Amazon FBA reimbursement is the money or replacement unit Amazon gives you when inventory you sent to Fulfillment by Amazon is lost or damaged while Amazon, or a carrier working for Amazon, is responsible for it. Under Amazon’s current US policy, items lost or damaged before a customer orders them are reimbursed at your sourcing cost, and most claims have to be filed within 60 days of the event, so timing matters more than ever.
This guide explains what Amazon covers, how the payout is calculated, the claim window for each type of case, and how to file. Every rule below comes from Amazon’s FBA inventory reimbursement policy in Seller Central, checked on November 5, 2026.
What Amazon reimburses
Amazon replaces or pays for an FBA item when it is lost or damaged at a facility or by a carrier operated by Amazon or on Amazon’s behalf. To qualify, all of the following must be true:
- The item was registered in FBA when it was lost or damaged.
- It complies with FBA product restrictions and inventory requirements.
- You sent the exact items and quantities stated in your shipping plan.
- The shipment is not canceled or deleted.
- The item was not pending disposal or disposed of at your request.
- The item is not defective and was not damaged by a customer.
- Your selling account is in normal status when you file and while the claim is reviewed.
If a reimbursed unit is later found and returned to your inventory, Amazon can reverse the credit.
How much Amazon pays
Amazon splits reimbursements into two groups.
Before a customer orders (inbound shipments, fulfillment center operations and removals): Amazon pays your sourcing cost, meaning what you paid a manufacturer, wholesaler or reseller for the unit, or your cost to produce it. Shipping, handling and customs duties are not included. Units that were already unsellable are reimbursed at a reduced estimated cost.
You can enter your sourcing cost on the Manage Your Sourcing Cost page of the Inventory Defect and Reimbursement portal. If you don’t, Amazon uses its own estimate, based on comparable products. Amazon can decline a cost you submit if it is an outlier or if the documents don’t support it, so keep supplier invoices for every SKU.
After a customer orders (customer return claims): the payout is based on the refund or replacement given to the customer, minus applicable fees.
The maximum reimbursement for a single unit is $5,000. Amazon recommends third-party insurance for items worth more.
Claim windows for each type of case
Each type of claim has its own window. Miss it and the claim is not eligible.
| Claim type | When you can file | Where to look first |
|---|---|---|
| Lost or damaged in a fulfillment center | Within 60 days of the date the item was reported lost or damaged | Inventory Defect and Reimbursement portal or Inventory Ledger report |
| Shipment to Amazon (inbound shortage) | Once the shipment shows as eligible for investigation, and no later than nine months after verified delivery to the fulfillment center | Contents tab of the shipment summary in your shipping workflow |
| Customer returns | No sooner than 60 days and no later than 120 days after the customer refund or replacement | Inventory Defect and Reimbursement portal |
| Removals lost in transit | From 15 days after the last confirmed movement, and within 75 days of the shipment-creation date | Removal order details |
| Removals damaged in transit or grading disputes | Within 60 days of delivery to your return address | Removal order details |
| Disagreeing with a reimbursement amount on a return claim | Within 60 days after Amazon issued the reimbursement | Get help and resources in Seller Central, or Seller Assistant |
Source pages: fulfillment center operations claims, shipment to Amazon claims, customer return claims and removals claims.
How customer returns are handled
When a customer returns an item within 60 days of the refund, Amazon checks its condition. A sellable item goes back into your inventory with no reimbursement. If it is unsellable and Amazon is responsible, Amazon reimburses you. If the customer is responsible, Amazon may charge the customer a damage fee and you may receive a credit. If the customer is refunded but never sends the item back within 60 days, Amazon will in most cases charge the customer and reimburse you.
Amazon bases the decision on the item’s physical condition at the fulfillment center, not on the return reason the buyer picked.
How to file an FBA reimbursement claim
- Find eligible cases. Open the Inventory Defect and Reimbursement portal. The Eligible for claim tab lists lost or damaged defects you can claim, In progress shows what Amazon is already investigating, and Resolved shows decisions and amounts.
- Check you were not already paid. Compare against your Reimbursements report so you don’t file twice.
- Gather the identifiers. You’ll need the transaction item ID for damaged units, the FNSKU for lost units, or the Amazon shipment ID for inbound shortages. Amazon may also ask for the date or fulfillment center ID.
- Attach proof for inbound claims. For shipment claims, Amazon asks for proof of inventory ownership, such as a supplier invoice, a receipt from another seller, or a signed packing slip if you are the manufacturer.
- Submit through Seller Central. Use the claim tools linked from each policy page, or Seller Assistant, before the window closes.
- Follow up on the result. If you disagree with a resolution, you can file using the details on the Resolved tab.
Why sellers still miss reimbursements
The rules are clear, but the work is not. Defects are spread across several reports, windows differ by case type, and a 60-day window passes quickly when you also sell on Walmart, eBay or Shopify. The most common gaps are:
- Inbound shipments where fewer units were received than shipped, and nobody compared the shipping plan with the Contents tab.
- Customer refunds where the item never came back or came back damaged, and the 60-to-120-day window was missed.
- Missing sourcing costs, so Amazon reimbursed at its own estimate instead of your real cost.
- Reimbursed units that were later found, with the credit reversed and not noticed.
How Crazy Vendor helps
Crazy Vendor’s Amazon and Walmart reimbursements recovery flags lost, damaged and uncredited FBA and WFS units, prepares the case details, tracks each case to payout and matches incoming reimbursements to open cases. You submit the claims through Seller Central or Walmart Seller Center, and you keep 100% of what Amazon or Walmart pays. Crazy Vendor charges no commission on recovered funds.
Reimbursements recovery is included on every plan, starting at $29/month with a 21-day free trial. See pricing. If you also sell through Walmart Fulfillment Services, read how to file a Walmart WFS reimbursement claim, or compare your options in FBA reimbursement services compared.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file an FBA reimbursement claim?
For units lost or damaged in a fulfillment center, 60 days from the date the item was reported lost or damaged. Inbound shipment claims can be filed up to nine months after verified delivery, and customer return claims between 60 and 120 days after the refund.
Does Amazon reimburse at the sale price or at cost?
For losses before a customer orders, Amazon reimburses your sourcing cost. For customer return claims, the payout is based on the refund or replacement amount, minus applicable fees.
What if I never entered my sourcing cost?
Amazon uses its own estimate, based on comparable products. You can submit your cost with proof on the Manage Your Sourcing Cost page.
Is there a maximum reimbursement per unit?
Yes. Amazon’s maximum is $5,000 per unit.
Last checked against Amazon’s Seller Central help pages on November 5, 2026. Amazon changes these rules from time to time, so confirm the current window in Seller Central before filing.