREQUEST_0_NOTIFYURL) would be ignored unless a DoExpressCheckoutPayment is called. However I have tried to set it in the SetExpressCheckoutPayment call.

4. Using the IPN simulator I am successfully receiving IPN notifications.

5. When successfully creating a new Recurring Payments profile using CreateRecurringPaymentsProfile I am not receiving an IPN notification.

6. I did not find an API call related to the Recurring Payments which I can use to set a NOTIFYURL.

How can I set up an IPN URL for Recurring Payments using ExpressCheckout without an initial payment, INITAMT or other requiring DoExpressCheckoutPayment?

Answer 1

You can set the IPN URL in your PayPal account, under your profile.

Answer 2

Simply add "&NOTIFYURL=yoursite.com/ipnhandle" to your NVP string, if you want to set different IPN urls for your each transaction.