Validation of ShipFrom locations for Invoice by Amazon Merchant Fulfillment orders
From 22 Feb 2025 to 15 Jun 2025 Amazon will validate ShipFrom addresses for Invoice‑by‑Amazon MFN orders, requiring a VAT‑RN and a matching country code. Shipments failing the VAT‑RN presence, country‑code match, or physical‑address checks are moved to “Shipment Rejected” and invoice generation stops.
Overview
Starting 22 February 2025 and running through 15 June 2025, Amazon will begin checking the ShipFrom address for every Invoice‑by‑Amazon Merchant Fulfilled (MFN) order shipped to EU customers. The verification occurs at the moment the seller confirms the shipment and is designed to guarantee that the origin address aligns with EU VAT rules. Sellers using the Invoice‑by‑Amazon service must adjust their ShipFrom records now, or risk having shipments rejected and payments delayed.
Key Points
- Rollout period — The validation window spans from 22 Feb 2025 to 15 Jun 2025, giving sellers roughly four months to bring their ShipFrom data into compliance.
- Dual criteria — Amazon requires (1) a valid VAT Registration Number (VAT‑RN) attached to the ShipFrom location and (2) a physical address that matches the country indicated by that VAT‑RN.
- Address type restriction — PO boxes, virtual offices, or third‑party logistics sites without their own VAT‑RN will automatically fail the check.
- Order status impact — Shipments that do not satisfy both criteria are flagged and moved to a “Shipment Rejected” status, which stops invoice generation.
- Seller notification — Affected sellers receive an automated alert in Seller Central that links to a “ShipFrom Validation” dashboard where missing or incorrect VAT information can be edited.
- Compliance upside — Passing the validation reduces exposure to EU VAT penalties and reinforces buyer confidence in the invoicing process.
How Validation Works
- Shipment‑confirmation trigger — When a seller clicks “Confirm Shipment” for an Invoice‑by‑Amazon MFN order, Amazon retrieves the ShipFrom record linked to the SKU. Example: A German seller confirming 12 kitchen‑gadget units pulls the German warehouse address stored in the catalog.
- VAT‑RN presence check — The system inspects the ShipFrom profile for a VAT‑RN. An empty field or an incorrectly formatted number (e.g., missing the two‑letter country code) causes the validation to fail.
Analysis & Recommendations
Why This Matters
During the four‑month rollout, any MFN order shipped to EU customers without a valid VAT registration number or with a mismatched address will be rejected, halting invoice creation and delaying payment. Sellers must update ShipFrom records now to avoid disruptions, EU VAT penalties, and payment delays.
Key Takeaways
- Validation window runs 22 Feb 2025 – 15 Jun 2025, giving roughly four months to comply.
- Both a valid VAT‑RN and a street‑level address that matches the VAT‑RN country code are required.
- PO boxes, virtual offices, or third‑party logistics sites without their own VAT‑RN automatically fail the check.
- Failed checks change order status to “Shipment Rejected” and stop invoice generation.
Recommended Actions
- →In Seller Central, go to Settings > Ship From Addresses and add or correct the VAT Registration Number for each warehouse, ensuring the two‑letter ...
- →Replace any PO Box entries with the full street address in the Ship From profile.
- →Use the “ShipFrom Validation” dashboard (Seller Central > Performance > ShipFrom Validation) to run a pre‑launch audit and fix any flagged location...
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