Guide
TikTok Shop Violation Points: The Complete Guide
How TikTok Shop violation points work, the categories that trigger them, and how creators can avoid strikes and account bans.
What are TikTok Shop violation points?
TikTok Shop uses a points-based enforcement system. Each policy violation adds points to your seller or affiliate account, and once you cross a threshold, TikTok restricts commissions, hides content, or bans the account outright. Points expire on a rolling window, but repeat offenses stack quickly.
TikTok Shop violation point values by category (2026)
TikTok assigns different point values depending on severity. Minor infractions earn 1–2 points; serious violations (medical claims, counterfeit products) earn 4–6 points per incident.
| Violation category | Points | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Disclosure failures | 1–2 | Missing #ad, no affiliate disclosure, hidden sponsorship |
| Misleading content | 2–4 | Exaggerated results, fake before/after, fabricated reviews |
| Platform circumvention | 2–4 | Off-platform links, contact info in video, steering buyers off TikTok |
| Intellectual property | 2–4 | Unlicensed brand logos, trademarked terms, copyrighted audio |
| False medical/health claims | 4–6 | "Cures", "treats", guaranteed weight loss, FDA-style disease claims |
| Prohibited products | 4–6 | Weapons, counterfeit goods, supplements with drug claims |
Content violations: specific examples that earn points
- Medical guarantees: "This supplement will cure your joint pain" — 4–6 points
- Fake testimonials: Using someone else's results as your own — 2–4 points
- False urgency: "Price goes up tomorrow" when it doesn't — 2 points
- Missing #ad: Paid partnership with no disclosure — 1–2 points
- Competitor mention: Disparaging a rival brand by name — 2 points
Product listing violations: point values
- Incorrect category listing: 1–2 points per SKU
- Misleading product description: 2–4 points
- Counterfeit or replica goods: 4–6 points (often immediate suspension)
- Prohibited ingredients not disclosed: 4–6 points
What happens at 12, 24, and 48 points?
12 points — First threshold
Content demotion, reduced commission eligibility on flagged videos. Account remains active.
24 points — Second threshold
Commission payments paused on all content. New content upload restrictions. Formal review triggered.
48 points — Suspension
Account suspended. All affiliate links deactivated. Appeal process required to reinstate.
Do TikTok Shop violation points expire?
Yes — TikTok uses a rolling 365-day window. Points earned more than 12 months ago are dropped from your total automatically. However, severe violations (counterfeit products, repeated health claim violations) may result in a permanent flag on the account that persists beyond the rolling window.
The expiry is calendar-based, not behavior-based. You cannot "earn back" points through good behavior — you wait for old points to age off, or appeal to have erroneous violations reversed.
How to appeal a TikTok Shop violation point decision
TikTok allows one appeal per violation within 30 days of the decision. The appeal must be submitted through the TikTok Seller Center → Violations → Appeal flow. Key rules:
- Appeals are capped at 800 characters — be specific, not defensive
- Reference the policy section you believe was applied incorrectly
- Attach evidence: edited video, policy excerpt, or third-party lab test for supplement claims
- TikTok resolves most appeals within 5–7 business days
A successful appeal removes the points. An unsuccessful one does not add more — so appealing is always worth attempting for violations you believe were incorrect.
Violation points vs. account health score — not the same thing
Violation points and your TikTok Shop account health score are two separate systems that interact but are not equivalent.
- Violation points: count-based, automatically assigned per policy breach, accumulate on a 12-month rolling window
- Account health score: composite score based on content quality, engagement, return rate, and violation history — displayed as a percentage or letter grade in some markets
Accumulating violation points lowers your account health score, but a clean points record doesn't automatically mean a high health score. High return rates, low engagement, or poor fulfillment (for sellers) all drag the score down independently of violations.
How to avoid violation points
The fastest fix is to catch risky phrasing before you press record. BanProof AI audits your script or video in seconds — paste your text, or upload an MP4/MOV file and BanProof transcribes and scans it automatically. Every flagged phrase gets a safe, high-converting rewrite so you keep your account and your commissions.
Already have points on your account? Use the appeal assistant to generate a professional, policy-aligned appeal letter within TikTok's 800-character limit.