Link to contents


NOTICE

International Reply Coupons

The international reply coupon (IRC) pictured on page 3, which bears the following language on its front side: "A èchanger jusqu'au "31-12-2006," expires on December 31, 2006. IRCs that bear the 12-31-06 expiration date may be redeemed or exchanged as follows:

• Foreign-origin IRCs may not be redeemed after December 31, 2006.

• U.S.-origin IRCs continue to be exchangeable under current Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM) procedures (purchase price less 1 cent). U.S.-origin IRCs can be distinguished from foreign-origin IRCs by the legend "Amérique (Etats-Unis)" on the front side of the U.S.-origin IRC.

International reply coupon, front and back.

As stated in Handbook F-1, Field Accounting Procedures, part 454, all postal retail units (PRUs) must submit all U.S.-issue (exchanged or redeemed) and foreign-issue (redeemed) IRCs accepted through December 31 of each year to their stamp distribution office (SDO) or stamp services center (SSC). However, due to the tight timeline for redemption of the expiring IRCs by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the unit reserve stock custodian must ship the IRCs to the SDO or SSC for receipt by January 31, 2007.

SDOs and SSCs must submit the expiring IRC depicted above as well as any redeemed or exchanged foreign-origin or U.S.-origin IRCs to the following address for receipt by February 28, 2007:

EAGAN ASC FINANCE BRANCH
FINANCIAL REPORTING
US POSTAL SERVICE
2825 LONE OAK PKWY
EAGAN MN 55121-9617

The Eagan Accounting Service Center (ASC) must submit all the IRCs forwarded by the SDOs and SSCs to the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union in Bern, Switzerland, for receipt by March 31, 2007.

The version of the IRC currently being offered for sale by the Postal ServiceTM and foreign postal administrations is pictured below. This version of the IRC does not expire until December 31, 2009, and can be redeemed or exchanged pursuant to the IMM.

Current version of International Reply Coupon, Front and Back.

We will publish a revision to the IMM in an upcoming Postal Bulletin.

— National Accounting, Finance, 12-21-06