diff --git a/docs/specification/cart-rest.md b/docs/specification/cart-rest.md
index 38dd6956..20ed4c7f 100644
--- a/docs/specification/cart-rest.md
+++ b/docs/specification/cart-rest.md
@@ -483,8 +483,10 @@ operations unless otherwise noted.
 * **Idempotency-Key**: Operations that modify state **SHOULD** support
     idempotency. When provided, the server **MUST**:
     1. Store the key with the operation result for at least 24 hours.
-    2. Return the cached result for duplicate keys.
-    3. Return `409 Conflict` if the key is reused with different parameters.
+    2. Return the cached result for duplicate keys whose request body matches the original.
+    3. Return `409 Conflict` if the key is reused with a mismatched body.
+    See [Message Signatures — Idempotency Key Requirements](signatures.md#replay-protection)
+    for the full payload-matching contract.
 
 ## Protocol Mechanics
 
diff --git a/docs/specification/checkout-rest.md b/docs/specification/checkout-rest.md
index 3ef19d30..cb2e748d 100644
--- a/docs/specification/checkout-rest.md
+++ b/docs/specification/checkout-rest.md
@@ -1256,8 +1256,10 @@ operations unless otherwise noted.
 * **Idempotency-Key**: Operations that modify state **SHOULD** support
     idempotency. When provided, the server **MUST**:
     1. Store the key with the operation result for at least 24 hours.
-    2. Return the cached result for duplicate keys.
-    3. Return `409 Conflict` if the key is reused with different parameters.
+    2. Return the cached result for duplicate keys whose request body matches the original.
+    3. Return `409 Conflict` if the key is reused with a mismatched body.
+    See [Message Signatures — Idempotency Key Requirements](signatures.md#replay-protection)
+    for the full payload-matching contract.
 
 ## Protocol Mechanics
 
diff --git a/docs/specification/signatures.md b/docs/specification/signatures.md
index fdb45f13..5b02d55d 100644
--- a/docs/specification/signatures.md
+++ b/docs/specification/signatures.md
@@ -483,9 +483,23 @@ Signature: sig1=:MEUCIQD...:
 | **Entropy** | Minimum 128 bits (e.g., UUID v4, 22+ char alphanumeric) |
 | **Uniqueness** | Per-client, per-operation type |
 | **Server storage** | Minimum 24 hours, recommended 48 hours |
-| **On duplicate** | Return cached response, do not re-execute |
+| **On duplicate (matching payload)** | Return cached response, do not re-execute |
+| **On duplicate (mismatched payload)** | Reject with `409 Conflict` (REST) / `-32000` (MCP); do not execute |
 | **On storage failure** | Fail closed (reject request with 503) |
 
+**Payload Matching:** Businesses **MUST** detect whether the payload of
+a duplicate-key request matches the payload of the original by
+comparing the SHA-256 hash of the raw body bytes — the same digest
+RFC 9530 mandates as `Content-Digest`. When signing is in use, this
+value is supplied in the `Content-Digest` header and the Intermediary
+Warning above guarantees byte fidelity end-to-end; businesses persist
+it alongside the idempotency key. For unsigned requests, businesses
+compute the same digest from the received body bytes. Platforms
+therefore **MUST** generate a fresh idempotency key whenever they
+modify the request payload — including retries with modified payment
+instruments, updated shipping addresses, swapped line items, or any
+other change to the request body.
+
 **Note:** The RFC 9421 `created` parameter is **OPTIONAL**. UCP handles replay
 protection at the business layer through idempotency keys, not signature timestamps.
 Key rotation (removing compromised keys from `signing_keys`) provides the mechanism
diff --git a/docs/specification/split-payments.md b/docs/specification/split-payments.md
index 164ae785..86e94813 100644
--- a/docs/specification/split-payments.md
+++ b/docs/specification/split-payments.md
@@ -173,8 +173,12 @@ MUST process each request as a fresh, full submission, without
 reference to prior requests or responses.
 
 > [!NOTE]
-> **Idempotency & Correlation during Recovery Retries:**
-> When retrying a partially authorized split payment with a modified set of payment instruments (e.g., replacing a declined card), the request payload changes and therefore **MUST** use a new idempotency key. Downstream systems cannot rely on the idempotency key to correlate the retry with previous partial authorizations; they must use the stable Checkout Session `id` to correlate and reconcile these distinct attempts.
+> Each split payments submission is processed as a complete,
+> self-contained request: a modified instrument set is a new submission,
+> requiring a fresh [idempotency key](signatures.md#replay-protection).
+> Split-payments state — including authorizations — does not persist
+> between submissions; the unwind-on-failure requirement above
+> enforces this.
 
 **Per-instrument reporting:** when a split is incomplete or has failed,
 the business MUST emit a `payment_failed` error for each failed