Amazon Appstore Payments

The Amazon Appstore provides numerous ways for you to earn money from your published apps. This page provides an overview to the different ways that you can monetize your Amazon Apps and discusses how to get paid for the royalties earned by your monetized apps.

To view your payments, log in to your developer account on the Developer Console, and select a Payment report from the Reporting tab.

For information on how to monetize your app, and a tutorial on how to set up payment information, watch the following video.

Monetizing your apps

You have several options for monetizing the apps that you list in the Amazon Appstore:

Download fee: Charge a fee for users to download the app.
In-App Purchasing: Offer items for sale within your app.
Merch by Amazon: Offer branded merchandise from within your app, such as t-shirts, for sale to your app's users.
Mobile Advertising: Monetize your app with Amazon Publisher Services (APS), where Amazon and other advertisers compete for your ad space.

Payments and VAT

The list price for an app includes any VAT or similar taxes. This price is displayed to end users (usually with a note that prices include VAT). VAT or similar taxes are subtracted from the list price for royalty calculation purposes.

For example, if you set the list price for your app as 1.15 Euros in one of the Amazon European marketplaces.

We display the price as 1.15 Euros to the end users of that Amazon Marketplace.
This price is inclusive of a 15% VAT. The system displays a note to indicate that all prices include VAT.
The list price for royalty calculation purposes is 1.00 Euro.

Receiving payments

With few exceptions, Amazon pays developers electronically. The method of electronic payment varies by country/region. The currency of your payment is determined by your bank's location.

Receiving payment for US-based developers

For US-based developers, Amazon will send you monthly payments for your apps' royalties. You will receive a separate payment for each marketplace in which your apps, software, or games are sold. If your balance due exceeds the payment threshold, Amazon will make payment approximately (a) 30 days after the end of the calendar month in which the revenue for a mobile app was generated, or (b) 45 days after the end of the calendar month in which the revenue was generated. For example, Amazon would make payment for mobile app revenue that occurred in April at the end of May, which is approximately 30 days after the end of April.

In the U.S., Amazon pays by electronic funds transfer (EFT), making payments when the balance due to you is more than $0.00.

Receiving payment for Japan-based developers

Developers in Japan can be paid electronically for domestic and international sales by wire or EFT by submitting their banking information. Note that banks in Japan may impose fees when receiving electronic payments.

To enter your banking information, sign in to your account on the Developer Console go to Settings > Payment Information. Select Yes to the question Do you plan to monetize apps?, and you will be prompted to indicate the location of your bank and to enter your banking information.

Receiving payment for other international developers

International developers in supported countries/regions can receive electronic payments from Amazon. Depending on your bank's location, you may be eligible for either direct deposit or wire payments. If your bank's location is not eligible for electronic payments or if you do not opt to be paid by electronic payments, your payment will be made by check. You will receive one check per marketplace, issued in the currency of sale. Checks for sales on our Japan, Brazil, and Australia marketplaces will be issued in U.S. dollars.

To determine if you are eligible for electronic payments, sign in to your account on the Developer Console and select your bank's location from the Where is your bank/financial institution? drop-down menu. Based on this selection, if electronic payment is available, you will be prompted to choose between electronic payment or check. You will receive a separate payment for each marketplace in which your apps are sold. For electronic payments, the currency of your payment is determined by your bank's location. Please consult your financial institution to determine if there are any fees associated with receiving electronic payments.

Prior to Amazon issuing a payment for a marketplace, the payment must meet the applicable threshold based on your payment type and the currency of that marketplace:

Direct Deposit*: $0 USD, €0 EUR, £0 GBP, ¥0 JPY, $0 CAD, or $R20 BRL
Wire: $100 USD, €100 EUR, £100 GBP, ¥10,000 JPY, or $100 CAD
Check: $100 USD, €100 EUR, £100 GBP, or $100 CAD

For sales on the Brazil marketplaces, the threshold for international Direct Deposit payments is based on a $100 USD equivalent for all developers outside of Brazil.

Provided your balance due exceeds the payment threshold, we will remit payment approximately (a) 30 days after the end of the calendar month in which the sale of a mobile app occurred, or (b) 45 days after the end of the calendar month in which the sale of digital software or a video game occurred. For example, we would remit payment for sales of mobile apps that occurred in April at the end of May , which is approximately 30 days after the end of April.

List prices for apps include any VAT or similar taxes that are included in the purchase price displayed to end users, but those taxes are excluded from the list price for royalty calculation purposes. For example, if the list price for your app for an Amazon marketplace is 1.15 Euros and we display prices to an end user of that Amazon Marketplace inclusive of a 15% VAT, the list price for royalty calculation purposes is 1.00 Euro.

Receiving payment by check

If you are not eligible for electronic payments, you will be paid by check in the currency of the Amazon marketplace where your apps are sold. You will receive one check per marketplace in which your apps are sold. Checks for sales on the Japan and Brazil marketplaces will be issued in US dollars.

Amazon Appstore Small Business Accelerator Program

The Amazon Appstore Small Business Accelerator Program offers an increased revenue share and AWS credits for developers earning less than 1 million USD in annual revenue.

If you are eligible for the program, your revenue share increases to 80/20 for all revenue earned from the Amazon Appstore. Additionally, you can receive Amazon Web Services (AWS) credits equivalent to 10% of your app revenue on Amazon devices.

For more details about the Small Business Accelerator Program, see Amazon Appstore Small Business Accelerator Program.

FAQ for payments and reporting

The following are frequently asked questions (FAQ) about payments and reporting.

Q: What is my revenue split with Amazon?: We'll pay you royalties as set out in the Amazon Developer Services Agreement.
Q: How much does Amazon charge for using its developer program?: The program is free. You pay nothing to create a developer account, use Amazon APIs, and submit apps.
Q: Can I list (or post) free apps?: Yes. You are welcome to give away free apps on Amazon.
Q: I plan to monetize the apps that I submit to the Amazon Appstore. Will I be taxed on my royalties from these apps? How do I set up my taxes for this?: You are responsible for collecting and remitting any taxes imposed on its sales of your apps to end users, but the Amazon Parties may also be required, depending on the country in which you are based, to deduct or withhold any applicable taxes that we may be legally obligated to deduct or withhold from amounts due, and the amounts due, as reduced by such deductions or withholdings, will constitute full payment to you. See Setting Up Taxes for Your App for more information.
Q: I am an International Developer. Will I still have to pay taxes?: Depending on your country/region of residence and where you sell your apps, you may be required to pay US or CA taxes. See Setting Up Taxes for Your App for more information.
Q: What is the Tax Identification Interview?: In order to comply with United States and Canada tax regulations, the Amazon Developer Services Portal requires you to complete US and CA tax identity interview for apps that are intended to generate royalties or other payments to you from Amazon. See Setting Up Taxes for Your App for more information.
Q: I'm registered for value-added, sales or similar taxes, how do I charge and collect such taxes on my Royalty payments to Amazon?: Royalty payments to developers are inclusive of all taxes. It is the developer's responsibility to determine and remit such taxes to the appropriate tax authority when and if applicable.
Q: Where can I find reports for my app?: Find the various reports for your app by clicking the Reporting tab of the Developer Console and then selecting a report type from the Reporting tab. See Reporting Overview.

Last updated: Aug 19, 2024