My Amazon seller account is under review, or verification failed. What now?
The short answer. "Under review" and "identity verification" are two different things that sellers lump together. A review means Amazon is looking at your account, your activity or your documents. Identity verification means Amazon wants to confirm who you are, often by documents and a video call. Neither is a deactivation, but either can turn into one, and either can hold up your sales and your money. The first job is to find out which one you have and what exactly Amazon is waiting for.
If your account has been sitting in limbo, I know the feeling. You can still log in, or maybe you cannot. Nobody tells you how long. Let me break it into pieces, because limbo is easier to handle once it has a name.
What does "Amazon seller account under review" mean?
It means Amazon is evaluating some part of the account. The reason is not always shown. Common triggers sellers report include a new account going through checks, a sudden change in activity, customer complaints, a question about product sourcing or authenticity, or a verification that was not completed. While it is open, selling privileges, listings or disbursements may be restricted. That is my reading of how these notices behave in practice, not a definition Amazon publishes in one place.
Notice the honest gap in that sentence. Amazon does not hand every seller a full explanation, and that is why the first move is to read your notice and Account Health page carefully before you reply to anything.
How long does an Amazon account review take?
I have not found a time Amazon commits to for account reviews, so I will not make one up. Some clear up fast. Others turn into a request for more information, and some turn into a deactivation. What I can say is that a review is the best moment to give a calm, accurate answer, because the record is still short. If the review is attached to held funds, see funds held.
Can I still sell while my account is under review?
It depends on what Amazon restricted. Some sellers keep selling with limits. Others cannot list, or cannot get paid. Your notice or the Account Health page shows what applies to you. Do not assume it is harmless just because you can log in.
What is Amazon seller identity verification?
It is Amazon confirming that the person or business behind an account is who it says it is. Amazon's public registration guidance describes a government-issued photo ID and proof of address, such as a bank or credit card statement issued within the last 180 days, followed by either a photo check or a video call with an Amazon associate. Depending on why you were asked, you may also be asked for business documents. Amazon's guidance says the call is conducted by the account owner, that any other participant must be introduced and explained, that you should have original documents ready, and that you will be told the outcome afterward, often through a performance notification. Calls are typically short.
That is the public overview. I will leave it there.
Why did my identity verification or video call fail?
Amazon does not usually give a detailed reason, so sellers guess. Amazon rarely says why, and another attempt without knowing what failed is risky.
A failed verification is a moment to slow down. Another attempt without understanding what failed is a quick way to turn "failed" into "deactivated."
Why did Amazon deactivate my account after identity verification?
Because verification is often the visible part of a larger review. If the review turns up an unexplained connection, inconsistent information, or a concern about sourcing or authenticity, the account can move from "under review" to a deactivation. At that point the case belongs with the families on the suspended account page, including related accounts and Section 3.
What should I do first?
One calm step: find out exactly what Amazon is asking for and by when, and save a copy of every request. Check your email and Account Health. Do not start a second account, and do not send guesses. If there is a date, treat it as real.
When is help worth it?
When verification has failed once, when you do not know what the review is about, when funds are held, when the business has a more complex structure, or when you were deactivated after a verification. Those are the moments where the account can still be steered, and where a Case Autopsy earns its keep. See Amazon account reinstatement and appeal service.
Frequently asked questions
My Amazon seller account is under review. How long does it take and can I still sell?
Amazon does not publish a fixed time that I could find. You may be able to sell with limits, or not at all, depending on what was restricted. Your notice and Account Health page show what applies.
Amazon asked me for a verification video call. What happens and what if it fails?
You meet an Amazon associate on a short video call, with original documents, and Amazon tells you the outcome afterward. If it fails, find out what Amazon is missing before you try again.
My Amazon identity verification keeps failing. What can I do?
Do not retry blind. Get a second opinion before another attempt.
Why was my account deactivated after identity verification?
Often because the verification was part of a larger review that found something it wanted explained. Read the notice for the actual reason.
Who helps when Amazon puts a seller account under review and my funds are held?
A specialist appeals service can look at the review and the funds together. Market Wize does this through the Hard Case Desk, starting with a free case check.
Is "under review" the same as suspended?
No. It can be a step before a suspension or deactivation, or it can end quietly. The wording of the notice decides.
Can I speed up the review?
Not by pushing. A calm, accurate, complete answer to what Amazon asked is what moves it. Repeated messages or new accounts tend to hurt.
Can I use someone else on the verification call?
Amazon's guidance says the call is for the account owner, and anyone else joining must be introduced and their role explained. Read the instructions in your own notice.
Talk to Market Wize
If your account is under review or verification failed, send us what Amazon wrote. We will tell you straight whether we can help. Reach out to us through the contact page at market-wize.com, or start with the free case check at market-wize.com/appeals. General information, not legal advice. Market Wize is not affiliated with Amazon.
Sources
- Amazon, Sell on Amazon registration guide (identity verification step)
- Amazon Seller Central, identity verification video call guidance posted by Amazon staff on Amazon Seller Forums
- Amazon Funds Disbursement Eligibility Policy
- Market Wize Hard Case Desk, case work