Amazon’s FBA Inventory Reimbursement Policy Explained in Simple Terms

TL;DR

• Amazon’s FBA inventory reimbursement policy offers refunds for lost, damaged, or missing inventory.

• In 2025, Amazon updated the reimbursement calculation to use the average selling price over the last 90 days.

• Sellers now have 30 to 60 days to file claims for issues like lost or damaged items; missing the deadline may result in losing the reimbursement.

• Common reimbursable issues include lost inventory, damaged goods, unreturned items, and incorrect fees.

• The reimbursement process can be tracked through Amazon’s Seller Central dashboard, with tools like Refunzo helping automate claims and track status.

• Staying on top of claims and using tracking tools is essential to recover lost funds quickly and efficiently.

Running an Amazon FBA business means trusting Amazon to handle your inventory but what happens when things go wrong? Whether your items get lost, damaged, or never returned by customers, you could be owed money. 

The good news? 

Amazon has a reimbursement policy for these situations. The catch? It’s not always easy to understand or keep up with the latest changes. In 2025, Amazon updated its FBA reimbursement policy, and sellers need to know what’s new to avoid losing money. From how reimbursements are calculated to stricter time limits for filing claims, these changes can seriously impact your bottom line.

In this guide, we’ll break down the 2025 policy in simple terms, with no confusing jargon. You’ll learn when and how Amazon reimburses sellers, what situations qualify, and how tools like Refunzo can make the process easier and faster.

What changed in the 2025 policy update

Amazon made some important changes to its FBA inventory reimbursement policy in 2025. These updates affect how and when sellers can get money back for lost, damaged, or missing inventory. One major change is how Amazon calculates the reimbursement amount. Now, they use the average selling price over the last 90 days instead of past sales or estimated prices. 

This could result in either lower or more accurate reimbursements depending on your product’s sales history. Another change is that Amazon has shortened the time limit for filing claims. You now have 30 to 60 days to report missing or damaged items, which is shorter than before. If you miss this time frame, you might not be able to get reimbursed.

Finally, Amazon now requires more detailed proof and documentation when filing claims. These changes make it more important to track your inventory carefully and act quickly when there’s a problem with your Amazon FBA  reimbursement.

When Amazon reimburses sellers?

Amazon reimburses you when items in your inventory are lost or damaged while in their fulfillment centers, during delivery to customers, or the return process. This means if a product goes missing or is accidentally damaged while under Amazon’s responsibility, they will typically compensate you for the loss.

Reimbursements may also be issued if a customer is refunded for an order but does not return the item. In most cases, this process happens automatically, and you don’t need to take any action. However, it’s still a good idea to regularly review your account and reports to make sure everything is accurate.

If you notice a reimbursement that hasn’t been issued or seems incorrect, you can open a case with Amazon Seller Support to request a review. Amazon calculates the reimbursement amount based on their guidelines, often using the average selling price of the item or other relevant data. 

Keeping track of your inventory and payments can help you ensure that you're receiving fair compensation whenever these situations arise. Amazon has time limits for claims, usually within 30 to 60 days. If you don’t file in time, you may miss out on your Amazon lost inventory reimbursement. You need to keep track of your inventory to catch these issues early.

New calculation method for reimbursement value

In 2025, Amazon updated how it calculates reimbursement values for lost, damaged, or missing FBA inventory. Previously, Amazon used past sales data or estimated prices to determine the reimbursement amount. Now, the calculation is based on the average selling price of the item over the last 90 days.

This change makes reimbursements more accurate by using recent sales data instead of older or estimated values. For example, if your product’s price has changed recently, the new method will reflect that change.

While this may mean lower reimbursements if your product’s price has dropped, it also ensures that the reimbursement is closer to the actual market value. If your item was sold for a higher price in the past but now has a lower price, the reimbursement will be adjusted to match the current price.

Here, you need to stay on top of their prices and sales trends, as this new method could impact how much they are reimbursed for their inventory.

Common reimbursable situations in 2025

In 2025, Amazon's seller reimbursement services for FBA inventory have changed. Here are some of the most common situations when sellers can expect to be reimbursed:

• Lost inventory: If Amazon loses your products in their warehouse, they will reimburse you for the missing items.

• Damaged inventory: If your products get damaged while stored or handled by Amazon, you can get reimbursed for the cost of the damaged goods.

• Wrong fees: Sometimes, Amazon charges sellers incorrect fees. If this happens, you can claim a refund for the extra charges.

• Unreturned items: If customers receive a refund but don't return the product, Amazon will reimburse you for the item that wasn’t returned.

• Returned items marked as "sellable" but not received: If returned items are marked as “sellable” but don’t show up in your inventory, you may be eligible for reimbursement.

Time limits for filing claims in 2025

In 2025, Amazon has set specific time limits for filing reimbursement claims. If you notice an issue with your FBA inventory, such as lost or damaged items, you must file a claim within 30 to 60 days from the date the problem occurred.

The exact time frame depends on the type of issue:

• For lost or damaged inventory, you generally have 60 days to file a claim.

• For issues like unreturned items or incorrect fees, the time limit is usually 30 days.

It’s important to act quickly to avoid missing the chance to recover your funds. Make sure to keep track of your inventory and stay on top of any issues.

How to file a reimbursement claim

Filing a reimbursement claim with Amazon is a simple process, but you need to follow the right steps to make sure your claim is accepted.

• Log in to your Amazon Seller account: Start by logging into your Amazon Seller Central account.

• Go to the FBA dashboard: Navigate to the "FBA" section and select "Manage FBA Inventory."

• Check for issues: Look for discrepancies like lost, damaged, or unreturned items. You can also check the "FBA Reimbursements" report.

• Select the affected products: Choose the products that are missing, damaged, or incorrectly handled.

• File a claim: Click on the "File a Claim" button. Provide all necessary details about the issue, including product IDs and descriptions.

• Submit and wait: After submitting, Amazon will review your claim. If approved, you will receive a reimbursement for the affected products.

Be sure to file within the specified time limits to increase your chances of getting reimbursed.

How to track and manage claims

Tracking and managing your reimbursement claims is essential to make sure you get your money back for lost, damaged, or missing FBA inventory. Here’s how you can do it easily:

• Access your Seller account: Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account and go to the "FBA" section.

• Check the FBA reimbursement report: Under the "Reports" tab, find the "FBA Reimbursements" report. This report shows all your claims and reimbursements.

• Track claim status: You can see the status of your claims, whether they are still pending, approved, or denied. If your claim is still open, Amazon will provide updates on the progress.

• Manage your claims: If a claim is denied or needs more information, you can resubmit or update it. Make sure to review the details and follow up with Amazon if necessary.

• Use tools: Consider using a refund manager tool like Refunzo to automatically track claims and ensure nothing gets missed.

Staying on top of your claims helps ensure you recover lost funds quickly and easily.

Tools to Simplify Reimbursement Recovery in 2025 

In 2025, tools like Refunzo are designed to make the Amazon FBA reimbursement recovery process easier for Amazon sellers. These tools automatically track and identify issues with your FBA inventory, such as lost, damaged, or unreturned items, and help you file reimbursement claims without all the manual work.

Refunzo, for example, scans your Amazon account regularly to find discrepancies that Amazon might miss. It automatically detects missing inventory, incorrect fees, and unreturned items, and then files claims on your behalf. This saves you time and reduces the risk of overlooking reimbursement opportunities.

These tools also track the status of your claims and notify you if any action is needed, so you don’t have to constantly check reports. Using a tool like Refunzo can help you recover lost funds quickly and without stress. It simplifies the process, ensuring you don’t miss out on reimbursements and keeping your cash flow healthy.

Final thoughts 

Understanding Amazon’s FBA inventory reimbursement policy is crucial for protecting your profits. With the 2025 policy updates, sellers need to act quickly, track inventory, and file claims within the new time limits. 

Whether it's lost or damaged inventory, incorrect fees, or unreturned items, Amazon offers reimbursements, but only if you stay on top of the process. Using tools like Refunzo can simplify reimbursement recovery, automatically identifying and filing claims on your behalf. If you are still unsure, choose our Amazon FBA inventory reimbursement service to avoid missing out on the funds you’re owed.