A Step-by-Step Guide to Paying Your AWS Bill

As an AWS customer, you receive a monthly bill for your usage and services. Paying this bill on time is important to keep your account active and avoid any service interruptions. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of paying your AWS bill through the Billing and Cost Management console.

When is My AWS Bill Due?

Your AWS bill is due at the start of each month. The billing period runs from the first to the last day of the month, and the bill generates after the month ends.

For example, usage from June 1st to June 30th will be billed on July 1st The due date for this bill would be July 1st as well

AWS automatically charges the payment method on file around the due date each month.

How the Billing Process Works

Here is an overview of how the AWS billing process works each month:

• Your usage for the month is measured and tracked by AWS. This includes all services, resources, data transfer, etc.

• At the end of the month, AWS tabulates your charges and generates your detailed bill.

• Within the first few days of the next month, AWS automatically charges your payment method on file for the total balance.

• The bill contains line items for every service used and associated charges.

• You can review the bill details and usage through the Billing Console.

• Payment must be successfully processed by the due date to avoid account suspension.

Checking Your AWS Account Balance

You can check your latest AWS account balance and view unpaid invoices by following these steps:

1. Open the Billing Console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/billing/

2. On the dashboard, view the total “Account Balance” amount owed.

3. Click “Make a Payment” to see invoice details.

4. The “Payments Due” section lists any unpaid invoices.

5. Click an invoice to view the balance and specific charges.

Reviewing your balance and unpaid invoices allows you to see your payment amount and what services incurred charges.

How to Pay Your AWS Bill

Follow this simple process to pay your monthly AWS bill:

1. Sign into the Billing Console – https://console.aws.amazon.com/billing/

2. Click “Make a Payment” from the dashboard.

3. Select an unpaid invoice and click “Complete Payment”.

4. Your default payment method will appear. Click “Change” to use a different method.

5. Verify the amount you want to pay and click “Verify and Pay”.

6. Your payment will be processed immediately.

7. You’ll receive an on-screen and email confirmation once processed.

8. Payments typically post to your account within 24 hours.

Paying through the Billing Console is the easiest way to settle your AWS bill each month.

Recommended Payment Methods

AWS offers several payment options to choose from:

• Credit card – Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover

• Debit card – Must have a Visa or MasterCard logo

• Bank account (ACH) – Electronic transfers from checking or savings account

• Wire transfer – For high volume accounts only

Credit and debit cards are the most convenient options for individual accounts. ACH payments take just slightly longer to process but avoid card transaction fees.

Automatic Payment Setup

Rather than manually paying each month, you can enable automatic payments:

1. In Billing Settings, click “Payment methods”.

2. Choose your desired payment method.

3. Check the box to “Set as default payment method”.

4. Enable the auto-payment toggle switch.

With auto-pay enabled, AWS will automatically charge that card or bank account for the monthly bill amount around the due date.

Avoid Account Suspension

If your payment fails or you miss your due date, your AWS account can be suspended until the balance is paid. This removes your access to all services and resources. To avoid suspension:

• Always pay your bill by the monthly due date.

• Make sure your payment method has sufficient funds.

• Update any expired/declined payment method right away.

• Set up automatic payments as a reminder.

• Contact AWS Support if you anticipate issues paying on time.

Staying on top of your bill is crucial to avoid costly account suspensions and access interruptions.

Getting Account Credit

If you ever have an account credit from AWS for promotional offers, refunds, or overpayment, it will automatically apply to your next bill.

For example, if you have a $100 credit and your usage next month is $150, then your charges due will simply be the $50 remaining balance.

Account credits rollover and apply to future bills until fully used. You don’t have to do anything to utilize available credits.

Closing Your AWS Account

If you decide to close your AWS account entirely, you must pay any remaining balance first. Follow this process:

1. Close services and resources to stop further usage and charges.

2. Wait for your final monthly bill to generate.

3. Pay the closing bill in full by the due date.

4. Contact AWS Support to request account closure.

5. Any remaining credits will be refunded to your original payment method.

Settling your balance allows you to deactivate your account properly. Never try closing an account with an unpaid balance.

Getting AWS Billing Help

The AWS Billing Support team is available to help with any billing questions or payment issues.

You can contact them through:

• Billing Support website
• Live chat in the Billing Console
• Opening a technical support case

Some common issues they can assist with include declining/expired payment methods, payment failures, account suspensions, and closing accounts. Contact them right away if you notice any problems with paying your AWS bill.

Paying your monthly AWS bill is easy using the streamlined Billing Console. Just check your balance, select an invoice, submit payment method, and verify the amount. Enabling auto-pay makes the process completely hands-off. Be sure to pay the full amount by each due date to keep your account active and avoid costly interruptions. AWS Billing Support is also available if any issues arise. Follow these steps to effectively manage payments for your AWS services.