If your Amazon US seller account is suspended, you are dealing with the strictest marketplace Amazon runs. Amazon.com uses the same appeal process as every other marketplace, but US sellers face extra triggers: INFORM Act verification, US tax details and US product safety rules. This guide explains what usually causes an Amazon US seller account suspension and how our appeals team approaches each case.
Quick answer
If your Amazon US seller account is suspended (Amazon calls it “deactivated”), open Account Health in Seller Central and read the exact reason first. The most common US-specific causes are failed INFORM Act or identity verification, tax interview problems, and missing product safety documents. You appeal through Seller Central with a Plan of Action and documents that match your account exactly.
Key takeaways
- Amazon.com uses the same Account Health appeal process as other marketplaces.
- US-specific triggers include INFORM Act verification, tax interview details and US product safety documents.
- High-volume sellers must re-certify their information with Amazon at least once a year.
- Every document must match the name, address and bank details in Seller Central exactly.
- Never open a new account while the suspended one is under appeal.
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Why your Amazon US seller account was suspended
These are the reasons we see most often on Amazon.com cases. Your notice in Account Health tells you which one applies.
- INFORM Act or identity verification: details not verified, not re-certified, or documents that do not match the account. See our verification and funds guide.
- Tax interview problems: a name or tax ID that does not match your W-9 or W-8BEN details.
- Product safety and compliance: missing test reports or certificates for children’s products, supplements, cosmetics or other regulated items.
- Inauthentic or IP complaints from brand owners. See inauthentic suspension and IP complaint retraction.
- Performance: order defect rate, late shipments or cancellations above Amazon’s targets.
- Section 3 and related accounts: suspected fraud, review manipulation or a link to another restricted account. See our Section 3 guide.
Selling on Amazon.com and got a notice? Tap the green WhatsApp icon on your screen and send it to us. Reading it is free.
INFORM Act and verification on Amazon.com
The INFORM Consumers Act is a US law that took effect on June 27, 2023. It requires Amazon to collect and verify information from high-volume third-party sellers: anyone with 200 or more sales and $5,000 or more in revenue in a continuous 12-month period. Amazon must also get that information re-certified at least once a year.
That means an account can be deactivated with no policy complaint at all, simply because verification failed or a re-certification request was missed. These cases are usually fixed with the right documents, not a long Plan of Action. Our Amazon INFORM Act verification guide covers the deadlines, documents and fixes in detail.
| Do this | Avoid this |
|---|---|
| Upload ID, business and bank documents that show the exact name and address in Seller Central. | Using a virtual office, agent or mail-forwarding address as your business address. |
| Use a recent bank or utility statement that clearly shows your name and address. | Resubmitting the same document Amazon already rejected. |
| Make sure your tax interview name and tax ID match your business registration. | Changing bank account or business details in the middle of verification. |
We are not tax advisers or lawyers. For questions about US tax or company registration, speak to a US accountant.
US product safety and compliance
Amazon.com asks for proof of compliance in regulated categories. Children’s products and toys often need testing by an accepted lab and a Children’s Product Certificate. Dietary supplements, cosmetics, and other categories have their own document requirements. If these are missing, listings are removed, and repeated problems can lead to account-level action. Appeals in these cases need the actual documents, not a promise to get them later.
Amazon US performance targets
Performance suspensions are the most straightforward to fix, as long as the appeal explains exactly why the numbers slipped. These are Amazon’s standard targets. Check your current numbers in Account Health and read our Account Health guide.
| Metric | Amazon target |
|---|---|
| Order defect rate | Under 1% |
| Late shipment rate | Under 4% |
| Pre-fulfillment cancel rate | Under 2.5% |
| Valid tracking rate | Above 95% |
For an example of a performance appeal, see our performance Plan of Action sample.
Selling on Amazon US from outside the United States
Many Amazon.com sellers are based in India, China, the UK, the UAE and elsewhere. Amazon accepts them, but verification is stricter when the documents come from another country. The most common problems we see are a bank statement in a different name, an address that does not match the ID, and documents that are not in English and have no translation.
Before you appeal, line up every document so the legal name, address and bank account are identical across all of them. If Amazon has asked for a video call, prepare the same original documents you uploaded.
How to appeal an Amazon US suspension
1. Read the notice and Account Health
Note the exact reason, the policy named, any ASINs and any documents requested. Our guide to deactivated vs suspended explains what the status means.
2. Fix the cause first
Correct verification details, gather compliance documents or remove problem listings before you appeal.
3. Write a specific Plan of Action
Use the root cause, corrective actions and preventive measures structure in our Amazon Plan of Action template.
4. Submit through Account Health
Attach only documents that support your Plan of Action, and keep it consistent with anything you sent before.
5. If it is rejected, do not resend
Read the rejection line by line and change what Amazon objected to. Our guide on what to do when an appeal is rejected covers this step by step.
Real reinstatement results
These are reinstatement emails from client cases we handled, including cases that had been rejected before they reached us.
How our fee works
Reading your notice is free. If we take the case, you pay a small part to start and the rest only when you are selling again.
Complex cases are Section 3, counterfeit, related accounts, review manipulation and dropshipping.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Amazon.com appeal process different from other marketplaces?
The process is the same: you appeal through Account Health in Seller Central. What differs in the US is the documents Amazon asks for, such as INFORM Act verification details, US tax information and US product safety documents.
What is the INFORM Consumers Act and why does it affect my account?
It is a US law that took effect on June 27, 2023. It requires Amazon to collect and verify information from high-volume third-party sellers, meaning 200 or more sales and $5,000 or more in revenue in a continuous 12-month period, and to get that information re-certified at least once a year. If verification fails or is not completed, Amazon can deactivate the account until it is fixed.
Can I sell on Amazon US if my business is outside the United States?
Yes. Many Amazon.com sellers are based outside the US. Your ID, business documents, bank account and address must all match the details in Seller Central, and documents in another language may need a translation.
Should I open a new Amazon account while my US account is suspended?
No. A new account is usually linked to the suspended one and deactivated as well, and it can make the original appeal harder. Appeal the existing account instead.
How much does an Amazon US appeal cost?
Reading your notice is free. Standard cases cost $150 to start (non-refundable) and $350 only after reinstatement. Complex cases such as Section 3, counterfeit, related accounts, review manipulation or dropshipping cost $200 to start and $400 after reinstatement.
Get your Amazon US account reviewed for free
Send us your notice. Our appeals team reads it and tells you honestly what we see.
Need help with an Amazon US account? See our Amazon reinstatement services.
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