Horizon Label Accounting Codes-The Definitive Guide

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