PayPal · Decline codes
What does PayPal processor response code 5140 mean?
Checked
PayPal processor response code 5140 (CARD_CLOSED) means the card's account is closed, so it can't be charged again. The bank or the cardholder closed it. Retrying will never succeed. The shopper needs to pay with a new or different card, and merchants should ask subscribers to update their saved card.
- PayPal label
- CARD_CLOSED
- Type
- Hard decline
- Who declined
- The card's bank (via PayPal)
- Similar Visa code
- 46 (Closed account): Visa Category 1: Visa says a merchant must never resubmit for the same card
- Retry
- No, not on the same card
- Shopper action
- Use a new or different card
- Merchant action
- Ask for a new card; never retry
- PlatformDTC renewal
- No retry; one-click update-card link and reminders
What PlatformDTC does
A PayPal card payment declined 5140 is stored by PlatformDTC as invalid_account and counted as permanent. On either retry schedule (the default Fixed schedule or Smart retry), automatic renewal attempts stop at once, the subscription is held past due rather than cancelled, and the customer is emailed a one-click way to add a new card.
Why it happens
The account behind the card no longer exists. A replacement card, a closed bank account or a cancelled credit line all end the old card.
What the shopper can do
Use your replacement card, another card, or your PayPal balance.
What the store can do
Stop charging the card and request a new one from the customer.
Visa's own closed-account code (46) is one a merchant must never resubmit for the same card.
For developers
PayPal returns 5140 in processor_response.response_code on the capture (purchase_units[].payments.captures[]) or authorization of a card payment. PayPal's own name for it is CARD_CLOSED.
Visa has a similarly named raw response code, 46 ("Closed account"); in the Visa Core Rules (24 October 2026, Table 7-2) that code is category 1: Visa says a merchant must never resubmit for the same card. PayPal's code list doesn't map its codes to Visa's, so treat this as context, not a translation.
Keep the raw code with the order. PayPal's label is the only official meaning, and the exact code tells support which branch of PayPal's table fired.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a closed card ever work again?
- Not the closed card. If the bank issued a replacement, the customer needs to enter the new card.
- Why did a long-time subscriber's card suddenly close?
- Banks close cards after loss, fraud, expiry or account changes. The subscriber may not realise their saved card was affected.
Sources
Related
- PP06 — Account closed: a previously open account is now closed.
- 1330 — Invalid account: the card's account is not valid for payments.
- 5950 — Updated account: an updated card has been issued, so the old details were declined.
- 5150 — Pick up card, special conditions: the bank wants this card out of use.
- 5160 — Unauthorized user: the person paying isn't authorized to use this card.
- 5170 — AVS failure: the billing address didn't match the bank's records.
- 5180 — Invalid or restricted card: this card can't be used; PayPal says try another.
- 5200 — Duplicate transaction: a matching payment was already submitted.