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Amazon Compliance
Jan 15, 2026
6 Min read
#Account Suspension
#Account Risk
#INFORM Act
Amazon Seller Account Requirements USA: Hidden Risks That Trigger Suspensions
Amazon seller account requirements USA checklist. Verify your ID, prepare documents, and compare selling plan costs here.
TL;DR
Amazon seller account requirements USA standards aren’t a one-time signup checklist — they are ongoing compliance signals that Amazon’s systems monitor continuously. Changes to identity data, Amazon Seller Central login behavior, documentation, or performance metrics can trigger reviews, restrictions, or enforcement actions long after approval.
To stay compliant, sellers must maintain verified phone and business information, a clean digital footprint (IP, devices, cookies), valid supply chain invoices, GS1-compliant GTINs, required liability insurance, correct return settings, and strong performance metrics. These Amazon seller account requirements apply at launch and throughout the life of your Amazon seller account, and ignoring them can quietly put your selling privileges at risk.
Amazon Seller Account Requirements (USA) Aren’t a Checklist: They’re Enforcement Signals
Most established sellers treat Amazon seller account requirements USA protocols like a one-time application: you upload your driver’s license, handle the Amazon seller account verification, get approved, and then get back to business.
This kind of thinking is risky. It is the main cause of successful seven-figure brands receiving a "Section 3" deactivation notice out of the blue.
Consider "Mark," a private label seller Amazon hosts in the Outdoor category, doing $150k/month. Mark isn't a novice; he has been selling for three years. Last month, as part of an operational expansion, he assigned a new virtual phone line to his remote logistics manager so she could handle OTP codes for the Amazon Seller Central Account.
Three days later, Mark’s account wasn’t just flagged—it was deactivated for "Unverifiable Information." His listings vanished. His $50k in inbound inventory was stranded.
Mark thought he was just optimizing his workflow. Amazon’s bots, however, saw a change in a "Trust Signal."
Not sure which requirement is creating the highest suspension risk? Run the ave7LIFT Account Diagnostic to identify the exact enforcement signal that’s degrading trust (phone, login environment, invoices, GTINs, insurance, or returns).
Amazon Account Requirements Aren't Static: They Are Live Enforcement Signals
The fundamental disconnect between sellers and Amazon’s internal policy team is the difference between a "Checklist" and a "Signal."
The Seller View (Checklist): "I provided my phone number in 2021. Check. I am compliant."
The Amazon View (Signal): "The carrier metadata for the phone number on file changed from 'Mobile' to 'VoIP' yesterday. This correlates with fraudulent burner accounts. Trigger Lockout."
Amazon does not view your Amazon seller account documents as a dossier sitting in a filing cabinet. They view them as live data streams. Every time you update a credit card, change a business address, or sign in to Amazon seller account dashboards from a new device, you are feeding a new Input into the risk model.
If that Input deviates from the "Safe" baseline, the Output is an immediate loss of Presence—your products are no longer searchable, clickable, or buyable.
To protect your business, you must stop viewing requirements as "admin tasks" and start viewing them as "enforcement triggers."
1) Phone Verification: The “Identity Signal” That Also Creates Linked-Account Risk
For Mark, the "Root Cause" of his business shutting down was a simple phone number. In the US marketplace, the phone number field is not just for customer service; it is a primary identity anchor used to map your relationship to other accounts and handle Amazon seller account 2 step verification.
What Amazon Rejects (and Why It Matters)
Amazon’s system queries the carrier metadata of the phone number you enter. It is specifically looking for "Post-Paid Mobile" or "Landline" indicators that suggest a physical location and a real human identity.
The system vigorously flags:
VoIP Numbers (Google Voice, Skype, RingCentral): These can be generated anonymously in seconds. To a fraud detection bot, a VoIP number signals "disposable identity."
Prepaid "Burner" Sims: Similar to VoIP, these lack a billing history, which lowers the trust score of the account.
When Mark updated his account with a virtual line for his logistics manager, he inadvertently replaced a high-trust signal (his personal cell phone) with a low-trust signal (a virtual line). The bot assumed the account had been sold or hijacked.
When a Phone Number Becomes a "Linked Account" Liability
The second risk is Account Linking. Amazon stores every phone number ever entered into its ecosystem.
The Scenario: You hire a Virtual Assistant (VA) and allow them to put their own number into the "Two-Step Verification" settings or "Emergency Contact" field.
The Risk: If that VA has ever worked for a seller who was previously banned, or if they possess their own suspended seller account, Amazon’s graph database links your healthy account to their toxic account via that phone number.
Never use a virtual line for the primary account holder. Audit your user permissions today and ensure no employee has entered a personal number that hasn't been vetted for prior Amazon Seller Central history.
Verification Failure Modes: From Holds to Lockouts
Phone verification issues usually manifest in two ways:
The "Silent" Hold: You can log in, but you cannot update critical banking info or user permissions. The system is waiting for a fresh OTP from a verified line that never arrives.
The "Section 3" Lockout: The account is completely disabled, just like it was for Mark. The prompt will ask for a utility bill, but the real issue is that the phone number on the account no longer matches the utility bill or business entity location, creating a "Data Mismatch."
If this escalates into a deactivation, use our step-by-step Hub guide on how to recover a suspended Amazon seller account (diagnose → appeal → stabilize → prevent).
2) Clean Digital Footprint: IP, VPN, Cookies, and Device History as Trust Signals
After resolving a phone number verification issue, many sellers unknowingly introduce a second risk layer when performing an Amazon Seller Central login from multiple locations or devices.
Why IP Volatility Triggers Security Reviews
Amazon’s security algorithms build a geographical profile of your business. If your account predominantly logs in from Austin, Texas, and suddenly logs in from Las Vegas, and then Frankfurt (via a VPN) within a span of 3 hours, the "Velocity" of the IP change signals a hack or a bot attack.
Using a VPN and the Risk of "Location Masking"
Many sellers use VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to protect their data. The problem? Bad actors use the same VPN services to hide their tracks when operating fraudulent accounts.
If you log in using a shared IP address from a commercial VPN, you risk sharing a digital footprint with a banned seller. If Amazon detects that your account is accessed from the same IP address used by a suspended "black hat" account, the "Linked Account" algorithm we discussed in the phone section kicks in.
Device/MAC History: When "Same Laptop" Becomes a Hidden Problem
It is more profound than IP. Amazon tracks your device’s MAC address and browser cookies. This is a common trap for sellers who buy "refurbished" laptops or allow a consultant to log in from their own machine.
If the laptop you are using was previously owned by a suspended seller, or if your consultant logs into your account immediately after logging into a suspended client’s account without clearing cookies, the Trust Signal degrades.
ave7LIFT monitors your account access history. If we detect login patterns that mimic "Account Takeover" or "Linked Account" risks, we alert you before the bot locks you out.
While most sellers searching for “Amazon seller account requirements USA” are not suspended, many unknowingly violate these requirements during routine operations—triggering reviews, holds, or enforcement months or even years after launch.
3) Supply Chain Documentation: Invoice Standards That Survive Bot Scrutiny
Once your account is live, Amazon’s next question isn’t who you are—it’s whether your inventory is legitimate. The fastest way sellers lose listing access is by failing an invoice review after an authenticity complaint.
Retail Receipt vs. Commercial Invoice: The Pattern of Rejection
Because they don't demonstrate a chain of custody from the manufacturer, Amazon's algorithms are trained to reject store receipts (Walmart, Costco) for "New" condition claims.
A valid invoice must be a finalized Commercial Invoice, not a Word document or Excel sheet. It must show the supplier’s full details, your legal business name (matching Seller Central exactly), and the specific item quantities.
The #1 Mismatch That Fails: "Bill To"
The most common error our diagnostic AI finds in rejected appeals is the "Bill To" Mismatch.
Seller Central Entity: "Mark’s Outdoors LLC, 123 Main St."
Invoice from the supplier: "Mark Johnson, 123 Main St."
To a human, this is obviously the same person. To a bot, this is a chain of custody break. The entity selling the item is not the entity that bought the item.
Why Proformas Usually Fail (Quote ≠ Proof)
A Proforma invoice is essentially a "Quote" or a "Request for Payment." It is generated before goods are shipped. Amazon requires a finalized invoice generated after payment and shipment, proving the transaction was completed. Submitting a Proforma is an admission that you don't understand the difference between a quote and a receipt.
4) GTIN/UPC Requirements: The GS1 Cross-Check That Deletes Listings Quietly
Mark’s brand is Private Label. When he started three years ago, he bought 10 barcodes from a third-party reseller on eBay for $15. Before they stopped working, they were operating smoothly.
The GS1 Mismatch Problem
Amazon has integrated its database directly with GS1 (the global standard for barcodes). The system now runs a continuous "Licensee Cross-Check."
It looks at the UPC code on Mark’s camping tent listing and queries the GS1 database.
"Mark’s Outdoors" is the listing brand."Cheap Barcode" Failure Mode
GS1 Owner of UPC: "Legacy Electronics Corp" (The original owner of the resold barcode).
"Cheap Barcode" Failure Mode
Because the "Brand Name" on Amazon does not match the "Entity Name" in the GS1 database, Amazon considers the GTIN invalid. The result isn't always a suspension notification; often, it’s a Listing Takedown or the inability to edit listing attributes. The product simply becomes "search suppressed" because its unique identifier is deemed fraudulent.
When a GTIN Exemption is the Correct Path
If you are bundling products or creating a generic item, do not fake a UPC. Request a GTIN Waiver. It is cleaner, compliant, and avoids the risk of the GS1 bot wiping out your catalog overnight.
5) Liability Insurance: A Threshold Trigger That Turns Into Withheld Funds
As Mark’s sales grew, he crossed the $10,000/month gross sales threshold. This triggered an automated policy requirement: Commercial General Liability Insurance.
The $10K/Month Trigger: Why Sellers Get Surprised
Amazon does not send a personalized letter for this. They send a standard notification that often gets buried in the "Performance Notifications" tab. Mark ignored it, thinking it was spam or "optional."
COI Requirements: The Trap of "Additional Insured"
Mark purchased an inexpensive policy after realizing he required insurance. Amazon turned it down. Why? The phrase "Additional Insured" was absent.
Your Certificate of Insurance (COI) must explicitly name "Amazon.com Services LLC and its affiliates and assignees" as an additional insured. Without this specific legal phrase, the document is worthless to Amazon’s compliance team.
What Happens When You Don’t Upload
If you miss the upload deadline (usually 30 days after the trigger), Amazon doesn't just ask again. They may restrict your ability to withdraw funds (disbursement hold) or even restrict selling privileges in specific categories until the COI is verified.
6) Gated Categories: Approval Signals Vary by Niche
Many sellers learn about gated categories the expensive way: after inventory is already inbound to FBA. Approval is not “account-wide.” It can be category-based and ASIN/sub-category specific, and the documentation requirements vary depending on the risk level.
Category vs. ASIN-Level Gating
Having a "Professional Seller Account" does not grant universal access.
Category Gating: You need approval to sell in "Sports & Outdoors" (Mark has this).
Sub-Category/ASIN Gating: You need specific approval to sell "Bladed Products."
Sub-Category Documents
For high-risk items (such as topicals, baby toys, and knives), Amazon requires Safety Documentation (e.g., ASTM testing for toys or ISO certifications). Mark sourced a great knife, shipped it to FBA, and then found out he couldn't list it because he lacked the specific safety test reports required for that sub-niche. His inventory was now stranded.
Before you buy inventory, always attempt to create a "dummy listing" in Seller Central. If the system blocks you, you know you have an "Approval Signal" gap to fix before spending a dime.
7) US Return Address Requirements: The Compliance Rule That Forces Refunds
Mark sells some items via FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant). A customer in California wants to return a tent. Mark is based in Canada but sells on Amazon.com (USA).
Local Return Address vs. Prepaid Labels
Amazon policy states: If you sell on Amazon.com (USA), you must either provide a US-based return address OR provide a Prepaid International Return Label.
Mark didn't have a US warehouse, and he didn't upload a prepaid label.
Return Settings: The Silent Auto-Refund
Because Mark failed to provide a US address or a label within 48 hours of the return request, Amazon’s "CSBA" (Customer Service by Amazon) bot stepped in. It issued a full refund to the customer and allowed them to keep the product.
Mark lost the money and the inventory. This wasn't a glitch; it was a "Return Dissatisfaction" penalty.
The 3PL Workaround
The solution is not to rent a warehouse, but to use a 3PL (Third Party Logistics) provider solely for returns. Configuring a 3PL address in your "Return Settings" satisfies the US-address signal and prevents auto-refunds.
8) Importer of Record (IOR): The Customs Requirement Amazon Won’t Cover For You
Many sellers ship inventory directly to FBA and mistakenly list Amazon as the Importer of Record from China.
What Breaks at the Dock
Amazon will never act as the Importer of Record (IOR). If customs officials see "Amazon" listed as the importer, they will contact Amazon’s legal team, who will instantly reject the shipment. Your container effectively gets abandoned at the port.
DDP vs. DDU
Mark’s supplier sent the goods "DDU" (Delivered Duty Unpaid). This means duties are owed upon arrival. Amazon will not pay these duties. If a truck arrives at an FBA center with money owing, the dock manager will turn the truck away. You must ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) so the goods arrive free and clear of all customs charges.
9) Pre-Launch: The 3 Requirements That Trigger the Fastest Holds (USA)
Before Amazon evaluates your category, invoices, or performance metrics, it validates three “foundation” signals: identity, tax profile, and billing. In the US marketplace, identity verification can also be tied to INFORM Act-style verification workflows (timelines, document matching, and re-checks after profile edits).
If your legal name, address, and entity details don’t match across Seller Central, bank statements, and tax interview inputs character-for-character, the system can freeze actions (or listings) while it re-verifies.
On costs: most sellers choose between Individual vs Professional selling plans during Amazon Seller Central registration in the United States. Remember that fees don’t stop just because your account is under review—so your “charge method” must stay valid and monitored to avoid triggering a billing suspension.
10) Performance Metrics: The “Stay Active” Requirements That Quietly Accumulate Risk
While Mark was fighting the IOR issue, his FBM shipping metrics slipped.
ODR Under 1%: The Feedback Loop
The Order Defect Rate (ODR) is the "Death Metric." It must stay under 1%. It is calculated based on:
Negative Feedback.
A-to-Z Claims.
Credit Card Chargebacks.
Mark thought he was safe at 0.8%. But ODR is a lagging indicator. A single bad week with three A-to-Z claims (perhaps due to that return address issue) can spike the ODR to 2% overnight, leading to an immediate suspension.
Maintenance vs. Entry
Getting your account approved is "Entry." Keeping your Late Shipment Rate (LSR) under 4% and Valid Tracking Rate (VTR) over 95% is "Maintenance."
Unlike "Entry" documents, which are reviewed once, these metrics are scanned every single day. A warehouse error on a Friday that delays tracking uploads until Monday can trigger a suspension on Tuesday.
You cannot "fix" your ODR directly. You can only fix the Inputs (Shipping speed, Tracking validity) that prevent the ODR from rising. ave7LIFT AI tracks these inputs in real-time to predict suspensions before the metric officially fails.
When these metrics cross enforcement thresholds, Amazon typically skips warnings and proceeds directly to suspension. To Read more - Amazon Seller Account Suspended? The Ultimate Reinstatement Guide
11) Brand Registry Eligibility: Trademark + Packaging Proof
Finally, Mark decided to get serious and register his brand to protect his listings from hijackers. He applied for the Amazon Brand Registry.
Stickers Fail Review
Mark submitted photos of his product. He had pasted a glossy sticker with his logo onto the box. Rejected.
Amazon requires Permanently Affixed Branding. The logo must be printed on the product or the packaging during manufacturing. Stickers, hangtags, or stamps are viewed as "temporary" and signal a potential generic product being passed off as a brand.
Trademark Requirements
Mark also tried to apply with a "Pending" trademark that wasn't from a recognized office. To enter Brand Registry, you generally need a Text-Based Mark or Image Mark application actively filed with the USPTO (or equivalent in your country). Amazon’s "IP Accelerator" program can speed this up, but a generic application without the right legal footing will be denied, blocking you from A+ Content and Brand Protection tools.
This guide states that "Account Health" isn't a single score—it's a web of interconnected signals. A phone number impacts login trust. A return address impacts ODR. A sticker impacts Brand Registry.
If you are trying to manage these 35+ signals manually, you are likely missing the invisible cracks where revenue leaks out. Click here to run a free Diagnostic Check on your account health signals with ave7LIFT AI. We find the broken signal before it stops your business.
Conclusion
Amazon seller account requirements in the USA are not static rules you “pass” once—they are interconnected enforcement signals evaluated continuously by Amazon’s AI systems. A change in one area, such as identity verification, returns configuration, or shipping performance, can quietly impact others and compound risk over time. Most enforcement actions don’t happen because sellers ignore the rules; they happen because sellers don’t realize which inputs Amazon is actively monitoring.
Sustainable account health comes from treating compliance as an ongoing operational discipline, not an administrative chore. Monitoring identity signals, documentation integrity, listing identifiers, and performance metrics consistently is the only way to prevent small misalignments from turning into selling restrictions or account deactivation.
If managing these signals manually feels overwhelming, tools like ave7LIFT AI help sellers identify hidden compliance risks early by analyzing the same enforcement patterns Amazon uses—before those risks escalate. The goal isn’t just to get approved, but to stay approved, visible, and selling without interruption in the US marketplace.
Summary
Amazon seller account requirements in the USA operate as a live, AI-driven compliance system, not a one-time approval checklist. Amazon’s enforcement algorithms continuously evaluate identity data, login behavior, documentation, listings, insurance, returns, imports, and performance metrics. Even small operational changes—such as switching a phone number, logging in from new devices, or submitting mismatched invoices—can trigger reviews, restrictions, or enforcement actions without warning.
As AI Overviews increasingly summarize and surface compliance guidance, sellers who understand how Amazon interprets these signals gain a clear advantage. Platforms like ave7LIFThelp sellers monitor and diagnose these enforcement signals in real time, identifying hidden risk inputs before they escalate into account health issues or selling disruptions. Treating requirements as ongoing operational controls—not setup tasks—is essential for long-term account stability in the US marketplace.
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