Amazon sellers are grappling with renewed pressure as many report receiving "Know Your Customer" (KYC) verification notices for their payment accounts. This development adds another layer of complexity to an already competitive marketplace, raising questions about whether Amazon is tightening its policies.
The issue traces back to August last year, when rumors emerged that Amazon might begin linking payment accounts to individual stores. This would make the common practice of using a single payment account for multiple stores potentially risky. In response, many sellers adopted what appeared to be "one-to-one" account binding strategies. However, these measures often proved superficial—many payment accounts remained registered under non-legal entity information rather than the store's official business registration.
Amazon's New Policy: True "One-to-One" Verification
Industry observers noted months ago that payment accounts not registered under the legal entity's authentic information would no longer comply with Amazon's evolving mechanisms. The platform now requires payment accounts to be genuinely "one-to-one"—registered under the legal entity's identity with linked bank accounts also matching the entity's official documentation. In essence, any form of third-party or mismatched payment processing is being phased out.
Navigating KYC Verification
Sellers with properly configured "one-to-one" payment accounts can complete Amazon's verification process routinely. However, accounts failing to meet these standards risk triggering secondary reviews, which may lead to operational disruptions and financial complications.
Common Triggers for Secondary Reviews
Sellers should pay particular attention to these high-risk scenarios:
- Mismatched account names: When the payment account holder's name differs from the store's registered business information.
- Non-entity bank accounts: When the payment account links to bank cards not under the legal entity's name.
Sellers encountering either situation should proactively transition to compliant "one-to-one" payment structures to ensure financial security and store stability. As Amazon continues refining its policies, maintaining compliance remains critical for sustaining competitive advantage in this dynamic marketplace.