seller
- What changed
- eBay balance becomes default; scheduled payouts reset to on-demand
- When
- Effective November 4, 2026
- Who it affects
- Eligible US individual and business sellers
- What to do
- Reset your payout schedule in Seller Hub after enrollment
Key takeaways
- eBay balance becomes the default for eligible US sellers on November 4, 2026.
- Scheduled payouts reset to on-demand, so sellers must set them again.
- The US currency conversion charge rose to 3.25% on October 14.
eBay payment changes this autumn
US currency conversion charge rises to 3.25%
New Payments Terms and balance T&Cs published
eBay balance becomes default; payouts reset
Sellers restore their payout schedule
What eBay changed
Value Added Resource reported that eBay announced the change on October 20 through updated Payments Terms and new US eBay balance Terms and Conditions, which replace the Spendable Funds agreement. From November 4, Spendable Funds becomes the eBay balance program and the default for eligible US sellers in good standing. Sellers registered in New Mexico are excluded.
Your payout schedule will reset
This is the part most likely to hurt cash flow. Sellers on daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly payouts are moved to on-demand withdrawals and must restore their preferred schedule after enrollment. Settings live in Seller Hub under Payments, Summary, in the Your Preferences section. Weekly, biweekly and monthly schedules can be combined with on-demand withdrawals, but choosing daily disables on-demand. Funds left unclaimed must be sent to your bank within 330 days of your most recent sale if you made no withdrawal in that time.
Holds, limits and interest
The new terms replace fixed spending caps of $2,000 per transaction or per 24 hours and $5,000 over 30 days with dynamic limits eBay can raise, lower or waive. Funds On Hold are no longer counted in the balance until they become Processing or Available, and eBay has not explained whether that wording changes sellers' rights to held proceeds. eBay can also deduct amounts owed directly from the balance and freeze payouts for fraud, risk or compliance reasons.
Balance funds earn sellers no interest, are not bank deposits and are not eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance. eBay can pool and invest seller funds and keep any interest, a provision unchanged from 2023. There is no opt-out without closing the eBay account.
Spendable Funds vs eBay balance
| Before | From Nov 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Opt-in only | ||
| Default for eligible US sellers | ||
| Fixed $2,000 and $5,000 caps | ||
| Dynamic spending limits |
Per Value Added Resource reading of eBay's new terms
Identity verification comes first
Enrollment follows identity verification, at the first sale for new sellers and at the next qualifying sale for existing ones. Sellers who fail verification cannot receive payouts, so make sure business details, bank information and ID documents in your account are current before November.
Another eBay cost change to note
Separately, eBay raised its seller currency conversion charge for US and Canada registered sellers from 3% to 3.25% from October 14, 2026. eBay's US fee page now lists 3.25%. It applies when eBay converts funds, for example when you list or sell on another eBay site in a different currency. The international fee of 1.65% still applies to sales delivered outside the US unless you use eBay International Shipping.
A short checklist before November 4
Run through these steps so payouts do not stall during the holiday rush.
- Confirm identity and bank details in Seller Hub
- Note your current payout schedule
- Reset the schedule after enrollment
- Withdraw funds you do not need on platform
- Check cross-border listings for the 3.25% charge
- Update cash flow forecasts for payout timing
What PPC Spider recommends this week
Treat payout timing as a cash flow risk going into Q4, especially if you fund inventory or ad spend from eBay sales. Our guide to Amazon seller cash flow applies to any marketplace, and our eBay seller account setup guide covers the basics. More updates are on the marketplace news channel, and our free audit reviews Amazon margins alongside other channels.
Sources
- Value Added Resource: eBay Makes Seller Balance Mandatory, Resets Payout Schedules In November Update (valueaddedresource.net/ebay-balance-automatic-enrollment/)
- Value Added Resource: eBay Quietly Raises Currency Conversion Fees (valueaddedresource.net/ebay-raises-currency-conversion-fees/)
- eBay: Selling fees (ebay.com/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/selling-fees?id=4822)
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