Deduction Codes & Dispute Guide
Walmart uses 20 deduction reason codes across 7 categories. Of these, 19 are typically disputable with proper documentation. The standard dispute window is 730 days from the deduction date.
Submit via APDP (Accounts Payable Dispute Portal) in Retail Link. Provide vendor code, claim code, invoice number, and supporting docs. Resolution typically takes ~45 days. One appeal allowed within 30 days of denial. Recommended to dispute within 45 days for best results.
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All known Walmart deduction reason codes with dispute guidance.
| Code | Name | Category | Disputable | Recovery | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | OTIF (On Time In Full) 3% of COGS on non-compliant cases. Target: 98% fill rate. Tracked monthly at case level. | compliance | Yes | medium | Dispute via OTIF app in Retail Link. Provide carrier BOL, delivery confirmation, and PO ship window proof. |
| 11 | Pricing Overcharge Price difference between PO and invoice. Common when cost changes mid-cycle. | pricing | Yes | high | Submit PO confirmation showing agreed price. Include any cost-change authorization. |
| 14 | Short/Damaged (Trailer Seal Intact) Shortage or damage discovered when trailer seal was intact at receiving. | logistics | Yes | high | Provide BOL, POD, seal number photos, and picker count sheets. |
| 22 | Goods Billed not Shipped Invoice for goods that were never shipped. Check ASN and BOL. | logistics | Yes | high | Provide ASN and carrier pickup confirmation showing goods were shipped. |
| 25 | No Merchandise Received for Invoice Full invoice with no corresponding receipt at Walmart. | logistics | Yes | high | Provide complete shipping documentation: BOL, POD, carrier tracking, ASN. |
| 30 | Duplicate Billing Same invoice submitted twice. | compliance | Yes | medium | Provide proof only one shipment was made. If truly duplicate, this is a valid deduction. |
| 40 | Routing Violation / Excessive Freight Used wrong carrier or route per Walmart routing guide. | logistics | Yes | high | Show routing guide was followed. Provide carrier selection documentation. |
| 42 | Backhaul / Pickup Allowance Walmart pickup allowance deduction. Verify pickup allowance terms. | logistics | Yes | high | Verify pickup allowance rate and whether pickup actually occurred. |
| 50 | Advertising Allowance Deduction for advertising program participation. | trade | Yes | medium | Verify ad program terms, dates, and items. Compare to signed agreement. |
| 51 | Promotional / Display Allowance Display or fixture promotional allowance deduction. | trade | Yes | medium | Verify display was set up as agreed. Request proof of display compliance. |
| 52 | Volume Allowance Volume-based discount. Verify purchase thresholds were actually met. | trade | Yes | medium | Request volume reports. Verify threshold and period. |
| 64 | Early Shipment Shipped before PO ship window. OTIF-related penalty. | compliance | Yes | medium | Provide carrier pickup date showing within window. Challenge DC appointment timing. |
| 65 | Late Shipment Shipped after PO ship window. OTIF-related penalty. | compliance | Yes | medium | Provide evidence of on-time shipment. Challenge carrier delay separately. |
| 66 | Markdown / Price Protection Price protection markdown allowance on existing inventory. | trade | Yes | medium | Verify markdown terms and inventory on hand at price change. |
| 73 | Duplicate Payment Walmart paid the same invoice twice. Legitimate recovery. | pricing | Yes | high | Check AR records. If both payments received, deduction is valid. |
| 80 | Cash Discount Standard early-pay cash discount taken by Walmart. | pricing | No | low | Rarely disputable. Verify discount terms match your agreement. |
| 87 | Other / Miscellaneous Catch-all code. Always investigate manually. Often requires research. | other | Yes | medium | Request detailed backup from Walmart AP. Do not accept without documentation. |
| 91 | Merchandise Destroyed / Damaged / Defective Quality issue with merchandise at Walmart. | quality | Yes | medium | Request inspection evidence and photos. File carrier claim if transit damage. |
| 92 | Merchandise Return (Overstock/Recall) Return of overstock or recalled product. | returns | Yes | medium | Verify return authorization was issued. Check if return was actually received. |
| 132 | Penalties and Fines General penalty for compliance violations. Investigate specific cause. | compliance | Yes | medium | Request specific violation details. Many fines can be disputed with documentation. |
Proactive steps to reduce deductions and improve compliance.
While the official window is 2 years, dispute within 45 days for the best recovery rate
OTIF (Code 99) is the single largest deduction category -- monitor your scorecard weekly
Target 98% OTIF to avoid the 3% of COGS penalty
Code 87 (Other) always warrants investigation -- request detailed backup
Sign up for Walmart OTIF app alerts in Retail Link
Track all Code 50-72 (trade) deductions against signed promotional agreements
Reconcile deductions weekly, not monthly -- Walmart moves fast
Stop spending hours on manual deduction research. AisleCore automatically matches deductions to promotions, flags invalid charges, and generates dispute documentation.