TikTok Shop Updates Refund and Postage Fraud Rules
TikTok Shop has updated requirements for managing returns, shipping fees, and postage fraud, clarifying review procedures for in-transit returns and shipping-fee treatment for buyer-responsibility returns.
What are the key facts?
- 1In-transit returns must show delivery confirmation
- 2Prepaid shipping fees are not refunded for buyer-responsibility returns
- 3Postage fraud enforcement expanded
What happened?
TikTok Shop published policy updates in July 2026 covering in-transit returns, prepaid shipping fees, and postage fraud governance. For return claims involving packages that buyers did not receive or that are still in transit, the platform requires the relevant packages to show formal delivery confirmation before the claims enter the applicable review process. For returns determined to be the buyer’s responsibility, the platform will no longer refund the prepaid shipping fee paid by the buyer at checkout. At the same time, the platform has expanded enforcement against postage fraud, or UPO violations, to cover both cross-border and local sellers. The policy focuses on shipping labels, package transportation, and return documentation. Non-compliant stores may face traffic restrictions or removal from the platform.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
TikTok Shop is making refund handling and logistics authenticity key areas of store governance. Sellers cannot focus only on sales volume while overlooking shipping labels and return evidence. Using non-compliant logistics or processing in-transit returns prematurely may trigger fee disputes and account penalties. Highest priority: Audit all logistics channels, shipping labels, and delivery records this week, and consistently retain traceable return documentation.