On Monday 29th September 2011,  two new ‘accounting codes’ were added to the existing printed overprint applied at the time of posting to the Horizon label.

These codes are solely for the easy identification of the VAT rate/ product combination for each label, where a subsequent refund has to be made, ensuring any VAT is accounted for correctly.

There are 33 different “Royal Mail” codes and 4 different ‘Parcelforce’ codes- the table below shows the different codes that apply to each Label Identifier.

The ‘RM/PF ‘ Code maps to the Indicia- The ‘PPUK ‘Code maps to the VAT Rate.

Label Identifier	VAT Rate	Royal Mail Code	PP UK Code	No.
1st	Exempt Rated VAT	a	4	1
1st	Zero Rated VAT	a	5	2
1L	Exempt Rated VAT	b	4	3
1L	Zero Rated VAT	b	5	4
1LL	Exempt Rated VAT	c	4	5
1LL	Zero Rated VAT	c	5	6
1PK	Exempt Rated VAT	d	4	7
1PK	Zero Rated VAT	d	5	8
2L	Exempt Rated VAT	e	4	9
2L	Zero Rated VAT	e	5	10
2LL	Exempt Rated VAT	f	4	11
2LL	Zero Rated VAT	f	5	12
2PK	Exempt Rated VAT	g	4	13
2PK	Zero Rated VAT	g	5	14
A	Exempt Rated VAT	h	4	15
A	Zero Rated VAT	h	5	16
AX	Zero Rated VAT	r	5	17
AX	Standard Rate VAT	r	6	18
RSF	Exempt Rated VAT	i	4	19
BL	Exempt Rated VAT	m	4	20
BLL	Exempt Rated VAT	n	4	21
BPK	Exempt Rated VAT	p	4	22
FF	Exempt Rated VAT	t	4	23
SU	Exempt Rated VAT	x	4	24
SU	Zero Rated VAT	x	5	25
SD	Exempt Rated VAT	y	4	26
SD	Zero Rated VAT	y	5	27
SD	Standard Rate VAT	y	6	28
SP	Exempt Rated VAT	z	4	29
SP	Standard Rate VAT	z	6	30
FP	Zero Rated VAT	o	5	31
FP	Exempt Rated VAT	o	4	32
FP	Standard Rate VAT	o	6	33
Label Identifier	VAT Rate	Parcelforce Code	PP UK Code
BF	Exempt Rated VAT	5	7	34
PE	Zero Rated VAT	6	8	35
PS	Zero Rated VAT	7	8	36
PS	Standard Rate VAT	7	9	37

How do I work out what VAT is applicable to my item?

The applicable VAT rate for a particular postal item is determined by its destination.

For items being sent inland or within the EU then most items are ‘Exempt’ –

However, some Premium services are Standard Rate -e.g.-Special Delivery Next Day where

any ‘Add-ons’ are applied (Such as Saturday Guarantee) plus Airsure and Parcelforce “Express” services.

Outside of the EU then items are ‘Zero’ rated (including the Channel Islands).

Example codes:-

Special Delivery’ – Next Day would be ‘y4’,

Next Day with Sat G’tee is ‘y6’ and

SD to Channel Islands is ‘y5’

Please do not copy this information without attributing the source – Copyright Postagelabelsuk.com 2011

 

Yesterday (Sept 13th)  was the first day of sale for the much anticipated  new Gold Imperforate Horizon labels in Chesterfield.. A first day cover is shown ..

The next stage is believed to be their introduction in Wales..

The ‘Type 2’ Gold Machin labels went live today, in a single branch trial at Old Street Crown Office in London.
These labels are as ‘Type 1’ (with psudeo-perforations) but with imperforate edges and rounded corners. It is believed that these have been issued in response to feedback regarding the ‘peelablity’ of the perforated labels. The next stage will their introduction at Chesterfield Branch Office, next week.

One of the most common requests I get is for a “simplified listing” of the Horizon Postage Labels currently available (as well as the ones that have been withdrawn), in order that collectors can determine how ‘complete’ their collections are . Shown here is the full list of the 29  Postage Label Indicators, showing the 22 currently being used (and so available on the two different variants of Gold Labels) as well as the 7 types that have already been withdrawn.

For each label shown there is/was a Welsh ‘Bilingual’ version available and two label overprint types- Thin and Thick lettering as well as two Machin gold label types (Original and the “August 10” type).

This makes 44 label overprints (22 English 22 Welsh)  in 2 print styles (Thick and Thin)  on 2 different gold Machin label types as well as the existing white labels whose stocks are currently being rundown ~ who said that ‘The modern collecting alternative’ of UK Postage Label collecting was boring, easy or without variation?..

Don’t forget, however, that many of these labels already have a limited lifespan of future availability- The original white labels are no longer available for Post Offices to order , the ‘Thick’ style (From the original Horizon software) overprint only has a matter of weeks left before it is completely removed – the first variant of the Machin gold label will be not replaced and rumors of plans (apparently)  to remove some of the ‘rarer’ indicators before Xmas ’10 have been circulated…So..fill those gaps now!

There is no end to some peoples ingenuity in ‘Manufacturing’ covers that should not actually exist. Here is a cover that appeared on Ebay , with the vendor suggesting someone actually producing it on the first day in Camden Town – but only Special Delivery items were processed on the first day ,suggesting the item has been backdated.

As part of the London 2010 exibition the Post Office has provided counter facilities – using the Gold Machin Labels!

This item and similar can be purchased here:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170483626262

An Office in Oxfordshire has been mis-supplied with ‘Welsh gold’ labels..

It has been reported today that a distribution of the Gold Machin Horizon Labels has taken place outside of Wales!-to some Branches in Kent – Further details to follow- in the meanwhile-check with your local PO to get some before they are withdrawn..

It has now been confirmed that the First Day of use of the Gold Horizon Labels in Wales was yesterday, April 20th 2010.

 Some branches having received their stock yesterday and all others in Wales receiving it  today.

Shown below is a FDC produced yesterday ‘machined’ (sic) into an inch of its life by the Cardiff FCT.

Please contact me if you would like to purchase a similar cover.

As suggested  in this months Stamp Magazine, It is now understood that the De La Rue printed ‘Gold Machin’ postage labels, previously trialed at ‘Camden Town High Street Crown Office’ will shortly return to use at Post Office Counters ~ This time, initially at least, the distribution of the labels will be restricted to Post Offices in Wales.
This means the overprint that will appear on the labels will be bilingual, giving rise to new varients – as there is currently two styles of overprint in use – one from the original Horizon-enabled Post Offices and the other thinner printing style of Branches that have been upgraded to ‘Horizon Online’. A further complication is that some Branches in Wales produce a ‘English’ overprint.
Additionally, unlike the Camden trial, their use will not be restricted to ‘Special Delivery’ mail and all classes of mail that currently receives a Postage Label will be eligible for a new ‘gold’ label.
UPDATED ~The distribution of the labels will commence from April 19th 2010 , giving a potential First Day of Issue of around the 20th-21st April – but no official First Day facilities will be offered by Royal Mail or the Post Office – but please contact me if you would like to buy any covers.  The labels are from a different print run than that used as Camden Town, but it remains to be see if there are any visual differences!

The distribution will be phased, meaning that branches will receive labels on different dates – there is no instruction to use them over the existing white labels so they will appear randomly.  Watch this space!