Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Payment Data Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature considered necessary to present fairly the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods. The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2019. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim periods or the full fiscal year.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition: Revenue consists primarily of fees generated through the electronic processing of payment transactions and related services. Revenue is recognized during the period in which the transactions are processed or when the related services are performed. The Company complies with ASC 606-10 and reports revenues as gross as a principal versus net as an agent. Although some of the Company's processing agreements vary with respect to specific credit risks, the Company has determined for each agreement it is acting in the principal role. Merchants may be charged for these processing services at a bundled rate based on a percentage of the dollar amount of each transaction and, in some instances, additional fees are charged for each transaction. Certain merchant customers are charged a flat fee per transaction, while others may also be charged miscellaneous fees, including fees for chargebacks or returns, monthly minimums, and other miscellaneous services. Revenues derived from electronic processing of credit, debit, and prepaid card transactions that are authorized and captured through third-party networks are reported gross of amounts paid to sponsor banks as well as interchange and assessments paid to credit card associations. Sales taxes billed are reported directly as a liability to the taxing authority and are not included in revenue.
Deferred Revenue	Deferred Revenues: The Company records deferred revenues when it receives payments or issues invoices in advance of transferring control of promised goods or services to a customer. The advance consideration received from a customer is deferred until the Company provides the customer that product or service.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents includes cash and other money market instruments. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents.
Merchant Reserves	Merchant Reserves: The Company has merchant reserve requirements associated with Automated Clearing House ("ACH") transactions. The merchant reserve assets are carried on the Company's balance sheet with a corresponding liability. Merchant Reserves are set for each merchant. Funds are collected from each merchant and held as collateral to minimize contingent liabilities associated with any losses that may occur under the merchant agreement. While this cash is not restricted in its use, the Company believes that designating this cash to collateralize Merchant Reserves strengthens our fiduciary standing with the Company's member sponsors and is in accordance with the guidelines set by the card networks.
Allowance for Estimated Losses	Allowance for Estimated Losses: The Company maintains an allowance for estimated doubtful accounts receivable resulting from the inability or failure of the Company’s customers to make required payments. The Company determines the allowance for estimated doubtful accounts receivable losses based on an account-by-account review, taking into consideration such factors as the age of the outstanding balance, historical pattern of collections and financial condition of the customer. Past losses incurred by the Company due to bad debts have been within its expectations. If the financial conditions of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make contractual payments, additional allowances might be required. Estimates for doubtful account losses are variable based on the volume of transactions processed and could increase or decrease accordingly.
Accounting for Internal Use Software	Accounting for Internal Use Software: The Company capitalizes the costs associated with software being developed or obtained for internal use when both the preliminary project stage is completed and it is probable that computer software being developed will be completed and placed-in service. Capitalized costs include only (i) external direct costs of materials and services consumed in developing or obtaining internal-use software, (ii) payroll and other related costs for employees who are directly associated with and who devote time to the internal-use software project, and (iii) interest costs incurred, when material, while developing internal-use software. The Company ceases capitalization of such costs no later than the point at which the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended purpose.
Valuation of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets	Valuation of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets: The Company assesses the impairment of long-lived and intangible assets at least annually, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors considered important, which could trigger an impairment review, include the following: significant under performance relative to historical or projected future cash flows; significant changes in the manner of use of the assets or the strategy of the overall business; and significant negative industry trends. When management determines that the carrying value of long-lived and intangible assets may not be recoverable, impairment is measured as the excess of the assets’ carrying value over the estimated fair value. No impairment losses were recorded in 2018 or during the three months ended March 31, 2019. Management is not aware of any impairment changes that may currently be required; however, the Company cannot predict the occurrence of events that might adversely affect the reported values in the future.
Reserve for Processing Losses	Reserve for Processing Losses: If, due to insolvency or bankruptcy of one of the Company’s merchant customers, or for any other reason, the Company is not able to collect amounts from its credit card, ACH or prepaid customers that have been properly "charged back" by the customer, or if a prepaid cardholder incurs a negative balance, the Company must bear the credit risk for the full amount of the transaction. The Company may require cash deposits and other types of collateral from certain merchants to minimize any such risk. In addition, the Company utilizes multiple systems and procedures to manage merchant risk. ACH, prepaid and credit card merchant processing loss reserves are primarily determined by performing a historical analysis of the Company’s loss experience and considering other factors that could affect that experience in the future, such as the types of transactions processed and nature of the merchant relationship with its consumers and the Company’s relationship with the Company’s prepaid card holders. This reserve amount is subject to the risk that actual losses may be greater than the Company’s estimates. The Company has not incurred any significant processing losses to date. Estimates for processing losses are variable based on the volume of transactions processed and could increase or decrease accordingly.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and a subsequent amendment to the standard in March 2016, ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, Principal versus Agent Consideration (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). The original standard provides guidance on recognizing revenue, including a five-step model to determine when revenue recognition is appropriate. The standard requires that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendment to the standard clarifies implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. Adoption of the new standards is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption not permitted. The Company has adopted the provisions of this new standard beginning January 1, 2018. The Company functions as the merchant of record and has primary responsibility for providing end-to-end payment processing services for its clients. The customers of the Company contract with the Company for all credit card processing services including transaction authorization, settlement, dispute resolution, security and risk management solutions, reporting and other value-added services. As such, the Company is the primary obligor in these transactions and is solely responsible for all processing costs, including interchange fees. Further, the Company sets prices as it deems reasonable for each merchant. The gross fees the Company collects are intended to cover the interchange, assessments and other processing fees and include the Company's margin on transactions processed. For these reasons, the Company is the principal obligor in the contractual relationship with its customers and therefor, the Company records its revenues, including interchange and assessments on a gross basis. The Company's existing revenue recognition process remains intact, and the Company will continue to record revenues at the gross amount billed due to the Company's primary responsibility for providing end-to-end payment processing services for its clients. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Restricted Cash, which requires that the reconciliation of the beginning of period and the end of period amounts shown in the statement of cash flows include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. If restricted cash is presented separately from cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet, companies will be required to reconcile the amounts presented on the statement of cash flows to the amounts on the balance sheet. This guidance is required to be applied retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. As required, the Company applied the provisions of ASU 2016-18 as of January 1, 2018. As a result, the change in restricted cash has been included in the change in cash, cash equivalents and merchant reserves. Operating Leases Right-of use Assets and Operating Lease Liabilities: In February 2016, the FASB issued, "Leases (Topic 842)." This update requires that a lessee recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing it right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with terms of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and liabilities. Similar to current guidance, the update continues to differentiate between finance leases and operating leases, however this distinction now primarily relates to differences in the manner of expense recognition over time and in the classification of lease payments in the statement of cash flows. The updated guidance leaves the accounting for leases by lessors largely unchanged from existing GAAP. The guidance became effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. As a lessee, this standard primarily impacted its accounting for leased facilities and office equipment, for which the Company recognized right of use assets of $2,688,412 and a corresponding lease liability of $2,775,259 on the Company's consolidated balance sheet on January 1, 2019. The Company adopted these provisions on January 1, 2019 using the optional transition method that permits the Company to apply the new disclosure requirements in 2019 and continue to present comparative period information as required under FASB ASC Topic 840, "Leases." The Company did not have a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings at the date of adoption. The Company elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard, which, among other things, allowed it to exclude leases with an initial term of 12 months or less from the right-of-use assets and liabilities. Adoption of the standards had no impact on the Company's results of operations or liquidity. If the Company determines that an arrangement is or contains a lease, the Company recognizes a right-of-use (ROU) asset and lease liability at the commencement date of the lease. ROU assets represent it's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Company's leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. The Company's lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that it will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation which expands the scope of current guidance to include all share-based payment arrangements related to the acquisition of goods or services from both non-employees and employees. The guidance is effective for the Company for all fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of the new standard did not result in a change to the previously presented financial statements. Accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB, the SEC or other standard setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption.