Amazon is introducing a significant change to how fees are charged for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) removal and disposal orders. Starting February 15, 2026, sellers will be billed on a per-unit basis as individual items are processed, replacing the current practice of consolidating charges into a single transaction after the entire order is completed. This update impacts payment timing but does not alter the actual fee rates.
Shift to Incremental Billing
Previously, FBA sellers submitting removal or disposal orders would see a single fee charged once all items within an order had been processed. Under the new system, fees will now be applied in real time for each unit as it is processed. According to Amazon, this change is designed to provide sellers with "more visibility into your removal and disposal activities."
For example, a removal order for 500 units that takes 60 days to process will now result in incremental charges spread over February through April, rather than a single charge in April when all items are completed. This shift aligns financial transactions with the physical movement of inventory, offering sellers a more immediate view of costs.
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No Change to Fee Rates
Despite the adjustment in billing methodology, the fees themselves remain unchanged. Removal fees, which apply when inventory is returned to sellers’ designated addresses, and disposal fees, applicable when inventory is destroyed, will retain existing per-unit rates based on product size tiers and dimensional weight classifications. For instance, a standard-size item removal fee of $0.50 per unit will continue to be charged at the same rate.
Impact on Sellers
For sellers managing large-scale removal orders, this change introduces both opportunities and challenges. Incremental billing spreads costs over extended periods, potentially easing cash flow burdens by eliminating large, unexpected charges. However, it also requires merchants to maintain sufficient account balances throughout the processing period, as charges are no longer concentrated at a single point in time.
Fred McKinnon, commenting on LinkedIn regarding the announcement, illustrated this new reality: "Imagine you remove 100 units – instead of one charge you now get 100 individual charges over hours/days. Many sellers find that more tedious to track in finances."
Sellers also face increased complexity in tracking and reconciling these individual charges. Vanessa Hung, an Amazon Account Management professional, explained: "The operational implication is straightforward: if you’re planning large removal orders and you’re tracking cash flow tightly, the charges will hit your account progressively as units process, not all at once when the order closes."
Tools to Navigate the Change
Amazon’s Seller Central offers several tools to assist sellers in tracking these changes. The Payment Transaction View displays unit-level charges as they occur, while the Removal Order Detail Report provides updates on order status, helping sellers monitor which units have been processed and which remain in queue.
The new system will apply automatically to all FBA removal and disposal orders submitted on or after February 15, 2026. Orders submitted before this date will continue under the consolidated billing method, regardless of when processing is completed.
Broader Context
This modification is part of a series of updates to Amazon’s FBA fee structures over recent years. In February 2025, Amazon removed partial shipment splits for standard-size FBA products, and in 2026, it introduced fees for third-party developer API access. These changes reflect Amazon’s ongoing efforts to refine its fulfillment and financial policies.
The timing of this latest update gives sellers approximately two weeks to adjust their accounting systems and cash flow forecasts before implementation. While the per-unit billing system adds granularity to financial tracking, it also emphasizes the need for sellers to stay vigilant in monitoring their removal and disposal operations.
Seth Hurd, Founder at Brand Expand, summarized the change as a mixed bag for sellers: "Good change for cash flow visibility. Same cost, but spreading charges makes planning large cleanups easier."
Conclusion
Amazon’s move to a per-unit billing system for FBA removal and disposal fees represents a shift toward greater transparency and real-time cost tracking. While the fee rates remain unchanged, sellers must prepare for the operational adjustments required to manage continuous fee assessments. For those conducting significant inventory cleanups or managing aging stock, understanding and adapting to this new billing structure will be essential for maintaining smooth financial operations.