Successfully disputing Amazon deductions requires a clear understanding of Amazon’s evolving policies, timelines, and documentation expectations. Over the past several years, Amazon has formalized disputing windows, introduced system-driven holding periods, and added new programs that affect how and when vendors should dispute.
This guide outlines best practices by deduction type to help vendors maximize recovery while staying aligned with Amazon’s current requirements.
General Amazon Disputing Principles
Across all deduction types, Amazon has implemented stricter enforcement around disputing timelines and submission quality. In general, vendors should:
Monitor deductions consistently to avoid missing disputing windows
Submit disputes as early as allowed by Amazon policy
Treat re-disputes as first-class submissions, with complete context and attachments
Assume that unsupported or poorly framed disputes will be denied with limited opportunity for appeal
While Amazon has expanded disputing windows in some areas, this has been paired with additional system controls that limit when disputes are accepted and how many times a deduction can be challenged.
Shortage Claims
Disputing Window
Amazon has instituted a 2-year disputing window for shortage claims. All shortages must be disputed, and if necessary, re-disputed, within the first two years from the original deduction date. Claims that fall outside this window are no longer eligible for recovery.
Inventory Matching Period
Amazon now also enforces an inventory matching period during which shortage disputes cannot be submitted. Vendors are unable to dispute shortages during the first 35 days after the invoice due date, as Amazon’s systems are still reconciling inventory movements.
Recommended Timing
Although disputes cannot be submitted during the matching period, we still recommend acting quickly once it ends. Best practice is to submit the initial dispute within the first 5 days after the 35-day matching period concludes. Early submission helps ensure the deduction is addressed before aging, additional offsets, or system closures complicate recovery.
Proof Documentation
A Bill of Lading (BOL) is recommended but not required
BOLs are especially valuable for re-disputes, where Amazon expects stronger justification
Price Claims
Disputing Window
Price claims are also governed by a 2-year disputing window, aligning them with Amazon’s broader deductions policy.
Inventory Matching
Unlike shortages, price claims do not have an inventory matching period. Disputes can be submitted as soon as the deduction is identified.
Proof Documentation
Amazon does not require specific proof documents for price claims. However, attachments can materially improve outcomes in certain scenarios, such as:
Email threads confirming a negotiated price change
Written agreements with Amazon buyers
Promotional or temporary pricing approvals
Including documentation when available can help resolve disputes more quickly and reduce back-and-forth.
CoOp Deductions
Disputing Window
North America: 2-year disputing window
International accounts: 5-year disputing window
These extended timelines are helpful, but vendors must still be strategic about when disputes are submitted.
Accrual Revisions and Timing
Since Amazon instituted monthly CoOp accrual revisions, vendors are required to wait before disputing. Amazon has explicitly asked vendors to allow 8–10 months after the agreement end date for their systems to:
Identify overbillings or underbillings
Automatically correct discrepancies through accrual revisions
Disputing too early may result in unnecessary denials that would have been resolved systemically.
Dispute Limits
Amazon enforces a one-dispute-per-dispute-reason policy for CoOps. This significantly limits the ability to re-dispute and makes the initial submission especially critical.
Best practice is to:
Fully reconcile accruals before disputing
Submit a single, comprehensive dispute with complete context and support
Chargebacks
A Changing Landscape
Chargebacks have become one of the most complex and restricted deduction categories on Amazon. Recent changes include:
New programs such as Receiving Accuracy and In-Full Delivery
The introduction and expansion of DisputeGPT, which acts as a gatekeeper for dispute submissions
These systems evaluate disputes more strictly and are designed to filter out weak or incomplete cases before human review.
Recommended Approach
Chargeback disputing should be highly selective and evidence-driven.
For prep and SIOC-related chargebacks, we recommend using automation to:
Identify eligible chargebacks
Attach the most relevant proof documentation
Dispute these chargebacks automatically and in bulk
For other chargeback types, disputes should be handled on a case-by-case basis
Amazon will only accept disputes that clearly demonstrate the chargeback is invalid
Submissions must include attachments that directly support the claim
Generic or unsupported disputes are increasingly unlikely to succeed.