Overview

Amazon Japan will raise the automatic returnless‑refund ceiling for seller‑fulfilled orders from ¥2,000 to ¥3,000, effective March 16 2026. The adjustment applies only to international sellers who do not have a registered return address in Japan. Sellers should reassess pricing, fulfillment, and return‑handling strategies because more low‑value orders will now be refunded without a product being sent back.

Key Points

• New ceiling — The returnless‑refund limit increases to ¥3,000 (including consumption tax and shipping) for qualifying seller‑fulfilled orders.
• Target group — Only sellers outside Japan lacking a domestic return address are subject to the automatic refund rule.
• Effective date — The change takes effect on March 16 2026; orders placed before that date remain under the ¥2,000 limit.
• Cost implication — Sellers will absorb the full cost of any item priced at ¥3,000 or less that triggers a returnless refund, while the buyer retains the product.
• Opt‑out path – Registering a Japanese return address—or using an Amazon‑approved international returns provider—exempts a seller from the automatic refund mechanism.
• Strategic impact — The broader threshold (roughly $20 USD) may push sellers to reconsider FBA enrollment, bundle low‑price SKUs, or adjust pricing to protect margins.

How the Returnless Refund Threshold Works

1. Order evaluation — When a buyer places a seller‑fulfilled order to Japan, Amazon checks the order subtotal, applicable consumption tax, and shipping fees.
   Example: A US‑based seller lists a kitchen gadget for ¥2,800 plus ¥200 shipping; the total reaches ¥3,000, meeting the new threshold.

2. Eligibility determination — If the seller has not listed a domestic Japanese return address, Amazon flags the order as eligible for a returnless refund should the buyer request a return.
   Example: The same buyer initiates a return within the standard window; Amazon automatically processes a full refund without generating a return label.