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Package rating: Not assessedTechnologyHQ: Washington

Amazon Severance Package: 2026 Guide

Amazon's January 2026 announcement describes a 90-day internal search period for most affected US employees. Cash formula and equity terms were not published.

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📅Updated for 2026
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🇺🇸All 50 States

The calculator uses this site's industry and role model assumptions. Its illustrative estimates are separate from Amazon-confirmed event facts and do not establish an Amazon offer, policy or payment.

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Amazon: published facts and unknown terms

The checked October 2025 and January 2026 Amazon announcements describe transition support but do not publish a numeric severance formula, minimum, cap or equity treatment.

Selected claims checked 2026-10-28. This is a check of the linked announcements and filing, not confirmation of current policy, every layoff, individual terms or state law.

28 October 2025 corporate role announcement

Population and scope
Approximately 14,000 corporate roles; the internal search period applied to most affected employees, with local timing variation.
What the source confirms
Amazon described 90 days to look for another internal role and transition support for people leaving.
What it does not establish
  • The announcement does not establish paid or non-working status throughout the search period.
  • It does not publish an individual cash formula, minimum, cap, equity treatment or coverage duration.
Primary source
Selected claims checked
2026-10-28

28 January 2026 organisational update

Population and scope
Approximately 16,000 roles affected; most affected US-based employees were offered the stated search period. International timing varied.
What the source confirms
Amazon described 90 days to seek another internal role, followed by severance, outplacement and applicable health-insurance support for people leaving.
What it does not establish
  • The search period alone does not establish 90 days of paid, non-working notice or additional severance.
  • The statement does not publish a cash schedule, benefit value or duration, equity retention or acceleration, bonus or PTO treatment.
Primary source
Selected claims checked
2026-10-28

FY2025 company-wide severance accounting

Population and scope
Year ended 31 December 2025, across business segments; no matched individual payout cohort is supplied.
What the source confirms
Amazon reported approximately $2.7 billion in annual severance expense, including $1.8 billion in Q3 and $730 million in Q4.
What it does not establish
  • Accounting expense is not a record of individual cash receipts and cannot be divided by these announced roles to establish an average payout.
  • It does not establish a particular employee's cash, award vesting, forfeiture or internal-transfer outcome.
Primary source
Selected claims checked
2026-10-28

SeveranceCalc is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Our calculators and reports are educational estimates only. Only a licensed employment attorney in your state can advise you on your specific legal rights.

Keep the model example separate from your offer

Site example: $160,000 annual salary ÷ 52 × 5 years × 3 weeks per year = approximately $46,154 gross. The salary and technology rate are product assumptions, not an observed Amazon salary, cash formula or offer. The calculator also uses role assumptions.

These figures are estimates, a starting point, not a final figure. Your actual package may be higher or lower, and negotiation can move an offer in either direction, including not at all.

Have an offer? Organise the cash, dates, health, award and restriction terms you report, with questions to check. A reported cash offer can be compared with the site model; without one, the report focuses on preparation. It does not verify Amazon policy or review an uploaded agreement.

Free to complete. The full report is a one-time paid purchase, offered after your free preview.

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Amazon: selected dated role announcements

These entries describe selected announced roles and historical support statements. They are not a complete record of actual separations or later changes and do not establish individual severance payments.

DateAnnounced rolesDetails
January 202318,000Historical announcement of a plan covering more than 18,000 roles across November and January, with separation and transition support. This does not establish later cash or equity terms.
October 202514,000Approximately 14,000 corporate roles announced. Amazon described an internal search opportunity of 90 days for most affected employees, subject to local timing, and transition support. Paid or non-working status and a numeric cash formula were not published in the statement.
January 202616,000Approximately 16,000 roles affected in this announcement. Most affected US-based employees were offered 90 days to seek another internal role, with international timing variation. Severance, outplacement and applicable health support were described without a numeric cash schedule or equity terms.

Sources: Amazon workforce update, 28 October 2025, Amazon organisational update, 28 January 2026, Amazon FY2025 Form 10-K, filed 6 February 2026, Amazon historical role updates, January and March 2023

Amazon Severance Tax and Withholding

Amazon is headquartered in Washington. State and local treatment can depend on residency, work history and how the payment is allocated under the applicable rules. An employer's headquarters or a remote-work address alone does not establish a personal tax rate. Payroll and a qualified tax professional can confirm the methods and amounts.

Federal withholding
IRS methods
State and local treatment
Depends on facts
Final income tax
Individual return

Illustrative gross estimate: Using 5 years of service, the assumed $160,000 salary input and the site's 3-weeks-per-year technology assumption produces $46,154 before withholding or deductions. This is not a company offer or a net-payment estimate. These figures are estimates, a starting point, not a final figure. Your actual package may be higher or lower, and negotiation can move an offer in either direction, including not at all.

This page provides general educational information, not legal, financial, or tax advice. Tax and payroll rules change, and individual circumstances determine final liability. Verify current rules with official sources and consult a qualified tax professional about your situation; consult a licensed employment attorney for questions about an agreement or your legal rights.

Sources checked 21 October 2026: IRS Publication 15; New York residency and telecommuting; California residency and source income.

See full Washington severance laws & calculator →

The site model is not an Amazon package comparison

The calculator uses this site's industry and role model assumptions. Its illustrative estimates are separate from Amazon-confirmed event facts and do not establish an Amazon offer, policy or payment.

Technology model inputs: lower 2, middle 3, upper 4 weeks per service year, before role adjustments. These are unvalidated product assumptions, not an empirical Amazon distribution.

Amazon package rating: Not assessed. The peer profiles below have separate evidence limits and were not rechecked in this Amazon source review.

Other Technology Companies

CompanyDated source contextRating
Meta (Facebook)Meta’s November 2022 U.S. announcement described 16 weeks’ base pay plus two weeks per service year without a cap. These are historical event terms.Not assessed
Google (Alphabet)Google’s January 2023 U.S. announcement described starting severance of 16 weeks’ salary plus two weeks for each additional service year. It does not establish a current company schedule.Not assessed
MicrosoftMicrosoft’s January 2023 announcement described support for affected U.S.-benefit-eligible employees, but did not give a numerical cash schedule.Not assessed
IntuitCurrent employer policy and individual package terms are not verified here.Not assessed
AppleCurrent employer policy and individual package terms are not verified here.Not assessed
NetflixCurrent employer policy and individual package terms are not verified here.Not assessed
SalesforceSalesforce’s January 2023 letter described a minimum of nearly five months of pay for affected U.S. employees, with health insurance, career resources and other support.Not assessed
X (Twitter)Current employer policy and individual package terms are not verified here.Not assessed

See full Technology severance guide →

Questions for the actual Amazon offer documents

The checked announcements do not establish which individual terms can be changed or any expected improvement. The actual offer, award documents and applicable rules are needed; a licensed employment attorney in the relevant state can review document-specific legal questions.

  • Which dated event, country and employment terms does this offer concern?
  • What are the separately stated internal-search, employment-end, signing and payment dates?
  • What cash amount is offered, and how is it separated from wages, benefits or any overlapping payments?
  • What do the actual award and offer documents say about vesting conditions, separation and any internal move?
  • What health support is specified, including payer, value, duration and conditions?
  • Which bonus, PTO, release and restriction terms remain unknown or need document-specific review?
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Reviewing a Amazon agreement?

Use your estimate as a starting point, not a final answer. Releases of claims, stock equity, short deadlines, and layoffs involving protected rights all need closer review.

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Amazon Severance FAQ

How much severance does Amazon pay?▼

The checked October 2025 and January 2026 Amazon announcements describe transition support but do not publish a numeric severance formula, minimum, cap or equity treatment.

Can I negotiate my Amazon severance?▼

The checked announcements do not establish which individual terms can be changed or any expected improvement. The actual offer, award documents and applicable rules are needed; a licensed employment attorney in the relevant state can review document-specific legal questions.

How is Amazon severance taxed?▼

Severance is generally treated as wages for federal income-tax withholding and Social Security and Medicare taxes. For separately identified supplemental wages up to $1 million in the calendar year, the optional 22% method requires income tax to have been withheld from regular wages in the current or previous calendar year; an aggregate method may apply instead. Mandatory 37% withholding applies to the portion above $1 million, counting employers under common control. Withholding is not the final income-tax bill. State and local treatment can depend on residency, work history and how the payment is allocated under the applicable rules. An employer's headquarters or a remote-work address alone does not establish a personal tax rate. Payroll and a qualified tax professional can confirm the methods and amounts.

Related Technology Companies

Meta (Facebook)
Meta’s November 2022 U.S. announcement described 16 weeks’ base pay plus two weeks per service year without a cap. These are historical event terms.
Not assessed
Google (Alphabet)
Google’s January 2023 U.S. announcement described starting severance of 16 weeks’ salary plus two weeks for each additional service year. It does not establish a current company schedule.
Not assessed
Microsoft
Microsoft’s January 2023 announcement described support for affected U.S.-benefit-eligible employees, but did not give a numerical cash schedule.
Not assessed
Intuit
Current employer policy and individual package terms are not verified here.
Not assessed
Apple
Current employer policy and individual package terms are not verified here.
Not assessed
Netflix
Current employer policy and individual package terms are not verified here.
Not assessed

What to Do If You're Laid Off from Amazon

The linked announcements do not establish your offer, signing period, benefit value or legal position. The actual documents and applicable rules are needed.

  • Which dated event, country and employment terms does this offer concern?
  • What are the separately stated internal-search, employment-end, signing and payment dates?
  • What cash amount is offered, and how is it separated from wages, benefits or any overlapping payments?
  • What do the actual award and offer documents say about vesting conditions, separation and any internal move?
  • What health support is specified, including payer, value, duration and conditions?
  • Which bonus, PTO, release and restriction terms remain unknown or need document-specific review?

A licensed employment attorney in the relevant state can review document-specific legal questions. This page and its calculator do not verify an uploaded agreement.

The US Department of Labor says a claim is generally filed in the state where the work occurred. If someone worked in another state or across states, the agency where they now live can explain filing with other states. An employer's headquarters does not establish the state for a claim. US Department of Labor source.

Reviewing Your Amazon Severance Agreement

These questions concern terms the checked public sources do not establish. The actual offer and award documents are needed.

Cash and payment dates

What cash amount, payment date and conditions are recorded separately from wages or overlapping payments?

Restrictions and release

Which release and restriction terms need document-specific review by a licensed employment attorney?

Equity and awards

What do the award documents say about vesting conditions, separation and any internal move? The announcements do not establish an individual outcome.

Health support

What payer, value, duration and conditions are specified in the actual documents?

Bonus and PTO

Are amounts, eligibility conditions and payment timing stated or still unknown?

Separate dates

Which dates apply to the internal search, employment end, signing and payment? A search period alone does not establish paid, non-working notice or extra severance.

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