TikTok US Shop Deposit Rules Undergo Major Update: No Longer Accumulated by Category, Replaced by Three-Tiered Comprehensive Calculation

[Ebrun Exclusive] July 12th - TikTok Shop US has implemented a significant update to its store deposit rules. The core change in this adjustment is a fundamental shift in the deposit calculation logic: moving away from the previous method of accumulating charges item-by-item based on business categories to a comprehensive, store-level assessment model. The total deposit under the new regulations is now composed of three parts: a base deposit, a category deposit, and a risk-scenario deposit.

The most immediate change is evident in the calculation method. Previously, if a merchant operated in multiple categories, the deposit often needed to be accumulated for each category individually. The more categories a merchant operated in, the higher the total deposit required. After this adjustment, the total deposit is uniformly calculated at the store level, formed by the sum of the base deposit, category deposit, and risk-scenario deposit.

Among these, the base deposit remains unchanged at $1,500, which serves as the entry threshold for cross-border POP (Platform Open Plan) merchants in the US region to commence normal operations.

Starting December 15, 2025, the deposit for US cross-border self-operated merchants has been increased from the previous $500 to $1,500, and both new and existing merchants must comply with this standard. Merchants can log into their Seller Center backend and view detailed information about their store deposit on the 'Deposit' page under the 'Finance' menu.

The category deposit is currently only levied on US cross-border shipping merchants.

Unlike the previous rule of accumulating fees for multiple categories, the platform now assesses the risk level based on the store's currently listed products and historical sales categories, applying the highest tier for calculation. This means that even if a store operates in multiple categories, it only needs to pay one category deposit based on the category with the highest risk level, rather than accumulating them item by item.

The risk-scenario deposit is more flexible, with amounts fluctuating between $500 and $10,000.

The platform will send a notification in advance when a top-up is required. Situations that trigger a risk scenario include, but are not limited to, delayed shipping, fraudulent shipping, poor customer service, suspected sales of counterfeit or substandard goods, and misuse of others' information. This implies that the more violations a store commits, the more it not only faces corresponding fines but also has an additional sum of funds locked.

According to TikTok Shop's official rules, when a merchant encounters specific situations, the platform has the right to directly deduct the corresponding amount from the store deposit.

There are seven types of situations that trigger deductions, including violation of applicable terms or contracts, breach of relevant laws and regulations, violation of platform rules, inability to fulfill service obligations, engaging in fraud or other dishonest acts, having a negative account balance during operation, and other violations or illegal acts.

Specific examples of platform deductions include merchants defrauding platform benefits, compensation required for consumers due to violations, losses or debts borne or advanced by the platform on behalf of the merchant, and negative balances generated during merchant operations causing financial losses to the platform.

For merchants who fail to pay the store deposit within the stipulated time, TikTok Shop reserves the right to restrict their sales permissions and terminate their access to the platform.

Other measures the platform may take include formal warnings, restrictions on product listings, order quantity limits, suspension or removal of product listings, temporary or permanent revocation of sales rights, suspension from participation in affiliate marketing and other activities, suspension from entering the TikTok marketplace, suspension of withdrawals, and temporary or permanent freezing of funds. This progressive enforcement mechanism provides the coercive force to ensure the implementation of the new deposit rules.

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