Evidence to Include in Your GMC Suspension Appeal 2026
Your appeal letter tells Google what you changed. Your evidence proves it. Most rejected appeals fail not because of what the merchant wrote but because they submitted no supporting documentation for the changes they claimed to have made. Google reviewers do not take your word for it. They check your live site and they look at what you attach.
This guide breaks down the exact evidence to gather for each suspension type, how to present it, and what Google actually looks for during the review.
Why Evidence Matters More Than the Letter
A well-written appeal letter with no supporting evidence is weaker than a plainly written letter with solid documentation. Google's review process is evidence-based. The reviewer's job is to confirm that violations are resolved, not to judge the quality of your writing. Give them the confirmation they need and your chances of reinstatement improve significantly.
Before gathering evidence, make sure every fix is complete. Run the free GMC audit tool to confirm no violations remain in your account. Submitting evidence of a partial fix is worse than no fix at all, because it shows the reviewer exactly what you still have not corrected.
Universal Evidence (Required for Every Appeal)
A full-page screenshot of your return policy page with the URL visible in the browser bar. The policy must show: the return window in days, how to initiate a return, who pays for return shipping, and how refunds are issued. Capture the date in your browser if possible by including a datestamped note or using your OS clock visible in the screenshot.
A screenshot of your shipping policy or shipping information page showing delivery timeframes and costs. Then a second screenshot showing the checkout page where shipping is displayed to the customer. These two must match. If they do not match, that is itself a misrepresentation violation.
Your contact page showing a physical address, phone number, and working email address. If your contact page only has a form and no direct contact details, that is likely contributing to the suspension.
A screenshot of your About Us page showing who runs the business, where it is located, and what it sells. Google wants to see evidence of a real, identifiable business behind the account.
A plain-text or PDF document listing every change you made, the date you made it, and the URL where the change is visible. Number each item. This is the most underused piece of evidence and one of the most effective at showing reviewers that you took the suspension seriously.
Evidence for Misrepresentation Suspensions
Misrepresentation suspensions require proof that your business is legitimate and your website accurately represents what you sell. See our full guide on GMC misrepresentation for the full list of what triggers this suspension type.
Company registration certificate or equivalent business license. If you operate as a sole trader, a government-issued document showing your name and address that matches the account details. If your business trades under a different name from your legal entity, provide documents for both and explain the relationship.
Side-by-side screenshots showing your product feed price and the price displayed on your product page. These must match. If prices differ by currency, include your currency conversion methodology.
A step-by-step sequence of screenshots showing the complete checkout process from product page through to order confirmation. This confirms the customer experience matches what the listing advertises.
Evidence for Product Policy Violations
Export your product feed in two versions: the version that was active during the suspension, and your corrected current version. Highlight the rows that changed. If your feed is large, provide a filtered export showing only the affected products.
For each category of affected products, screenshot the updated product page showing the corrected title, description, or image. If you changed 200 products, you do not need 200 screenshots. Take representative screenshots from each affected category.
If products were removed entirely, show a screenshot of your product catalog demonstrating those items are gone. If product pages were updated to remove restricted claims, show the updated page alongside the policy section that was violated.
Evidence for Identity and Circumvention Suspensions
These are the most documentation-intensive appeals. If your account has been flagged for circumventing systems, read our dedicated guide on circumventing systems suspensions before gathering evidence.
A document showing your name and the business name match the account details. This could be a business bank statement, a utility bill at the business address, or a government-issued ID paired with a business registration document.
If you have or previously had other GMC accounts, disclose them in your appeal and explain the relationship. Google already knows about them. Failing to disclose looks like concealment.
How to Present Your Evidence
Organize your evidence before attaching it. A folder of randomly named screenshots is harder to review than a single numbered PDF with clear section headings. Label each screenshot with what it shows. "Screenshot 3 - Return Policy Updated 2026-06-20" is more useful to a reviewer than "IMG_4832.jpg".
Keep file sizes manageable. Compress large screenshots before combining them. A 50MB evidence package may fail to upload or may be skipped entirely.
If your appeal is denied despite strong evidence, check our guide on reinstatement denial next steps for what options remain.
Know What Needs Fixing Before You Gather Evidence
Gathering evidence for the wrong violations wastes time and gets your appeal rejected. Our audit identifies every active violation so you fix and document the right things.
Run Free AuditFrequently Asked Questions
Does Google actually read the evidence I attach?
Yes. Reviewers check your live site and review the attachments you provide. Strong evidence does not guarantee approval, but missing or weak evidence is a reliable path to rejection. Treat your attachments as the proof of work behind your claims.
What file formats can I upload with a GMC appeal?
Google accepts standard image formats (PNG, JPG) and PDF documents. Screenshots should be high enough resolution to clearly show the relevant content. Combine multiple screenshots into a single PDF if you have many to attach.
Is a business registration document required for all appeals?
No, only for suspensions related to identity verification or misrepresentation involving business legitimacy. For product policy violations or website policy issues, business registration is not typically required. Match your evidence to the specific suspension type.
Should I submit evidence of my traffic or revenue?
No. Google does not consider revenue, traffic volume, or account history when reviewing appeals. The only relevant evidence is evidence that the policy violations have been resolved. Analytics screenshots, revenue reports, and customer testimonials will not help and may clutter your submission.