Billing

Billing by the Meter Supplier - Most postage meter customers will pay their meter supplier directly for their meter resets. Suppliers usually offer a choice of payment options, such as cheque and direct debit. The supplier then pays Australia Post for the postage purchased.

A tax invoice for each reset will be issued by Australia Post and sent by mail within 28 days. Eligible businesses can use this to claim back the GST they pay on postage.

Business Credit Account (Charge Account) Billing - Postage meter customers who operate an Australia Post Business Credit Account may charge their resets directly to their account. Business Credit Account customers who have a credit facility will receive a GST compliant consolidated tax invoice with their monthly statement.

Applying for Refunds

Australia Post may refund the value of metered postage impressions if, for example impressions contain an incorrect postage value. These articles are referred to as 'spoils'.

To qualify for a refund on spoils, customers must:

• Collect all envelopes, wrappers and labels affected and bundle them by value, in date order.
• Make a written request to Australia Post on company letterhead for the value of the spoils collected.
• Present the spoils and the written request to your Licence Controlling Office within six months of the impression being made.

Also note that:

• A tax compliant adjustment note will be issued for each refund transaction.
• Where the customer operates an Australia Post Business Credit Account, refunds will be credited to their account.
• Postage meter customers will be refunded the net postage value, i.e. the metered postage value less the 2.5% rebate.

Conditions of Refund

• Envelopes and wrappers bearing spoils should be presented intact  (although the contents may be removed).
• Requests for refund must be made within six months of the impression being made.
• Illegible impressions will be refunded at the lowest value the meter can print.
• Where the customer operates an Australia Post Business Credit Account, refunds will be credited to their account.
• Postage meter customers will be refunded the net postage value, (i.e. the metered postage value less the 2.5% rebate).

Metering under the GST

GST is included in the new postage prices for all items. There will be no change to the amount you pay for your resets because the GST will be built into the price that you meter rather than on top of the amount of each meter reset.

Customers using an approved postage meter will still receive the 2.5% rebate on all resets.

Receiving Tax Invoices

Under the GST tax system, a tax invoice for each reset will be issued by Australia Post and sent within 28 days. If your business is eligible for GST input tax credits the tax invoice allows you to claim back the GST that your business pays for postage. Click here for more information on the Australia Post Tax Invoice.

For Business Credit Account Holders this is in the form of a consolidated tax invoice sent with your monthly statement.

Likewise you will be issued with a tax compliant Adjustment Note for refund transactions such as machine spoils.

International Postage Rates

As of 1st July 2000, you are required to meter your international mail at 10% above the normal published rates to offset the GST input tax credits you may be entitled to claim for this postage.

Machines with weighing scales will have these rates incorporated into the scales through the normal scale update process, from the scale supplier.

Download our International Rates for Postage Meters and Franking Machines (pdf 80kb).

(Adobe Acrobat is required to read pdf files. If you cannot access the file, call 131318.)

• Features & Benefits of metering