The short answer is no, not permanently. Amazon can hold your funds for up to 90 days after a suspension. After that window closes, they must release what is legitimately yours. If Amazon is still holding your money after 90 days with no specific explanation, that is no longer a routine reserve. It is a legal dispute, and you have options to force the release.
Here is what the contract actually says, when the hold becomes improper, and what sellers have done to get their money back.
🚨 Amazon holding your funds beyond 90 days? DAM Law Firm handles withheld funds disputes on a same-day basis, including pre-arbitration demands and AAA arbitration to force release. Contact us here.
What Amazon can and cannot do with your funds
| Situation | What Amazon can do | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Account suspended, under 90 days | Hold all funds while investigating chargebacks, refunds, and policy violations | Appeal the suspension. Request disbursement of undisputed funds. |
| Account suspended, past 90 days, no explanation | Hold funds only if there is an active, documented reason: pending A-to-Z claims, chargebacks, or open legal proceedings | Send a formal demand letter. File a pre-arbitration demand. Pursue AAA arbitration. |
| Account reinstated, funds still held | Hold only for open claims and pending refunds | Request immediate disbursement. Escalate legally if not released within one billing cycle. |
| Account permanently terminated | Hold funds for 90 days post-termination to cover claims | File AAA arbitration to recover funds held beyond what claims justify. |
Source: Amazon Business Solutions Agreement Section 2, BSA payment terms, AAA arbitration outcomes in seller disputes 2024 and 2025, as reviewed by DAM Law Firm’s Amazon seller legal team.
Table of Contents
- What the Business Solutions Agreement Actually Says
- The 90-Day Window Explained
- When the Hold Becomes Improper
- What to Do When Amazon Holds Your Money
- The Demand Letter Path
- When to File AAA Arbitration
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How DAM Law Firm Can Help
What the Business Solutions Agreement Actually Says
Specifically, every Amazon seller is bound by the Business Solutions Agreement. Section 2 covers payments. It gives Amazon broad authority to hold funds during and after a suspension. But that authority is not unlimited.
Under that agreement, Amazon can withhold funds to cover three things: pending customer refunds, outstanding A-to-Z Guarantee claims, and chargebacks. Those are legitimate reasons. Holding funds simply because the account is suspended, without any specific claim against those funds, is a different matter entirely.
Importantly, the BSA also requires Amazon to complete disbursements within a defined period once the basis for the hold no longer applies. When Amazon holds funds indefinitely with no documented basis, it is in breach of its own agreement.
The 90-Day Window Explained
Specifically, Amazon’s standard hold period after a suspension is 90 days. This window exists to cover the refund and chargeback cycle on orders the seller fulfilled before the suspension. In practice, most customer disputes resolve within 90 days. After that, Amazon should have what it needs to calculate what it owes you.
What happens at the 90-day mark
Typically, at 90 days Amazon runs a final calculation: total funds in the account, minus pending refunds, minus open A-to-Z claims, minus chargebacks. After that, the balance should be released to the seller’s bank account.
In straightforward cases, this happens automatically. When a dispute arises, Amazon may send a notice saying the funds will not be released. That notice often cites the original suspension reason rather than any specific ongoing claim against the funds.
When Amazon extends the hold beyond 90 days
Notably, Amazon can extend the hold when there is an active legal proceeding, an unresolved A-to-Z claim, or an ongoing investigation into fraud. These are legitimate extensions. The problem arises, however, when Amazon extends the hold without citing any of these specific reasons, or when the stated reason has already been resolved but the funds are still frozen.
When the Hold Becomes Improper
Notably, not every long hold is legitimate. Here are the situations where Amazon’s hold crosses the line.
The 90 days passed and no claims remain open
Specifically, if 90 days have passed, there are no open A-to-Z claims, no pending refunds, and no active chargebacks, there is no contractual basis for holding the funds. Amazon holding money beyond this point without a documented, active claim is a breach of the BSA’s payment terms.
Amazon reinstated the account but still holds the funds
Notably, this happens more often than sellers expect. The account comes back. The suspension is over. But the funds stay frozen for another billing cycle, or two, or indefinitely. Reinstatement and fund release are separate processes in Amazon’s systems, and reinstatement does not automatically trigger disbursement. You have to request it, and if Amazon does not respond, you have to escalate.
Amazon cites a vague policy violation with no specific claim
Specifically, a notice that says funds are being held due to “potential policy violations” or “risk assessment” without identifying any specific open claim is not a valid hold. Amazon must be able to point to actual claims against the funds. A general policy reference does not satisfy the BSA’s requirements for withholding payment.
Amazon terminated the account permanently and kept the money
Importantly, permanent termination does not give Amazon the right to keep your money. Amazon can hold funds for 90 days post-termination to cover legitimate claims. After that, whatever remains after satisfying those claims belongs to you. Multiple AAA arbitrators have ordered Amazon to release funds in exactly this situation.
What to Do When Amazon Holds Your Money
Importantly, act quickly. The longer funds sit frozen, the harder recovery becomes in some cases. Here is the right sequence.
Document everything first
Before contacting Amazon or taking any legal step, gather your documentation first. Specifically, you need: a screenshot of your account balance and fund status, every suspension and fund hold notice Amazon sent you with dates, the original suspension reason, and a record of every appeal or disbursement request you submitted and what Amazon responded.
This documentation is what a demand letter and an arbitration claim are built on. Without it, the legal process is slower and harder.
Request disbursement through Seller Central
Once the 90-day window has passed and no disbursement has occurred, submit a formal disbursement request through Seller Central. Keep a record of the request and the date. If Amazon denies the request or does not respond within 7 days, however, move to the next step.
Contact our withheld funds team
When the disbursement request is denied or ignored, this is no longer a Seller Support issue. It is a legal dispute. Contact our Amazon withheld funds team for a same-day assessment of the specific basis Amazon is using to hold your funds and whether it is contractually valid.
The Demand Letter Path
A formal demand letter from DAM Law Firm goes to Amazon’s legal team. It is not a Seller Support ticket and does not go into the appeal queue. Instead, it lands with the people inside Amazon who have authority to release funds independently of the Seller Performance process.
What the demand letter says
Specifically, the letter identifies the account,, the amount held, the date of the suspension, the 90-day window, and the specific BSA provisions that require release of the funds. It demands release within a stated deadline. And it puts Amazon on notice that AAA arbitration will follow if the deadline passes without action.
Why demand letters work
Notably, Amazon’s legal team evaluates demand letters differently from appeal submissions. They assess legal exposure, not policy compliance. Specifically, a well-drafted demand letter citing specific BSA provisions creates legal pressure that a Seller Central request simply does not. In fact, many withheld funds disputes have resolved at the demand letter stage, before any arbitration was filed.
When to File AAA Arbitration
When the demand letter produces no response or a denial, AAA arbitration is the next step. Under the Business Solutions Agreement’s arbitration clause, Under the BSA, Amazon is required to participate in AAA commercial arbitration. Specifically, they cannot ignore it the way they can ignore a Seller Central appeal.
What arbitration can recover
Specifically, an arbitrator can order Amazon to release withheld funds, pay interest on funds held beyond the contractual period, and in some cases award additional damages for losses caused by the improper hold. In fact, multiple arbitrators have ruled in favor of sellers in exactly these disputes. The account and the funds are separate issues. Importantly, a seller does not need reinstatement to recover their money through arbitration.
How long it takes
Typically, AAA arbitration resolves faster than federal court litigation. In fact, many cases settle after the demand is filed and before a formal hearing. The process is faster when the documentation is clean and the BSA violation is clear. Contact our arbitration against Amazon team for a same-day assessment of whether your withheld funds situation is ready for arbitration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Amazon keep my money if I was suspended for a policy violation?
Not permanently. Amazon can hold funds while it investigates and covers legitimate claims: chargebacks, refunds, and open A-to-Z claims. After 90 days, and after those claims are resolved, the remaining balance belongs to you regardless of the suspension reason. A policy violation that led to suspension does not give Amazon the right to keep money that was legitimately earned from completed orders.
Amazon says my funds are held for “risk assessment.” Is that valid?
It depends on how long the hold has been in place and whether there are active claims against the funds. In the short term, a risk assessment hold is within Amazon’s contractual rights. Beyond 90 days with no specific claim attached, a vague risk assessment reference does not satisfy the BSA’s requirements for withholding payment. Contact our Amazon withheld funds team for an assessment of whether your specific hold is valid.
My account was reinstated but my money is still frozen. What do I do?
Submit a disbursement request through Seller Central immediately, with the date of reinstatement noted. If Amazon does not release the funds within one billing cycle, escalate to a demand letter. Reinstatement and fund release are separate system processes, and reinstatement does not automatically trigger disbursement. Do not wait for it to happen on its own.
Amazon permanently terminated my account and is keeping all my money. Can I get it back?
Yes, in most cases. Permanent termination does not extinguish your right to funds earned from completed orders. Amazon can hold for 90 days to cover claims. After that, the remaining balance is yours. Contact our arbitration against Amazon team for a same-day assessment. Multiple AAA arbitrators have ordered Amazon to release funds after permanent termination.
How DAM Law Firm Can Help
DAM Law Firm handles withheld funds disputes from same-day assessment through demand letter and AAA arbitration. We have helped sellers recover funds that Amazon refused to release through the standard appeal process.
- Amazon Withheld Funds: same-day assessment of your specific hold and the legal path to release
- Arbitration Against Amazon: pre-arbitration demand letters and AAA arbitration for funds held beyond the BSA’s authorized period
- Amazon Account Suspensions: suspension appeals to pursue reinstatement alongside the funds dispute
- Amazon Reinstatement and Plan of Action: when reinstatement is the path to triggering fund release
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact DAM Law Firm for advice specific to your situation.
