Amazon Is Holding My Seller Funds. What Can I Do?

You open your Payments dashboard in Seller Central and a big part of your balance, or all of it, sits in reserve. Or a payout you expected didn't come. Some of this is normal on Amazon, and some of it points to a problem you need to fix. Here is how to tell the difference.

How Amazon pays sellers

Amazon says it generally settles seller accounts every two weeks. It takes your starting balance, adds sales, takes off fees and refunds, and pays you after holding back an amount in reserve. That reserved amount becomes the starting balance for the next period. Amazon also says that after it sends a payment, it can take up to five business days to reach your bank.

What is the account level reserve?

Amazon calls the account level reserve "a portion of your balance that we hold in reserve for a period of time" to cover things like refunds or chargebacks. It says this is "a normal part of selling in the Amazon store."

Delivery date holds (DD+7)

Amazon usually holds the money from each order until a set number of days after delivery. An Amazon staff post on the Seller Forums says the standard period is 7 days after the delivery date ("DD+7"). It also says:

  • The reserve period "may be extended" after Amazon reviews your risk and history. Some sellers report longer periods, such as 14 days after delivery.
  • If you just started selling, or a delivery date reserve was just added, it is normal to see all of your funds in reserve for a while.
  • If you use an integrated carrier, Amazon uses the actual delivery date. Without valid tracking, it uses the latest estimated delivery date, which is usually later.

Amazon now shows many of these holds as deferred transactions, so you can see which orders are being held.

When a hold is a real problem

Amazon lists common reasons for payment delays:

  • Bank account details are missing or invalid.
  • Card details don't match or have expired.
  • Your balance is negative or zero because of fees or refunds.
  • Your account has an account health issue, such as a performance problem or suspicious activity. Amazon says to check your performance notifications in Seller Central.

Simple steps to take now

  1. Check your Payments dashboard in Seller Central. Find out how much is reserved, how much is deferred, and the expected release dates.
  2. Check your bank and card details in Seller Central and fix anything out of date.
  3. Check Account Health and performance notifications. Save any notice, with the date, amount and exact wording.
  4. Confirm shipments quickly with valid tracking. Amazon says using an integrated carrier and faster delivery can help you get paid sooner.
  5. If Amazon asks for information, send exactly what it asks for, all at once and clearly labelled.
  6. Gather proof: supplier invoices, tracking and delivery confirmation, refund records and buyer messages.
  7. Keep a log of every case, date and promise from Seller Support.
  8. Follow up in writing in the same case on the date given. Stay calm and stick to facts.
  9. Don't open a second selling account to get around the hold.

FAQ

Is it normal for all my money to be in reserve?

Amazon says it can be normal for new sellers, or right after a delivery date reserve is added, because the reserve is based on recent deliveries.

Why is my reserve bigger this week?

Amazon says delivery date reserves go up and down with your sales volume. More recent deliveries means more money held for now.

Can I get my funds sooner?

Amazon's tips are to ship quickly, confirm shipment with valid tracking, use an integrated carrier and choose faster delivery. It also offers optional faster-payout tools in some cases.

Can HoldFile get Amazon to release my funds?

No. Only Amazon can do that. We help you put your proof in order and respond clearly.

Get the free checklist

Start with our free checklist, "Money on hold? Here's what to do." The steps work for Amazon sellers too.

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Want help putting your case together? Our Proof Pack is $49, one time. You get a 1-page case summary, a timeline, your proof sorted and labelled, a checklist of anything missing, and 3 ready-to-send messages, plus check-ins on day 7 and day 14. If you sell on Amazon, email us at hello@getholdfile.com before you buy so we can check it fits your case. See what's in the Proof Pack

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