I am trying to verify a payment receipt on server side. I am getting a {"status":21002, "exception":"java.lang.IllegalArgumentException"} in return Here is the code: private final static String _sandboxUriStr = "https://sandbox.itunes.apple.com/verifyReceipt"; public static void processPayment(final String receipt) throws SystemException { final BASE64Encoder encoder = new BASE64Encoder(); final String receiptData = encoder.encode(receipt.getBytes()); final String jsonData = "{\"receipt-data\" : \"" + receiptData + "\"}"; System.out.println(receipt); System.out.println(jsonData); try { final URL url = new URL(_productionUriStr); final HttpURLConnection conn = (HttpsURLConnection) url.openConnection(); conn.setRequestMethod("POST"); conn.setDoOutput(true); final OutputStreamWriter wr = new OutputStreamWriter(conn.getOutputStream()); wr.write(jsonData); wr.flush(); // Get the response final BufferedReader rd = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(conn.getInputStream())); String line; while ((line = rd.readLine()) != null) { System.out.println(line); } wr.close(); rd.close(); } catch (IOException e) { throw new SystemException("Error when trying to send request to '%s', %s", _sandboxUriStr, e.getMessage()); } } My receipt looks like this: {\n\t"signature" = "[exactly_1320_characters]";\n\t"purchase-info" = "[exactly_868_characters]";\n\t"environment" = "Sandbox";\n\t"pod" = "100";\n\t"signing-status" = "0";\n} Receipt data with a BASE64 encoded receipt looks like this: Blockquote {"receipt-data" : "[Block_of_chars_76x40+44=3084_chars_total]"} Does someone have an Idea, or sample code how can I get from receipt string to reply JSON, mentioned here: [http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/NetworkingInternet/Conceptual/StoreKitGuide/VerifyingStoreReceipts/VerifyingStoreReceipts.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40008267-CH104-SW1]? Thank you