How to write an Amazon Plan of Action (POA)

When Amazon deactivates your account or removes one of your products, a Plan of Action (POA) is usually at the heart of the appeal. A strong POA explains what happened, what you have fixed and how you will prevent it from happening again, in concrete terms and backed by evidence. This guide covers the structure. It does not offer a ready-made template, because every POA has to respond to the specific notice you received.

Last reviewed: October 8, 2026

What does "Section 3" mean?

"Section 3" is the term and termination clause of the Business Solutions Agreement between Amazon and its sellers. Under this clause, Amazon can end the agreement with 30 days' notice. In certain cases, it can suspend or terminate an account immediately:

A material breach of the agreement that has not been cured within the cure period the agreement allows
Deceptive, fraudulent or illegal activity
Harm caused to others
An Account Health Rating (AHR) below the deactivation threshold
A legal requirement

Where to file an appeal

Under the agreement, Amazon commits to telling you why it terminated or suspended your account and what your appeal options are, unless doing so would hinder a fraud investigation. You start the appeal from the Account Health page in Seller Central.

According to Amazon employees answering questions in the seller forums, the appeal screen may, depending on the case, ask you to fill in a questionnaire, acknowledge the violation, take a short quiz or submit supporting documents or a Plan of Action. You respond to requests for additional documents through the appeal record on the same page. These details come from forum posts, not official rules. Always follow the instructions on your screen.

The three parts of a POA

Part	What it covers	Keep in mind
Root cause	Why the problem happened: which gap in your processes, sourcing or listings led to the violation?	Amazon names the violation in its notice; it is up to you to work out how it happened. Vague statements, or statements that blame Amazon, will not help.
Corrective actions	What you have already done to resolve the problem: listings removed, orders refunded, supplier replaced, and so on.	Be specific and include dates.
Preventive measures	The lasting changes you have made so the problem does not recur: checklists, training, supplier verification, regular audits.	Do not confuse these with corrective actions. This is a process change, not a one-off fix.

Supporting documents

Depending on the notice, Amazon may ask for invoices, supplier correspondence, a letter of authorization from the brand, business registration documents or a test report.
According to Amazon employees in the forums, invoices are rejected for reasons such as quantities that do not cover the last 365 days of sales, an invoice or supplier that cannot be verified, or documents that do not meet the stated requirements.
Documents must be genuine and verifiable. Amazon says it uses technology to detect forged documents during seller verification. Submitting false documents makes your situation permanently worse.

Common mistakes

Rushing an appeal without reading the full notice, and failing to address every point it raises.
Using generic templates found online. Amazon employees say vague, generic responses are unlikely to be accepted.
Simply saying "we fixed it" without identifying the root cause, or mixing up corrective and preventive actions.
Leaving out dates and an implementation plan.
Opening a new seller account while your case is under review. Amazon employees warn that this can lead to permanent deactivation.

Passwords, third parties and the agreement

The agreement prohibits sellers from sharing their account password with third parties, except as the agreement permits, and holds the seller responsible for all activity on the account. So do not share your password when you work with a consultant. If they need access, use Seller Central's user permissions.

In 2022, Amazon launched the Account Health Assurance program in the US and Canada to protect sellers who work with Amazon to resolve account health issues. The program's current terms are available in Seller Central.

For sellers in the US, Canada and Mexico, the agreement provides that disputes are resolved through individual arbitration. This is a legal remedy and should be assessed with a lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

What is a POA (Plan of Action)?

It is the action plan you submit with an account or listing appeal. It explains the root cause of the problem, the fixes you have made and the measures that will prevent it from happening again.

Can I use a ready-made POA template?

We do not recommend it. Amazon employees say generic, vague responses are unlikely to be accepted. Your POA should be written around the notice and the facts of your case.

If my appeal is rejected, can I appeal again?

Amazon does not publish an official limit on attempts. But resubmitting the same content without reading the reason for rejection and addressing the gaps rarely changes the outcome.

If I have someone write my POA, will my account be reinstated?

No one can guarantee that; the decision is Amazon's. A well-prepared POA helps ensure your case is assessed accurately.

Sources

This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources and a qualified professional before you act.

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