How Your Amazon Account Level Reserve Actually Works

Accessing Marketplace earnings weeks after your products have been delivered can be a frustrating experience when you sell on Amazon. It’s the norm now for third-party sellers and brands to wait at least 14 days to get paid for sales. Frequently, Amazon will hold your earnings even longer in your Account Level Reserve. Then, your payout can take up to 28 more days to fully clear. 

Are you curious about why there’s a 14-day delay in the first place? Are you eager to determine when your money will be unlocked from your Account Level Reserve? Then this post is for you.

Read on for a definitive guide to Amazon’s payment structure for third-party Marketplace sellers. In this post, we’ll cover Amazon’s payment terms and discuss how to calculate when and how much you’ll actually get paid. This guide also highlights solutions for unlocking your money faster and keeping your future earnings out of Amazon’s Account Level Reserve.

As an Amazon seller, taking control of your cash flow and maximizing income starts with understanding how Marketplace payments, so let’s get started!

What are Amazon’s Seller Payment Terms?
Amazon’s Seller Payment Cycle
How Do Amazon Payment Transfers Work — and When Will You Get Your Funds?
What is the Request Transfer Button?
Amazon Daily Payouts vs. Next-Day Payouts: What’s the Difference?
What Is an Amazon Account Level Reserve?
Why Did I Get a Reserve On My Account?
Amazon’s Reserve Tiers
How to Avoid An Account Level Reserve
What to Do When You Have An Account Level Reserve
Take Control of Your Cash Flow & Unlock Your Account Level Reserve

What Are Amazon’s Seller Payment Terms?

Normally, Amazon pays you, the third-party Amazon seller, once every two weeks. Each payment includes 14 days of your orders that were delivered at least 7 days ago, minus Amazon’s fees. 

The actual dates of each payout will depend on when you signed up as a seller and how many days are in the current month. You’ve probably noticed that Amazon doesn’t always initiate payments on the 1st and 15th of each month like other marketplaces and businesses do.

Amazon pays sales proceeds out 7 days after the latest estimated delivery date in part because the company values customer satisfaction above all else. Holding your payouts allows buyers to assess their orders for any issues. If a dissatisfied customer asks for a return within the 7-day window, it is processed from the funds that Amazon has on hold. 

Additionally, delaying payments to third-party sellers like you helps Amazon maintain a negative cash conversion cycle, a competitive advantage that drives profitability and allows the company to efficiently and effectively manage overall Marketplace inventory.

Amazon’s Seller Payment Cycle

The graphic from Amazon below lays out a hypothetical example timeline for the payout structure for third-party sellers like you. 

It’s important to state upfront that it’s very common to wait more than 14 days for your payment. 

Here are the main reasons why:

• • If orders are delivered within 7 days of your payout date, the balance will roll over into the next payment period.

• • Money transfers can take 3-5 business days to post to your account, adding more time to the typical 14 days it takes for Amazon to pay you.

• • Amazon might hold back all or part of your payment for more than 14 days in your Account Level Reserve (more on this below).

How Do Amazon Payment Transfers Work and When Will I Get My Funds?

When all is said and done with completed Amazon sales, you might not get your payouts for 17-19 business days after delivery. Let’s break that down:

Amazon offers sellers only one method for payment: ACH transfers to your bank account. This is not a same-day ACH transfer, so you can expect to see funds hit your bank account within the standard 5 business days. Whether your earnings clear the next day or the fifth day depends on the bank you use and the type of account you have.

Here’s more from Amazon: “Transfers can take 3-5 business days to complete. The current amount displayed is an estimate and may vary from the amount transferred based on new activity in your seller account, including: product sales, fees, refunds, chargebacks, and A-to-Z Guarantee Claims.”

Regardless of how long payment takes to post, you’ll see your deposit(s) labeled in one of two ways::

1. “Amazon Payments, Inc.” covers transactions where buyers agree to pay on or before the shipment of goods.

2. “Amazon Services LLC” includes transactions where buyers agree to pay after shipment.

What Is the Request Transfer Button?

A limited number of eligible Amazon sellers have a Request Transfer button that appears in their Amazon dashboard. This may include you.

If you do have access to this feature, hitting the Request Transfer button initiates a payment transfer before your regularly scheduled payout date. However, with this option, you won’t necessarily get paid early for your entire Marketplace balance.

Instead, you’ll be initiating a transfer of the currently available funds (i.e., payment for orders delivered 7-10 days ago that are available on the day you hit the button).

Once you initiate the process by hitting Request Transfer, the normal payment period closes, and a new two-week cycle begins. By going this route, you effectively push out the date of full payment to get a portion of it early. This can be an effective way to manage cash flow, depending on your circumstances.

Let’s consider this example:

• • You have a pending balance of $5,000, which is scheduled to be transferred on the 30th.

• • It’s the 20th—You need a boost in cash flow, so you hit Request Transfer.

• • On the 20th, $1,000 of the balance that has been marked delivered for 7 or more days is available for transfer.

• • This transfer of $1,000 is expected to show in your bank account in 3-5 business days.

• • The remaining $4,000 will be deposited 14 days from the 20th (not on the 30th as originally scheduled).

Here are a few other key considerations about the Request Transfer button:

• • You can choose to “Request Transfer” every 24 hours. Each new request will initiate a transfer of the remaining balance that is available that day (again, not the full balance).

• • Some fees (like shipping) might be deducted from the amount of your requested transfer.

• • Similar to a regular Amazon ACH transfer, a requested transfer may not hit your account for 3-5 additional business days.

Always keep in mind that every time you hit the Request Transfer button, your payment date is reset for another 14 days.

Some sellers use the Request Transfer button to increase their payment frequency and unlock payments daily or weekly. While you may initiate Amazon payments each day that you click the button, it does not necessarily mean that you’ll get daily payouts or any payout for that matter. This is because Amazon might choose not to release funds on the day you request or to only release a portion of your earnings.

If you’re unsure about whether or not to click the button, you may want to try out Request Transfer when your cash flow is already flush. That way, if Amazon decides not to release funds and also resets your 14-day payout cycle, you won’t be too strapped for cash at the end of the process.

Amazon Daily Payouts vs. Next-Day Payouts: What’s the Difference?

You may have heard about other Amazon sellers having access to daily or next-day payouts. You might have access to more frequent payouts yourself. But how does this actually come about? Getting paid out more frequently can happen in a couple of different ways. Let’s take a look at them.

Daily Payouts 

Daily payouts from Amazon can be a reality if you have access to the Request Transfer button and click it every day. In this case, you are getting paid every day. But, these Amazon payments are not real-time or next-day. This is because there’s still a 14-day delay between the dates your sales closed and the inventory was scanned, shipped, and delivered. So, if you have a big sales day, you’ll still need to wait 14 or more days to access those funds.

Next-Day Payouts 

Next-day payouts can only happen in one of two ways:

Grandfathered Accounts: If you’ve been selling on Amazon for 10 or more years, you may get paid for your sales the next day or soon after that. Amazon used to offer this option to all sellers, but as the platform grew, issues with fraudulent products also increased. So in an effort to cut back on fraud, Amazon moved to longer payment terms for most sellers. If you were grandfathered in, consider yourself lucky. 

Instant Access from Payability: For everyone else, the easiest way to get daily real-time payouts is with a financing solution like our Instant Access program, which advances earnings to sellers one business day after they ship a sale. Instant Access levels the playing field for sellers that need faster access to their payouts in order to keep up with demand. After all, cash flow is king when it comes to maximizing your sales and profits as a Marketplace seller.

So how exactly does Payability Instant Access service work? Every morning after Amazon’s sales day closes, Payability purchases the receivables owed to our customers by Amazon. We then make up to 80% of those funds available the next day, every day—even on weekends and holidays. For example, let’s say you enroll in Instant Access and have $1,000 in your account on Monday. You’ll get $800 of it on Tuesday, while the remaining $200 is kept on hold to cover any necessary returns or chargebacks and is then paid out according to your regular payout schedule.

You can spend your advanced earnings on the Payability Seller Card immediately or transfer them to your bank on the same business day with Same Day ACH transfer. You can also transfer funds to your bank account in seconds (24/7/365) for an additional fee with Payability’s Instant Transfer service. 

With next-day access to your sales, you can improve your cash flow, turn inventory more quickly, stay ahead of the competition, and grow your business faster. 

To sign up, you must have a minimum of 3 months of Amazon selling history and average monthly sales of $10,000 or more. There are no credit checks or obligations associated with applying. You qualify instantly based on your Amazon sales history.

Apply in minutes to get Next-Day Payouts starting as soon as tomorrow!

What Is an Amazon Account Level Reserve?

Many Amazon sellers deal with an Account Level Reserve on their Payments report. But what exactly does this term mean when it comes to getting paid for Amazon sales?

The account level reserve is the amount of money Amazon sets aside to cover any claims or chargebacks. It occurs when Amazon holds back all or part of your payment for more than 14 days. 

Why does Amazon reserve any of your balance? It’s a way for them to combat fraud. In the past, scam sellers took advantage of Amazon before there was any holding period.

Scam sellers would sell a large amount of inventory for low prices and long delivery times. They could collect their sales money and then disappear before Amazon knew what was going on. Amazon then had to deal with angry customers, and issue refunds themselves. 

Today, Amazon issues normal payouts 7 days after the expected delivery date, which gives the customer enough time to make a necessary return or complaint.

But, with funds held in your Account Level Reserve, you have to wait twice as long—or longer. The payout of your account level reserve could roll over into your next payout or continue to be held for several payouts.

Why Did I Get a Reserve On My Account?

Checking your bank account or cash flow statement and finding that your Amazon earnings are tied up in reserves can be one of the most frustrating scenarios you encounter as an eCommerce seller. As such, it’s essential to understand why funds become temporarily unavailable so that you can prevent it from happening in the future. Here are some of the most common reasons Amazon puts reserves on seller accounts.

A-to-Z Guarantee Claims

Amazon’s A-to-Z guarantee claim allows buyers to return their purchases for full reimbursement if they are dissatisfied with the product or shopping experience. For instance, if you haven’t received your item within a certain period of time (usually the latest estimated delivery date), you can request a refund. Sellers with unresolved claims are subject to account reserves until those claims are taken care of. 

Chargebacks

If you received a chargeback within the past three months, Amazon might reserve your funds until the chargeback has been fully processed. Be sure to check your balance sheet to determine whether you’ve had any chargebacks from your products or services in the last 90 days, as it’s crucial to deal with these as soon as possible to avoid a lengthy reserve period. 

Account Reviews

Amazon puts accounts under review for suspicious activity. While it can be alarming to see your account has been suspended, there isn’t necessarily anything to worry about.

Sometimes, Amazon just likes to verify unusual transactions and ensure the accuracy of product listings. However, it’s not uncommon for sellers to discover that their funds are being held for reserve while their account is under review. This hold should disappear once the problem is resolved. 

Low Performance

Amazon seller accounts are rated on a scale of 0 to 100 based on factors like shipping time, order cancellation rate, chargebacks, and customer reviews. The lower your seller rating, the higher the risk of reserves. In this case, an account reserve acts as insurance for any requested refunds or chargebacks that are likely to arise due to low levels of customer satisfaction.

You can avoid the dreaded Account Level Reserve by maintaining a high seller rating. Boosting your Amazon rating is as simple as ensuring quality products, timely deliveries, and customer support. 

Tax Requirements

Your online store may be subject to specific tax guidelines. If so, Amazon is responsible for withholding funds to pay any sales-related taxes you’ve incurred over the year. If your taxes aren’t appropriately resolved with your flow from financing activities, Amazon may put a reserve on your account until you figure things out. 

Amazon’s Reserve Tiers

As an Amazon seller, your reserve amount is based on several factors, including the age of your account and what disputes, if any, you’ve got pending. Amazon Pay calculates the reserve rate according to the following tiered model.

Tier I

New sellers are placed in Tier I and are subject to a reserve rate of 100%, meaning that all of their earned funds are held in reserve for a week after the transaction processing date. If everything checks out, funds are then disbursed to their bank accounts.

Tier II

Those who have used Amazon Pay for a year and completed at least 100 orders are upgraded to Tier II, which holds 3% of their daily processed payments over a 28-day average. Those transaction costs are also factored into the reserve rate if they have any pending disputes. Sellers can request to be moved to Tier II after just six months and 100 completed orders if they’ve maintained an Order Defect Rate under 1%.

Tier II Plus

Tier II sellers that have maintained an ODR rate of less than 1% for the past 60 days are automatically upgraded to Tier II Plus. Under this tier, Amazon only reserves the amount of unresolved chargebacks and A-to-Z guarantee claims. However, if your ODR rate exceeds 1% at any time, you will be downgraded to Tier II until you get your metrics up again. 

How to Avoid Amazon Holding Funds in Account Level Reserve

To avoid an increase in your Account Level Reserve in the future, run an audit of your account, including your overall seller performance, customer feedback, fulfillment updates, etc. 

If any areas are concerning you, try to find the root of the problem so you can fix it before Amazon holds your payments even longer. But keep in mind that you can do everything “right” and still end up with an Account Level Reserve.

If you sell in verticals such as shoes or clothing, where returns and exchanges are more frequent due to sizing issues, having earnings end up in Account Level Reserve can be difficult to avoid, even if your other metrics are outstanding.

And if you do have an account level reserve, keep reading for tips to help you through it. 

What to Do When You Have An Account Level Reserve

Your account level reserve can be a huge setback for any seller trying to grow on Amazon. For one thing, you’re not getting paid at the time you expected. And, you likely won’t have a sense of how long Amazon will take to resolve your issue and disperse your funds.

Marketplace sellers that receive a significant portion of their revenue from Amazon sales may need that account level reserve to order inventory, make payroll, pay credit cards, or invest in marketing. 

While this all sounds overwhelming, you do have options. Here are six ways to overcome an account level reserve and the pros and cons of each:

1. Ask for an increased credit card limit

Pros: Fast way to get increased access to cash/spending power; you may need a larger limit in the future anyway

Cons: If you use your credit card irresponsibly, you might find yourself unable to pay down your balance; you might end up relying on that account level reserve to pay off your credit card bill (and it might not be released by your payment due date — or it won’t be enough to cover your full credit card balance)

2. Get a bank term loan

Pros: Low interest rates, long/favorable payment terms

Cons: Small businesses may not qualify (in fact, approval rates for small online businesses are very low); the application process is long and tedious, often taking longer than you have to wait for funds

3. Get an online business loan

Pros: Quick and easy application process; higher approval rates for small and online businesses

Cons: High interest rates and short payment terms

4. Tap into your savings

Pros: Immediate access to cash without the need for an application or interest payments

Cons: Your savings may not be enough (or you may not have any to begin with); savings can take years to build up, and tapping into those funds should be your absolute last resort.

5. Ask suppliers for longer payment terms

Pros: You could get the inventory you need right away

Cons: This is not a long-term solution and may end up being more expensive; you still might not have your payout when payment is due to your supplier; your supplier might not even agree to longer payment terms

6. Sign up for Payability’s Instant Access Daily Payout program

Pros: As mentioned above, Instant Access is a fast, easy, and long-term solution to seller cash flow issues. You’ll receive your own money faster, 

Cons: Fees for early payouts and unlocking your account level reserve

Payability Instant Access can solve your account level reserve issue in 24 hours and acts somewhat like insurance against future unavailable balances or cash constraints that can hinder your growth. The application process is fast and simple and requires no credit checks, tax documents, or waiting time. Approval is based on account health and sales performance. Once approved, you’ll receive up to 80% of whatever is currently in your Amazon payout the same day or the next day, depending on the time of day your application is approved. You will continue to receive 80% of yesterday’s scanned and shipped sales each day. You can transfer all or some of your balance to your bank account with a same-day ACH transfer or spend it on the Seller Card and earn up to 2% cashback. The remaining 20% stays in reserve to cover returns and chargebacks and is released to you when Amazon releases a payment (usually every 14 days).

Businesses that use Instant Access always know exactly when they are going to get paid, and that’s the next day, every day. Instant Access is both a long-term and short-term solution to your Account Level Reserve problems or even just gaps in your cash flow. Since you’re just getting your own money faster, Instant Access is a great way to fund your growth without taking on the risk of debt or the risk of more money being held in reserve when you are counting on a payout to cover more inventory, a credit card bill or other operating expenses. As long as you continue to sell, Payability will continue to advance your funds the next day, every day.

Instant Access comes at a fee of 1-2% of sales depending on sales volume, your length of time as a Payability customer, and more. It’s worth noting, too, that in the event of an Account Level Reserve, Payability will charge fees on the money advanced to manage the risk and cost of covering your reserves.  

Take Control of Your Cash Flow & Unlock Your Account Level Reserve

If payment delays and rollover balances are causing problems for your business, Payability could be the right solution for you. Whether you want to unlock your account level reserve or just have cash on hand for the opportunities ahead, Instant Access could be a no-brainer for your business—and applying is easy.

Simply submit an application and connect your Amazon seller account. Payability will evaluate your business based on your overall account health and sales performance—not your credit. In fact, your credit won’t be pulled at all. Once approved, you could see your funds that same day.

Disclaimer: Payability does not claim to have any insider information on the processes Amazon uses to decide when to release or not to release a payment. This is proprietary information unique to Amazon. The following is based on publicly available information and trends we have observed.