Why doesn't my Amazon deposit match my sales total?
Amazon deposits are the net amount after fees, not your gross sales. The gap between what you sold and what landed in your bank account comes from several deductions Amazon takes before transferring money.
The biggest deduction is usually the referral fee, which runs 8% to 15% depending on your product category. If you use Fulfillment by Amazon, there are also FBA fees for picking, packing, and shipping each order. Storage fees get charged monthly based on how much space your inventory takes in Amazon’s warehouses. If you run any advertising through Amazon, those costs come out of your settlement too.
Returns add another layer of complexity. When a customer returns a product, Amazon refunds them and deducts that amount from a future deposit. You might see a sale on Monday, receive the deposit two weeks later, and then see that sale reversed in the following deposit because of a return. Your sales total for a given period won’t match the deposit for that period because refunds from earlier sales are hitting the current settlement.
Amazon also holds reserves on newer accounts or accounts with higher return rates. This is money they keep back in case of refunds or chargebacks. The reserve eventually releases, but it means your deposit is lower than expected in the meantime.
The Settlement Report in Seller Central shows exactly where every dollar went. It breaks down gross sales, each fee category, refunds, and the final deposit amount. Downloading this report for each settlement period and matching it to your bank deposits is the only way to reconcile Amazon revenue accurately. Many e-commerce sellers skip this step and just record the deposit as revenue, which understates both their actual sales volume and their true selling costs.
Proper bookkeeping for Amazon means recording gross sales as revenue and all the fees as separate expenses. This gives you an accurate picture of what you’re really paying to sell on that platform. A Richmond bookkeeper who works with online sellers can set up your accounting system to handle these reconciliations correctly, so your financial reports actually reflect how your business is performing.
Greater Richmond's Small Business Bookkeeper
The Next Step:
A Short Conversation
Fifteen minutes to tell us what you're dealing with. We'll let you know how we can help and give you a clear price quote.
More Questions
Why do my bank statements never match my books?
Usually it's timing differences, missing transactions, or data entry errors. Outstanding checks, unrecorded bank fees, and duplicate entries are the most common culprits.
Read answerDo I need to charge sales tax on services in Virginia?
Virginia generally does not tax most services. The retail sales tax applies mainly to tangible goods, not labor or professional expertise. However, there are exceptions for certain services like accommodations and repair work involving parts.
Read answerWhat records do I need to keep for the IRS?
Keep documentation for all income and expenses reported on your tax return. This includes bank statements, receipts, invoices, payroll records, and asset purchase documentation.
Read answerCan I be held personally liable for unpaid sales tax?
Yes, even if you operate as an LLC or corporation. Sales tax is trust fund money that you collect for the state, and if you don't remit it, Virginia can pursue you personally.
Read answerHow long does it take to catch up on a year of bookkeeping?
A year of catch-up bookkeeping typically takes one to four weeks of work time, though this varies based on transaction volume, documentation quality, and business complexity. Cash-heavy businesses and those with disorganized records take longer.
Read answerDo I need to charge sales tax on labor and installation?
It depends on what you're selling. If you're selling products and installing them, the labor is usually taxable with the materials. If you're providing a pure service without selling goods, the labor is often exempt.
Read answer
