Overview

Amazon has slashed the filing window for SAFE-T reimbursement claims from 60 days to just 30 days for US seller-fulfilled orders, effective January 16, 2026. The change requires sellers to identify and file claims in half the time previously allowed, demanding faster operational responses to issues like buyer abuse, shipping damage, and lost packages.

Key Points

• Filing deadline cut in half — Sellers now have 30 days instead of 60 to submit SAFE-T claims on seller-fulfilled orders.
• Clock starts from return scan or refund date — The 30-day window begins from whichever comes later: the return delivery scan at the warehouse or the refund date.
• Lost shipment timeline — For lost packages, the deadline starts from the last tracking scan event.
• Effective date — The new policy took effect January 16, 2026.

What SAFE-T Claims Cover

• Buyer abuse — Includes tactics like wardrobing, returning substituted items, or making false claims about product condition.
• Shipping damage — Covers cases where sellers fulfilled their obligations correctly but items arrived damaged in transit.
• Lost shipments — Covers shipments where tracking confirms dispatch but delivery never occurs.
• Fraudulent chargebacks — Covers cases where buyers receive products but dispute the charges.

Why This Matters to Sellers

• Faster identification required — Sellers must now identify problematic transactions much more quickly than before. Under the previous 60-day window, merchants could review returns and refunds at a measured pace, but the new deadline demands near-immediate attention to potential claim situations.
• Evidence gathering pressured — Cases involving buyer disputes or unclear return circumstances often require investigation, and the reduced timeline limits the time available to review transaction histories, collect documentation, and build a convincing case.