Overview

Error 18010 is a common Seller Central error that occurs when a seller attempts to issue a refund that exceeds the eligible amount for a given order. This typically happens when the requested refund for an item's price or associated tax surpasses what the customer originally paid, or what remains after previous partial refunds have already been applied. Understanding how this error works can save sellers time and prevent repeated failed refund attempts.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Refund ceiling is based on original payment - The maximum refund you can issue for any order component (item price, shipping, or tax) is limited to what the customer actually paid for that specific component.
• Previous refunds reduce available balance - If you've already issued a partial refund on an order, the remaining refundable amount decreases accordingly. Future refunds cannot exceed the remaining balance.
• Item price and tax are treated separately - Amazon tracks the item price (what the customer paid before shipping and taxes) and the item price tax as distinct components. Each has its own refundable balance that must be respected.
• The error blocks overcharges to Amazon - This safeguard prevents sellers from accidentally requesting refunds that exceed the original transaction value, which would create accounting discrepancies.

How the Refund Balance Works

When a customer places an order, Amazon records each component of the payment separately: the item price (also called the principal), shipping charges, and applicable taxes. Each of these components has its own refundable balance. For example, if a customer pays $20 for a product before shipping and taxes, the item-price refund balance starts at $20. If you issue a partial refund of $15 against the item price, the remaining balance drops to $5. Any subsequent refund requests for the item price on that same order cannot exceed that $5 balance. The same logic applies to tax components — you cannot refund more tax than was originally collected on the order.

Common Causes of Error 18010

There are several scenarios that commonly trigger this error. The most straightforward is simply entering a refund amount that is larger than what the customer originally paid for the item. Another frequent cause is forgetting to account for previous partial refunds that have already reduced the available balance. Sellers who process refunds through feeds or the API may also encounter this error if their item price tax amount exceeds what was originally charged, or if the combined item price and tax refund amounts together exceed the remaining order balance. In each case, the root issue is the same: the requested amount is higher than what Amazon's system considers eligible for that particular order component.