How do I reconcile Amazon payouts?
To reconcile a payout: download the settlement report for the matching period, sum every credit (orders, reimbursements) and every debit (refunds, fees, service charges, reserves). The net should equal the amount deposited. If it does not, the delta is usually a reserve, unshipped hold, or currency conversion adjustment.
The reconciliation formula
Payout = Product sales + Shipping + Gift wrap + Reimbursements - Refunds - Referral fees - FBA fees - Storage fees - Advertising - Service charges - Reserves. Every line has to trace back to a transaction in the flat file.
Common gaps
Held reserve (Amazon holds a percentage for return risk on some categories). Delayed disbursements around policy events. Currency conversion on international marketplaces. Chargeback holds from claims filed but not resolved.
What to do if the payout is short
Pull the previous and following settlement reports; missing amounts usually roll into the next period. If a reserve is unexplained, open a case with Seller Support referencing the settlement ID.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I reconcile?
Every settlement (every 14 days for most accounts). Monthly at minimum for tax filing accuracy.
Is reconciliation possible in Excel?
Yes, but it takes 2 to 4 hours per settlement. Automated tools do it in minutes.
Do reimbursements show in payouts?
Yes, as separate credit lines with the event type 'Reimbursement'.
Does Nova reconcile automatically?
Yes. Nova pulls settlements via SP-API and matches every line to SKU-level P&L.
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Nova surfaces this metric per SKU in near real time so you can act before your next monthly close catches it.
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Where do I find the Amazon settlement report?
Amazon settlement reports live in Seller Central under Reports > Payments > All Statements. Each report covers one settlement period (usually 14 days) and lists every transaction that affected the payout: orders, refunds, fees, adjustments, service fees, and reserves. Download as CSV or the flat file to reconcile.
How do I find hidden Amazon fees eating my margin?
The fees that hurt most are rarely hidden, they are just scattered across multiple Seller Central reports. Check monthly storage, aged inventory surcharges, low-inventory-level fees, inbound placement fees, returns processing, subscription-and-save discounts, and coupon redemption fees. Rebuilding a per-SKU P&L from the Fee Preview and Payments reports usually reveals a 3 to 8 point margin gap.
How do I export my full Amazon transaction history?
For 24+ months of transaction history, use the SP-API Reports endpoint or a connected tool that pulls historically. Seller Central console limits reports to 60 to 90 days depending on the report type. Nova connects via SP-API and can backfill up to 15 months of PPC history and 24 months of order and settlement data.
Should I book Amazon revenue by disbursement date or order date?
Accrual accounting books revenue when the order ships (order date). Cash accounting books revenue when Amazon disburses (payout date). GAAP and most tax authorities require accrual. Nova's SKU-level P&L uses order date for revenue recognition and matches costs to the same period, so margins reflect actual operating performance.
How do I track profit at the SKU level on Amazon?
SKU-level profit requires matching every revenue and cost line to the SKU that generated it. That means pulling settlement reports, product-level ad spend, refunds, storage allocation, and COGS, then attributing each. Doing this manually in Excel takes 4 to 8 hours per month per account; automated tools reduce it to a dashboard view.