Why did I receive a 500 error?

The HTTP 500 error can be caused by server permission issues or mistakes in your script code which leads to an INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR response.

As an example for Instant Payment Notifications (IPN), we generate error messages when we don't get an HTTP 200 success response for any reason, including script error 500, SSL handshake validation, network timeout, or server error 503.

As a merchant, if you are using a third-party shopping cart, CRM, plugin, or platform, it is possible that their services may be returning us a 500 or 503 error. Under these circumstances, we urge that you contact your developer or the third-party directly for further assistance. 

To solve IPN issues, you will need to debug your IPN script code. You may also need your Network or Systems Administrator to review your server permissions and logs to determine what's causing the error.

Visit How do I troubleshoot Instant Payment Notification (IPN)? for additional resources.

For additional information, see HTTP status codes.