Effective October 11, 2007, we are revising Publication 51, International Postal Rates and Fees, to reflect current procedures in our redemption/exchange policy for international reply coupons (IRCs).
As of October 11, 2007, customers will no longer be able to redeem U.S.-origin international reply coupons issued before 2002. Customers will be able to exchange U.S.-origin IRCs bearing the expiration date of December 31, 2006, until September 1, 2008. These coupons may be exchanged for postage in the amount of the sale price minus $0.01. The IRC for the Universal Postal Union (UPU), Item 330700, either U.S.-origin or foreign-origin, will be the only IRC currently redeemable.
Note: This policy change is for U.S.-origin IRCs. A policy change for IRCs issued by foreign postal administrations was published in articles titled “IMM and Publication 51 Revisions: Redeeming International Reply Coupons” in Postal Bulletin 22193 (11-9-06, pages 81–83) and in Postal Bulletin 22197 (1-4-07, pages 40–42). Those articles stated that customers were no longer able to redeem or exchange the following foreign-origin IRCs at U.S. Post Offices® after January 1, 2007:
(U.S.-origin IRCs are distinguishable from foreign-origin IRCs because they bear the legend “Amérique (Etats-Unis)” on the front side.)
Current UPU IRC
Publication 51, International Postal Rates and Fees
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Miscellaneous Services
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International Reply Coupons
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[Revise the second paragraph of this section to read as follows:]
As of October 11, 2007, only international reply coupons printed by the Universal Postal Union can be redeemed at U.S. Post Offices. The valid version of the international reply coupons printed by the Universal Postal Union is approximately 3.75 inches by 6 inches, has a barcode on the back, and has an expiration date of December 31, 2009. This policy is for international reply coupons issued by the United States as well as for those issued by foreign postal administrations.
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We will incorporate this revision into the next printed version of Publication 51 and also into the online version of Publication 51, which can be accessed via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Global Business Development,
Global Business Management, 9-13-07
