Amazon DD+7 Policy Extends Seller Payout Timeline

Amazon has announced an update to its seller disbursement policy. Starting March 5, 2026, the DD+7 payout rule will be implemented globally, with Amazon Germany scheduled to enforce it on March 12.

Under DD+7, funds are released seven days after delivery is confirmed. For orders with valid tracking, the seven-day countdown begins on the confirmed delivery date. For orders without tracking, the seven days are counted from the estimated delivery date.

According to Amazon’s notice, once an order ships, Amazon will collect the buyer’s payment and temporarily hold it. Only after the seven-day hold period ends will the funds move into the seller’s available balance.

In practice, because order fulfillment typically includes picking and packing time plus one to two days of transit, the actual payout cycle for most orders often reaches eight to nine days.

Some sellers reported receiving earlier notifications and gradually transitioning to the rule. Amazon says the change is intended to standardize the hold period already adopted by most sellers worldwide.

Amazon stated that the new buffer between buyer payment and seller payout is designed to provide a safer window to handle refunds and after-sales issues more effectively.

For sellers, however, the policy means additional time between shipment and when funds actually become available. The impact will vary depending on the shipping method, delivery distance, and the quality of tracking. For international orders, longer delivery cycles, or delayed shipments, the effect may be more noticeable.

Notably, the DD+7 rule also applies to orders fulfilled through FBA. Even when Amazon controls fulfillment and delivery operations, shipping time still contributes to the delayed settlement timeline.

Many small and mid-sized sellers are concerned about ongoing cash flow pressure. Amazon described the change as a “one-time cash flow impact,” but some brands modeled the outcome using their 2025 sales data and estimated that after the policy takes effect, they may need to maintain an additional £20,000 to £50,000 in working capital on an ongoing basis.

For example, when the policy first takes effect in March, around £20,000 could be held back; during the year-end peak season in December, the amount could expand to £50,000.

Sellers noted that restricted cash flow can affect replenishment and inventory planning, supplier purchasing decisions, and even hiring plans. If hundreds of thousands of small and mid-sized businesses experience similar conditions, the total amount delayed by an extra seven to nine days could reach hundreds of millions in scale.

Amazon advised sellers to evaluate their financial position in advance and take steps to reduce risk. Recommended actions include using complete tracking to ensure accurate delivery confirmation, assessing whether certain products should move to FBA, adjusting payment terms with suppliers, optimizing safety stock levels, and strengthening monitoring of logistics performance.

UK Digital Services Tax Fee Method Also Changing

At the same time, Amazon also announced adjustments to how the UK Digital Services Tax (DST) fee will be applied. Previously, Amazon listed the DST as a separate line item on bills at a 2% rate in the UK. Starting March 20, 2026, DST fees will be applied based on the DST rate of the country where the sale occurs, with a referenced rate of 3%.

Specifically:

• If a seller is registered in the UK and sells on the France, Italy, and Spain marketplaces, their selling commissions and FBA fees will apply a 3% digital services fee.
• If a seller is registered in Italy or Spain and sells on the UK and France marketplaces, a 3% rate will apply.
• If a seller is registered in other countries, sales commissions on Italy, Spain, and France will apply a 3% rate, and FBA fees incurred in France will also apply a 3% rate.

The UK DST primarily targets large internet businesses such as search engines, social media platforms, and online marketplaces.

Amazon said the adjustment is intended to align its fee structure more closely with actual costs. With multiple fee and settlement policy changes rolling out, sellers may need to reassess their cash flow planning and operational strategy for spring 2026.

Conclusion

With the DD+7 payout rule and the updated digital services tax fee method arriving in March 2026, Amazon sellers should proactively revisit cash flow forecasting, inventory cadence, and fulfillment choices—especially for cross-border orders where delivery timelines and tracking quality can significantly influence when funds become available.

If you’re shipping inventory from China to Amazon warehouses, Forest Shipping can help you build a more predictable logistics plan—from pickup and export handling in China to reliable delivery into your designated Amazon fulfillment network—so your replenishment schedule stays aligned with the new settlement cycle and your operations remain stable.