Amazon Sales Tax Lawsuit: Are You Owed a Refund?
Active class actions allege Amazon collected more sales tax than state law allows — on third-party marketplace sales and on items that are legally tax-exempt.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Lawsuit Alleges
Multiple class actions filed in 2025–2026 allege Amazon systematically overcharges sales tax on marketplace purchases. In Duke v. Amazon (filed December 2025), a Tennessee shopper claims Amazon applied a 9.5% rate instead of the required 9.25% for his unincorporated county — a 0.25% overcharge Amazon allegedly refused to fix. A proposed nationwide class covers any U.S. consumer charged a higher-than-applicable rate on Amazon marketplace purchases since December 12, 2021. A second suit, Hopkins et al. v. Amazon (filed April 2, 2026), alleges Amazon charged Florida shoppers 7% sales tax on items Florida law exempts — including baby and toddler products, oral-hygiene products, and Energy Star appliances. Amazon denies wrongdoing in both cases.
Case Details
Duke v. Amazon.com Services LLC: filed in King County Superior Court, WA (No. 25-2-37599-4 SEA); retained in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington under CAFA (May 19, 2026). Hopkins et al. v. Amazon.com Inc. et al.: U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Case No. 2:26-cv-00930 (filed April 2, 2026).
Current Status
Who Is Affected & Can You Join?
Duke (Tennessee) case: any U.S. consumer who bought from a third-party seller on Amazon.com on or after December 12, 2021 and was charged a sales-tax rate higher than the rate legally applicable to their shipping address (proposed nationwide class). Hopkins (Florida) case: Florida residents who bought tax-exempt items on Amazon.com — baby products, items for children age 5 and under, oral-hygiene products, and Energy Star appliances — and were charged Florida's 7% tax, from March 18, 2021 to present. No claims process exists yet; class certification must occur first.
Is There a Payout?
Case Timeline
- 1
March 2025 — Plaintiff Notifies Amazon
A Tennessee shopper notifies Amazon of a sales-tax error on his county purchases. Amazon declines to correct the rate, which the shopper's lawyers argue contradicts Tennessee marketplace-facilitator law.
- 2
December 2025 — Class Action Filed in Washington
Attorneys file a proposed class action in King County Superior Court (No. 25-2-37599-4 SEA), alleging Amazon collected excess sales tax and was unjustly enriched. The proposed class covers any U.S. Amazon shopper overcharged since December 12, 2021.
- 3
April 2, 2026 — Florida Class Action Filed
Plaintiffs file a separate class action (No. 2:26-cv-00930, W.D. Wash.) alleging Amazon charged 7% Florida sales tax on legally exempt items — baby and toddler products, children's clothing, oral-hygiene items, and Energy Star appliances.
- 4
May 19, 2026 — Federal Court Retains Duke Case
A Seattle federal judge rules the Duke case will remain in the Western District of Washington, finding the aggregate value of class claims 'more likely than not' exceeds the $5 million CAFA threshold.
- 5
Mid-2026 — Both Cases in Early Litigation
Neither case has reached class certification or produced a settlement. Amazon denies wrongdoing in both. Next steps include discovery and class-certification motions.
Scam & Misinformation Warnings
Whenever a brand lawsuit goes viral, scam sites and bad actors follow. Watch for these red flags:
Fake 'Amazon Tax Refund' Websites and Emails
Scammers impersonate class-action administrators with phishing emails and copycat sites. There is currently no official claims website for either lawsuit — no settlement has been reached. Any site asking for your SSN, payment, or bank account to 'process your refund' is fraudulent.
Third-Party Claim Filers Charging Fees
Some companies advertise filing your Amazon tax claim for a fee. Because no settlement or claims process exists, these services have nothing real to file. Even in legitimate settlements, you never pay to submit a claim.
Confusion With the Amazon Prime FTC Settlement
A separate, real FTC settlement over Amazon Prime subscriptions began distributing refunds in late 2025–2026. Scammers piggyback on it to claim you are also owed a 'sales tax refund.' The Prime settlement has nothing to do with sales-tax overcharges, and the FTC never calls consumers directly about refunds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a claim for an Amazon sales tax refund right now?
No. Neither the Duke nor the Hopkins lawsuit has settled, and no official claims process exists as of mid-2026. If you believe Amazon overcharged sales tax on a specific order, you can contact Amazon Customer Service through your Order History and request a refund — Amazon has issued refunds in documented overcharge cases without litigation.
How would I know if Amazon overcharged me on sales tax?
Open an order in your Amazon Order History and click 'Invoice' or 'Order Summary' to see the tax rate charged, then compare it to the combined state + county + city rate for your delivery address (your state's Department of Revenue lists rates by ZIP). A mismatch — even a fraction of a percent — adds up across many purchases.
What is the Tennessee lawsuit about?
Plaintiff Cullen Duke, who lives in an unincorporated part of Sullivan County, Tennessee, alleges Amazon charged 9.5% sales tax on marketplace purchases when the correct rate is 9.25%. The lawsuit proposes a nationwide class of anyone overcharged in similar boundary situations since December 12, 2021.
What is the Florida lawsuit about, and who could be affected?
The Hopkins lawsuit alleges Amazon charged Florida's 7% sales tax on items Florida law exempts — baby products, strollers, cribs, clothing for children age 5 and under, oral-hygiene products, and Energy Star appliances. Florida residents who bought these on Amazon on or after March 18, 2021 and were charged tax may be included if the class is certified.
How long will these lawsuits take, and what might I receive?
Consumer class actions of this type typically take two to five years from filing to any settlement or verdict, assuming they survive certification. Individual recoveries in sales-tax overcharge cases tend to be modest (often a few dollars to tens of dollars), though attorneys may also seek to force Amazon to fix its tax calculations going forward.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.