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Transaction holds

Funds from your eBay sales may be placed on hold until a transaction has been completed successfully, or while we confirm information about your account.

If funds from a recent transaction appear as On hold, it means that although the buyer has paid, the funds aren't yet available for payout.

In most cases, the funds are released from a hold after the buyer has received their item. To check the date when a payment is expected to be available, and for information on any payout holds, select the button below:

Check payment holds

Other types of payment holds

Available funds may be subject to a payout hold – typically, until an issue with your account is resolved. For more assistance if your payouts are showing as blocked, please see our page on getting paid.

If a buyer has reported a problem with an order, a payment dispute hold may be applied to your funds until the dispute or case is resolved. For more help, please see our pages on:

About transaction holds

A transaction hold means that funds from an item you sold have been placed on hold while we ensure the transaction is completed successfully. This helps keep eBay a safe marketplace for buyers and sellers, as well as meet legal and compliance obligations as described in the Payments Terms of Use - opens in new window or tab.

Transaction holds may be applied as a once-off for a specific order (for example, a high-priced item), or may apply to all of a seller's orders for a period of time (for example, new sellers or sellers who had a recent suspension).

In most cases, the hold is only in place to allow time for the buyer to receive their item and report any immediate issues. The funds on hold may be used to refund the buyer for the same transaction, if needed.

Confirming a buyer's received their item

For most orders, tracking information helps determine when funds can be released. Once the buyer's payment is confirmed, we recommend sending your item and uploading tracking within your handling time.

If you choose not to use a tracked service when sending your items, it will generally take longer to receive your funds. For local pickup items, scanning or entering the buyer's pickup code (QR code or 6-digit code) provides delivery confirmation.

Tip
You can use your On hold funds to buy postage labels on eBay. All services are fully tracked, and tracking is uploaded automatically.

When funds will be available

You can see when your funds will be released in Seller Hub - opens in new window or tab or My eBay - opens in new window or tab. However, your funds may be unavailable for longer if we have concerns about the order.

Here are some situations where transaction holds could be applied to a seller's funds and when those funds would typically be released.

A brand-new seller

New sellers will receive their funds 24 hours after delivery confirmation (for items sent with an eBay postage label), or 15 days after the order is placed (for all other postage methods) while they build a consistent track record.

See example - brand-new seller

Jesse and Rocky have a car parts and accessories business, and they recently decided to try selling on eBay. They send items with eBay postage labels, but they also offer freight delivery for large or heavy items.

While Jesse and Rocky are getting established on eBay, funds from each of their sales will show as On hold. For items sent with an eBay postage label, the funds will typically be available 24 hours after delivery confirmation. However, for freighted items, the funds won't be available until 15 days after the order is placed.

An occasional seller

Sellers who haven't yet established a strong, consistent track record or who don't have any recent selling history will receive their funds 24 hours after delivery confirmation (for tracked items), or 31 days after the order is placed (for items sent without tracking).

See examples - occasional sellers

Kathy needs to make space in her wardrobe, so she chooses a dress and a couple of shirts to list on eBay. Because Kathy only sells from time to time, funds from each of her sales will typically show as On hold until 24 hours after delivery has been confirmed.

Kathy uses an eBay postage label to send the dress, so tracking is uploaded automatically. Kathy can see the package's status, and 24 hours after delivery confirmation, her funds are showing as Available.

Hakim decides to list his old mountain bike on eBay. Since Hakim hasn't sold anything for over a year, funds from each of his sales will typically show as On hold until 24 hours after delivery confirmation.

The person who bought the bike comes round to pick it up and Hakim scans their QR pickup code using the eBay app on his phone. That confirms delivery, so he just has to wait another 24 hours for the funds to become Available.

Following an account suspension or restriction

Sellers who were restricted or suspended will experience transaction holds for the 30 days after the restriction or suspension is lifted, while we confirm that the items have been successfully delivered. Funds for each of these orders will be available 24 hours after delivery confirmation (for tracked items), or 31 days after the order is placed (for items sent without tracking).

See example - following an account suspension or restriction

Ricky's account was temporarily restricted because he hadn't followed eBay listing policies. For the first 30 days after his restriction is lifted, funds from each of his sales will typically show as On hold until 24 hours after delivery confirmation.

Unusual sales from a regular seller

When we notice unusual selling activity on an account, funds for each of a seller's future orders will become available 3 days after delivery confirmation or 31 days after the order is placed. This helps ensure everything goes smoothly during a period of change, rapid growth in a seller's business, or if a seller is experiencing challenges that affect their buyers' experience. Once we've seen ongoing confirmation of successful deliveries, the seller will no longer experience these holds.

See examples - unusual sales from a regular seller

Gary runs an eBay store selling gardening tools. He recently injured his back and was out of action for a week. This led to delays in sending out orders and some of his buyers reported not receiving their items.

Because these poor buyer experiences are uncharacteristic for Gary, the funds from each of his new orders are placed on hold until 2 days after delivery confirmation. Then, assuming the buyer hasn't reported any problems, Gary will see the funds in his Available balance within the next 24 hours.

Once we've seen ongoing confirmation of successful deliveries, Gary won't experience these holds any longer.

Talia has spent the last few years crafting her own line of makeup bags. She's consistently been selling a few items per week on eBay, then one of her bags receives a positive review from a popular beauty influencer. Her business takes off.

Because of this large spike in sales, the funds for each of Talia's new orders will be placed on hold until 2 days after delivery confirmation. Then, assuming the buyer hasn't reported any problems, she'll receive the funds in her Available balance within the next 24 hours.

Once we've seen ongoing confirmation of successful deliveries, Talia won't experience these holds any longer.

High-priced items

For certain high-priced items, funds from the order will be placed on hold for 31 days after the transaction date to give the buyer enough time to report any issues after they've received and inspected the item.

See example - high-priced item

Gillian is an experienced eBay seller with a wide range of collectable action figures and vintage comic books in her store. She recently had an exciting auction for a rare comic in near-mint condition which sold for nearly double the start price. Gillian has a solid selling history, but it's important to make sure this high-priced transaction goes smoothly.

The funds from the order are placed on hold for 30 days from the sale date. After that, assuming the buyer hasn't reported any issues, the funds will become available for payout within the next 24 hours.

A seller who doesn't consistently upload tracking

To help ensure buyers receive valid tracking details, we monitor how many of a seller's orders have tracking uploaded after a tracked delivery service was selected. Sellers who have a valid tracking performance - opens in new window or tab of less than 95% may have funds from their orders placed on hold until a tracking scan from the carrier shows that the item is on its way to the buyer. If no valid tracking is uploaded, funds will be held until 3 days after the latest estimated delivery date has passed.

Holds won't apply to orders where the selected delivery option was local pickup or one of following services:

  • Australia Post Domestic Regular Letter Untracked
  • Australia Post Domestic Priority Letter Untracked
  • Australia Post International Economy Sea
  • Australia Post International Economy Air
  • International Economy: untracked

See example - valid tracking performance

Sean sells stamps on eBay. He often combines postage when buyers purchase multiple stamps, but doesn't always add the tracking information to every one of the stamps in the order. This means his valid tracking performance works out to about 70%.

Because Sean’s uploading tracking for less than 95% of his tracked orders, he’ll experience holds on every one of his tracked orders. He starts ensuring that the tracking number is added to each item in the parcel. Once his tracking upload rate is 95% or more, he’ll stop experiencing these holds.

Items purchased through Authenticity Guarantee

The funds for items sold with Authenticity Guarantee will be held until the item has been inspected. Once the item is on its way from the authentication centre to the buyer, funds will be available in 24 hours. If the item doesn't pass the inspection, the funds will be held for up to 31 days until the refund and return are resolved. We'll reach out to the seller with more information about the next steps.

See example - Authenticity Guarantee

Parvati bought a designer handbag for a great price at an op shop, and she's decided to resell it on eBay to make some extra cash. The handbag is eligible for Authenticity Guarantee, so when it sells, she sends it to eBay's authentication centre. Once the bag passes inspection and is sent to the buyer, Parvati will receive the funds in her Available balance within 24 hours.

Extended transaction holds

If we have concerns about an order while it's on its way to the buyer, the funds may be unavailable for longer. Reasons could include discrepancies in tracking information, issues with a seller's account, or simply allowing extra time for the buyer to review their purchase.

If additional action is required from you before held funds can be released, we'll put a banner on your account and contact you through Messages - opens in new window or tab in My eBay with information on how to resolve the issue.

To minimise hold times for funds from your orders, make sure you've uploaded tracking. Funds for most tracked orders become available a few days after the item's delivered.

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