Return deadlines and auto-approval
TikTok auto-approves returns after a deadline. Here's how to stay ahead of it.
Last updated: 2026-04-25
TikTok gives UK sellers a limited window to review each return request. If you don't approve or reject before the deadline, TikTok auto-approves it in the buyer's favour.
The deadlines (UK)
UK TikTok Shop uses two value bands keyed on £100:
| Order value | Refund-only | Return-and-refund |
|---|---|---|
| < £100 | 2 business days | 2 business days |
| ≥ £100 | 4 business days | 4 business days |
Business days exclude weekends and TikTok-observed UK bank holidays (England + Wales calendar). If a return comes in Friday at 3pm UK time, the 2-business-day clock runs until Tuesday at 3pm UK time (skipping weekend); the 4-business-day clock runs until Thursday at 3pm.
How Foregrade helps
- Countdown timers on every pending return show exact time remaining
- Email alerts escalate at — for the 2-day band: 24h / 12h / 4h / 1h. For the 4-day band: 48h / 24h / 12h / 4h. (The first reminder is bigger on the 4-day band because there's more headroom.)
- Push notifications (optional) for urgent returns
- Morning Actions widget on the dashboard shows your 3 most urgent pending returns with inline approve/reject buttons
What happens if a return auto-approves?
- Buyer keeps the item and gets a full refund
- You lose the sale revenue AND the inventory
- TikTok charges the refund admin fee (20% of original referral, capped at £5)
- No appeal — once auto-approved, you can't reverse it
This is why the return alerts are the most valuable feature for most sellers. Missing even one auto-approval on a high-value order can cost more than a month of Foregrade.
Want faster or slower alerts?
Settings → Alerts lets you customise:
- Which escalation thresholds email you
- Quiet hours (e.g., no emails between 10pm–7am UK time)
- Timezone for the deadline display (the underlying clock always runs on TikTok Shop UK's business-day calendar)
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