TikTok Ads refund policy (2025): what you can—and can’t—get back

If you run TikTok campaigns, you’ve probably wondered what happens to unspent balances, what qualifies for a cash refund, and whether you can get money back for ad delivery problems or invalid traffic. The short answer: TikTok will refund unspent balances on eligible ad accounts, typically after you close the account, but it does not offer refunds for spend that has already delivered except in narrow, case‑by‑case situations handled by support. We’ll translate TikTok’s official help‑center language into plain English, show you the exact steps for each account type, and explain how to prevent refund headaches altogether by stopping invalid traffic at the source.

According to Spider AF's 2025 Ad Fraud White Paper, the average ad fraud rate across measured traffic in 2024 was 5.1%, with some networks peaking at 46.9% invalid activity—budget that never had a real chance to convert.  That is why the most reliable “refund” is the money you never waste: proactively filtering bots, click farms, and low‑quality placements before they spend.

This guide covers:

• What TikTok officially refunds and what it doesn’t, including timelines and tax treatment.
• The path to request refunds for Business Center vs standalone Ads Manager accounts and suspended accounts.
• The fine print on promo ad credits (non‑cash).
• Practical prevention: how Spider AF’s PPC Protection integrates with TikTok to cut invalid clicks and give you auditable evidence when you do need to escalate a claim.

TikTok’s refund policy in plain English

1) What TikTok will refund

• Unspent ad account balance for accounts in good standing that use Manual or Automatic payment. Taxes already paid are excluded.
• For Business Center–owned ad accounts, you can transfer the balance to other accounts instead of requesting a refund; if you want cash back, you must close all linked ad accounts and have TikTok issue the refund to the original payment method.
• Timeline: TikTok says you should receive eligible refunds within ~60 days once bank info is correct.

2) What TikTok won’t refund

• Delivered/expected spend just because performance was poor or you changed your mind. TikTok’s policy guidance (example: Polish help page) states it does not refund expected ad spending and generally only refunds unspent balances when you close in good standing.
• Taxes associated with prior payments.
• Promotional ad credits as cash; these are time‑limited and governed by separate terms.

3) Payment setups that affect refunds

TikTok supports Manual, Automatic, and Monthly Invoicing billing. Eligibility and workflows differ by setup, and unspent‑balance refunds apply to Manual and Automatic payment accounts.

Step‑by‑step: how to request a refund

A) Standalone ad accounts (not in Business Center)

1. Log in as Admin to TikTok Ads Manager.
2. Go to Tools → Account setup → Basic information → More actions.
3. Select Close Account and Refund. The account will be closed and the unspent balance refunded to your original payment method; expect up to 60 days.

B) Ad accounts owned by a Business Center

• Prefer to keep funds? Use Payment Management to transfer balances across accounts in the same Business Center.
• Want cash back instead? Close all ad accounts in that Business Center and contact your TikTok sales rep or support to initiate the refund to the original payment method.

C) Suspended ad accounts

• You cannot self‑process refunds. Contact your account manager or customer support; TikTok says it evaluates requests and makes a “reasonable determination” case‑by‑case.

D) If something goes wrong

• Update bank details and re‑submit; TikTok indicates refunds usually arrive within ~60 days once banking info is correct. If not, open a support ticket.
• You can view Refund Information in Tools → Account setup → Payment → Summary → Refund Information.

E) Promotional credits are not cash

• Ad Credits are governed by separate, time‑limited T&Cs and aren’t cash‑refundable. Plan to use them before expiry.

“Can I get a refund for click fraud or invalid traffic?”

TikTok publicly notes that it uses first‑party and third‑party solutions to address Invalid Traffic (IVT), aiming to protect performance data. But refund eligibility for delivered spend is not guaranteed; issues are handled via support, and self‑serve policy pages do not promise credits for IVT.

This is where prevention matters:

• Spider AF PPC Protection automatically detects and blocks invalid clicks via IP and audience exclusions and supports major networks, including TikTok Ads. That reduces the chance you’ll ever need a refund and gives you robust logs and evidence if you do escalate a claim.
• According to Spider AF's 2025 Ad Fraud White Paper, advertisers faced 5.1% average ad fraud, and some networks spiked to 46.9%—numbers that can quickly erode ROAS if left unchecked.

Prevention playbook: spend less time asking for refunds

1) Block invalid clicks in real time

Install Spider AF’s script and enable hourly blocklists so known bad actors don’t see your ads. This keeps TikTok’s delivery signals clean and protects budgets.

2) Keep your billing setup tidy

Ensure your payment method and bank info are current to avoid processing delays for any legitimate refunds.

3) Maintain evidence

When you suspect IVT, export invalid click logs and campaign reports to document timestamps, IPs, devices, placements, and any sudden anomaly—data you can share with support.

4) Safeguard post‑click data and forms

If you collect leads from TikTok, lock down client‑side scripts and forms. Spider AF SiteScan continuously monitors third‑party JavaScript, flags tampering, and aligns with PCI DSS v4.0.1 client‑side security expectations.

FAQs

Do I have to close my account to get a refund?

• Standalone Ads Manager account: Yes, the refund flow closes the ad account.
• Business Center: To get cash back you must close all associated ad accounts, otherwise consider transferring the balance internally.

How long do refunds take?

TikTok indicates up to ~60 days after correct banking info is on file.

Will TikTok refund taxes?

No. Refunds exclude previously paid taxes.

Can I get cash for unused promo credits?

No. Ad Credits are promotional, time‑limited, and not cash‑refundable.

Conclusion

TikTok’s refund rules are straightforward: you can retrieve unspent balances on eligible accounts, but delivered spend is rarely refundable. Build a process that minimizes risk and preserves evidence, and you’ll almost never need to open a ticket. For that, Spider AF is your best safety net: block bots and click farms automatically, clean up placements, and keep auditable logs your team can rely on.

Recommended Spider AF product

PPC Protection – stop invalid clicks across Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok, and more. Start your free trial today: https://spideraf.com/ppc-protection

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