Brand Authorization Letters

Why standard reseller invoices get rejected for counterfeit violations, and how to structure a formal Letter of Authorization (LOA) for immediate acceptance by TikTok Shop's legal review team.

1. Why Standard Invoices Get Rejected

Most authorized resellers submit generic purchase invoices from their suppliers, expecting TikTok to accept them as proof of authenticity. However, ByteDance's legal compliance desk requires a **formal Brand Authorization Letter (BAL)** that specifically authorizes sales on TikTok Shop Global Hubs. Generic Amazon or eBay authorization letters will be automatically rejected.

2. The TikTok Shop BAL Requirements

To satisfy TikTok's legal review, your Brand Authorization Letter must include:

• Official Brand Letterhead: The BAL must be on the brand owner's official letterhead with a verifiable domain email address.
• TikTok Shop Global ID: The letter must specifically mention "TikTok Shop" or "ByteDance e-commerce platforms" - generic marketplace authorizations are insufficient.
• Duration of Authorization: The letter must state the authorization period (e.g., "valid for 12 months" or "ongoing").
• Product Line Authorization: The BAL must list the specific product categories or SKUs authorized for sale.
• Authorized Seller Information: The letter must match your Seller Center business name and tax ID exactly.

3. Common Rejection Reasons

TikTok's OCR system rejects BAL submissions for several technical reasons:

• Entity Name Mismatch: If your Seller Center profile says "ABC LLC" but the BAL says "ABC Corporation," the system flags it as fraudulent.
• Missing Platform Specification: Generic "authorized to sell on e-commerce platforms" language is rejected. The letter must explicitly mention TikTok Shop.
• Expired Authorization: If the BAL has no expiration date or shows an expired date, TikTok requires a renewal letter.
• Unverifiable Contact: The brand owner's contact information must be verifiable through their official website domain.

4. How to Structure a Winning BAL

Our remediation protocol involves drafting a template that satisfies all TikTok Shop requirements:

• Header Section: Brand owner's official letterhead with registered business name and address.
• Authorization Statement: Explicit language: "This letter authorizes [Your Business Name] to sell [Product Categories] on TikTok Shop and all ByteDance e-commerce platforms."
• Validity Period: Clear start and end dates, or "ongoing until revoked in writing."
• Contact Verification: Brand owner's official email from their domain (e.g., [email protected]).
• Digital Signature: A verifiable digital signature or notarized physical signature scan.