The post office of mailing will postmark postal union mail.

§ 23.2 Shortpaid and unpaid.

(a) At mailing office or sectional center. Check carefully all locally mailed articles and mail received at sectional centers from associated offices for postage payment before they are dispatched. Return shortpaid or unpaid articles to the sender for deficient postage, using stock rubber stamp R-1300-230. The following exceptions apply:

(1) Special delivery. Dispatch to appropriate exchange office, unless deficiency can be obtained without delaying the article.

(2) Letter mail and post cards with return address at an office other than the mailing office. Dispatch to appropriate exchange office, unless the articles (1) returned to the office shown in the return address by the next business day; or (ii) are paid at domestic rates; or (iii) are totally unpaid.

(3) Articles without return address. Send letter mail and post cards to appropriate exchange office. Send "Other Articles" to proper dead letter branch.

(4) Mail for Canada. When quantity mailings of 10 or more pieces from the same sender are received return them for the deficiency or arrange that the postage charges be adjusted before the

mail is dispatched. Otherwise, endorse articles to show that postage due charges are to be collected from the addressee, as follows, and dispatch to appropriate exchange office:

(i) Double the amount of the deficient postage on ordinary (unregistered) letter mail and post cards.

(ii) The actual amount of the deficiency on ordinary "Other Articles" and on all registered mail.

(b) Dispatch to exchange office or dead letter branch. When shortpaid or unpaid mail is dispatched to exchange offices or to dead letter branches pursuant to § 23.2 (a), apply stock rubber stamp R-1300-4, Postage Due Cents, but do not indicate the amount of shortpayment, except as provided in § 23.2(a) (4) for mail addressed to Canada. Dispatch to exchange offices by surface means when surface mail is involved and by air when airmail is involved.

(c) In transit to dispatching exchange offices. Except as provided in § 23.2(a), no check shall be made for postage deficiencies, but any articles seen to be paid at domestic postage rates (except special delivery) or to be totally unpaid shall be returned. Endorse "Returned for additional postage" or "Returned for postage." Do not return if the senders are in Alaska, Hawaii, or an overseas territory or possession and the articles are seen after arrival in continentai United States, or vice versa: allow them to go forward to the dispatching exchange office for appropriate treatment.

(d) Credit for postage already affixed. Credit is allowed for postage already affixed in figuring correct amount on articles returned to senders for deficient postage.

§ 23.3 Improperly prepared.

(a) Insufficient address. Post offices will not return articles to senders if they are not addressed as prescribed in § 21.1 (c), provided the country of destination is legibly written, but will dispatch them to the exchange office for decision as to the sufficiency of the address. New postage must be paid on articles remailed with corrected addresses after being returned from other countries.

(b) Cards-(1) Oversized cards. Post offices will return oversized cards (those exceeding 6 x 44 inches) to senders, if known, unless they are paid at letter rates. If sender is not known, dispatch oversized cards to the exchange office.

(2) Foreign reply-paid cards. Replypaid cards are not acceptable in international mail. Any reply-paid cards bearing foreign postage found in the mail shall be returned to the sender for proper U.S. postage to be affixed, or sent to the dead letter office if the name and address of the sender are not shown.

(c) Undersized articles. Post offices will return to the senders, if known, any articles that are less than the prescribed minimum size and are not prepared as provided under § 22.1(c) (2). If the sender is not known, dispatch the articles to the dead letter office.

(d) Meter stamps. The Universal Postal Convention prescribes that meter stamps are to be bright red in color. (See § 21.2(b) (1).) Although the use of red color for meter stamps on international mail should be encouraged, articles bearing those of other colors are to be allowed to go forward.

§ 23.4 Forwarding.

(a) International. Articles will generally be forwarded to a new address of the addressee, even in a third country, or back to the United States. The sender may forbid forwarding by a notation on the envelope or wrapper in a language understood in the country to which addressed. See § 24.3 concerning forwarding mail of foreign origin.

(b) Domestic-(1) Addressee moved to another country. Treat as undeliverable and dispose of as provided in § 159, except that post or postal cards and ordinary letters that do not appear to contain merchandise and do not bear a notice forbidding forwarding may be redirected to the original addressee in another country. Letters and cards are forwarded by surface if surface mail is involved and by air if airmail is involved, without prepayment of additional postage. If the difference between the domestic and international postage is not added at the time of forwarding it will be collected when the letter or card is delivered. Surface letters and cards will be forwarded by air if the difference between the domestic postage and the international airmail rate has been added on the letter or card.

(2) Bearing foreign return address. Any domestic letters (except those that appear to contain merchandise), and any domestic post or postal cards bearing the sender's request for return, are returned to the foreign return address. Return is

by surface mail only, and without prepayment of additional postage. Indication of a foreign return address on registered or certified letter mail will be deemed to constitute a request on the part of the sender that the letter is to be forwarded to the foreign return address if it is not deliverable at the U.S. address. It further indicates that the sender thereby agrees, in case of loss of a registered letter after dispatch from the United States, to adjustment of indemnity in accordance with the provisions of § 72.2, irrespective of the amount of registry fee paid. Articles or packages containing merchandise are held by the post office of address and a report sent to Headquarters as provided in § 31.7(b). Treat other undeliverable domestic articles with foreign return addresses as dead mail. (See § 159.7.)

(c) Ship passenger and crew mail— (1) As an alternative to § 23.4(b) and § 24.3(b), ordinary (unregistered) articles of correspondence (except those which appear to contain merchandise) addressed to crew members or passengers on board a ship may be forwarded in the international mail, by surface or air, in one envelope addressed to a ship or travel agency under the following conditions:

(i) The envelope in which the articles are to be forwarded shall be approximately 9 inches by 6 inches in size, and shall be supplied by the sender. Do not put postage on this envelope but place the following endorsement in the upper right corner of the envelope:

This envelope contains prepaid letters forwarded in bulk by authority of Assistant Postmaster General, Finance Department, U.S. Postal Service, any required additional international postage has been affixed to the articles enclosed.

(ii) The envelope must be presented unsealed at the mailing office for check of the contents. Any additional postage required must be paid on each of the articles enclosed, as follows:

(a) Articles of U.S. origin. Pay on each article the difference between the postage already paid and the appropriate international rate (surface or air) to the new country of destination.

(b) Articles originating in other countries. If envelope is to be forwarded by air, place full air postage from the United States to the new country of destination on each article enclosed. No additional postage is required if the envelope is to be forwarded by surface means.

(iii) If the envelope is intended to be transmitted by air, place label 19 bearing the words "Par Avion", in the upper left corner of the envelope immediately below the return address of the sender.

(iv) The total weight of the forwarding envelope and its contents is limited to 18 ounces.

(2) The accepting employee must check the envelope to see that any necessary additional postage has been paid on each article, cancel any additional postage placed on the articles, and seal the envelope. The accepting employee will apply the office date stamp and his initials immediately below the sender's endorsement prescribed in §23.4 (c) (1) (i). § 23.5

Return to the United States.

(a) Articles will generally be returned to the sender if delivery cannot be made. Ordinary (unregistered) articles of printed matter, other than books, are not returned unless the sender has requested their return as prescribed in § 22.3(e) (5).

(b) The reason for nondelivery of returned articles may be indicated in French or Spanish, the most usual expressions being the following:

ternal revenue tax is collected. On every small packet on which duty or revenue tax is collected the fee is 70 cents for each packet. The fees apply also when post office service is rendered for formal entry articles on which importers pay the customs charges directly to the Customs Service. The fees are retained by the Postal Service, and are accounted for by affixing postage due stamps to the articles or packets and canceling. See § 32.1(a) concerning fees on incoming dutiable parcel post, and § 61.5(e) concerning recording and reporting duty collections.

(2) These fees are authorized by international postal convention as reimbursement to the Postal Service for the work it

performs in clearing mail articles through customs and for delivery to the addressees.

(3) The appropriate fee is collected on each article on which duty or tax is paid by the addressee, even if several articles are covered by a single mail entry form.

(4) These fees are not refundable by the Postal Service even though the Customs Service may later refund the duty paid by the addressee.

(5) Post offices will not collect the fees in the following cases:

(i) On dutiable matter from the Canal Zone or from overseas U.S. post offices (civil or military).

(ii) On packages assessed with duty which are delivered without collection of duty under § 61.5(d) (6) and (7) (ii) (d). If postage due stamps were pasted on the package and canceled at the time the package was assigned for delivery, the delivery employee shall mark the stamps Voided and allow them to remain on the package. See § 61.5 (d) (6) concerning crediting employee with the value of the unreturned postage-due stamps.

(b) Shortpaid mail. (1) The Postal Service of origin marks shortpaid articles before dispatch. The marking consists of a letter "T" (meaning "Tax") followed by a fractional number. The fractional number consists of a figure representing double the shortpayment, written above the surface letter rate of postage to the United States. The receiving United States Exchange Office multiplies the fraction by the U.S. international surface letter rate of postage for the first weight unit (15¢ except with Mexico 8) and applies the product as postage due. The amount is accounted for by affixing and canceling postage-due stamps.

(3) Shortpaid letters from Canada are not marked by the Canadian service with fractional numbers, but with the words "Postage Due" followed by the actual amount in cents to be collected.

(4) If an article bears U.S. Postage the delivering office shall allow credit for its value when postage due is collected.

(c) Invalid foreign postage. Foreign mail bearing invalid postage is accompanied by international Form C 10 issued in the country of origin and is rated as unpaid. The addressee is asked to pay the postage due, to disclose the name and address of the sender, and to surrender the envelope. The post office will send the envelope after delivery, or the entire article if the addressee refuses it, with the Form C 10 to the Mail Classification Division, Finance Department, U.S. Postal Service, Washington, DC 20260, with the name and address of the sender if disclosed by the addressee.

(d) Storage. The post office will collect storage charges for each day until delivery is made on (a) any printed matter package or small packet exceeding 1 pound in weight, and (b) any dutiable letter package regardless of weight. The charges and other conditions prescribed in § 32.1(c) for incoming parcel post packages apply to the postal union articles mentioned.

(e) AO mail containing letters. When a personal communication is found in an AO article, the office discovering it will mark the cover and rate the article for collection of postage due in the same manner as prescribed in § 32.1(d) for letters found in parcels.

(f) Returned mail. Post offices will collect charges on returned mail as follows:

(1) On returned second-class publications mailed to Canada by publishers or registered news agents, 6 cents for the first 2 ounces and 2 cents for each additional ounce.

(2) From the sender of any article returned through a dead letter branch, the amount indicated on the dead letter office envelope.

(3) From the sender of an undeliverable insufficiently prepaid article, the deficient postage that should have been collected from the addressee.

(a) Within the United States. (1) Articles received by surface may be forwarded by surface and articles received by air may be forwarded by air, without an additional postage charge or fee, unless the envelope or wrapper bears a notation forbidding its being forwarded.

(2) Second-class publications from Canada are treated in accordance with §§ 159.2(b) (1) through 159.2(b) (3). A periodical publication from any other country whose delivery requires that it be forwarded to another local address or to another post office shall be forwarded and the addressee shall be requested to notify the publisher of his new address. If the publication is still being received 3 months after change of address occurs, the post office of original address shall dispose of it, and any subsequent copies received, as waste, except that publications bearing request of sender for return shall be endorsed "Moved, not forwardable" and returned to origin.

(b) To another country. (1) Articles can be forwarded on condition that the country of destination accepts mail of the classification involved. Articles received by either surface or air, which do not bear instructions forbidding their being forwarded, are forwarded by surface without an additional postage charge or fee. United States postage at the airmail rate to the country concerned must be paid on any article that is forwarded by air. Cross out the Par Avion label or endorsement on an airmail article that is forwarded by surface. See §§ 23.4 (b), (c) and 31.7(b) concerning forwarding of domestic mail, and § 61.5 (i) (2) concerning disposal of customs mail entry forms relating to dutiable articles.

(2) The provisions of § 24.3(a) (2) apply in the case of periodical publications addressed to persons who have filed change of address to another country.

(c) Backstamping. A legible postmark is applied to the back of letters and to the front of postcards when received missent and to all forwarded articles.

§ 24.4 Undeliverable articles.

(a) Retention period. Post offices will hold ordinary and registered articles at disposal of addressees for 30 days, except in the following cases:

(1) Articles bearing senders' requests for return within a specified time not exceeding 2 months.

(2) Articles bearing no time limit for their return, when there is good reason to believe they can be delivered to the addressee if held for a period not exceeding 2 months. These articles shall be marked "Specially held for delivery." Hold articles subject to storage charges (see § 24.1(d)) beyond the initial 30-day retention period only if the addressee, or someone acting in his behalf pays the storage charges due at the end of the first 30-day period. Thereafter, collect accumulated storage charges every 10 days. (3) Articles on which the addressee has protested the rate or amount of duty assessed, pursuant to § 61.5(d) (6) (ii).

(4) Articles positively known to be undeliverable, such as refused, or addressee moved and left no address. These shall be treated as undeliverable unless they bear the sender's request specified in (a) of this section.

(b) Directory service. See § 159.5 concerning directory service to be accorded mail of foreign origin.

(c) Endorsing. Endorse undeliverable mail as prescribed in § 159.1(a) (2). Apply a legible postmark to the back of letters and to the front of postcards that are returned to origin.

(d) Disposal. Dispatch undeliverable mail by surface means (including airmail articles, after crossing out Par Avion label or endorsement) to the appropriate exchange office for return to the country of origin, except the following:

(1) Ordinary (unregistered) prints, other than books, which do not bear the sender's request for return. These are disposed of in accordance with § 159.4 (b). Books and registered prints must always be returned to origin.

(2) Postcards which do not bear the address of the sender. These are disposed of in accordance with § 159.4(a).

(3) Canadian second-class publications. These will be treated as prescribed in § 159.2(b) (2) (i) through (iii).

(4) Canadian articles of all classifications not covered by (1) and (2) of this section and not bearing sender's name and address. These will be sent to the dead letter office for disposal pursuant to § 159.7(d) (8).

(e) Postage-due matter. Articles bearing postage-due stamps are treated as prescribed in § 146.5 (e) and (f).

(f) Storage charges. Storage charges due on postal union articles are canceled if the articles are returned to origin or forwarded to another country. See § 32.5 (b) (4) concerning marking of parcel post on which storage charges are due.

(g) Dutiable mail. Dispose of customs mail entry forms as prescribed in § 61.5(i).

PART 25-ARTICLES MAILED ABROAD BY OR ON BEHALF OF SENDERS IN THE UNITED STATES

Sec.

25.1

U.S. postage rates required.

25.2 Mailing with U.S. postage paid.
25.3 Mailing with U.S. postage not paid.
25.4 Report of incoming mailings.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 25 issued under 39 U.S.C. 401, 407.

SOURCE: 37 F.R. 22589, Oct. 20, 1972, unless otherwise noted.

§ 25.1 U.S. postage rates required.

Pursuant to provisions of the Universal Postal Convention, U.S. postage must be paid to secure delivery of articles in excess of 200 pieces mailed in other countries by or on behalf of persons or firms whose residence or place of business is in the United States when the foreign postage on the articles is lower than comparable U.S. domestic postage. If the comparable rate is the domestic thirdclass rate, use the single-piece rate to compute postage on the mailing. The articles will be returned to origin unless applicable U.S. postage is paid for the total number of pieces. Even if the foreign postage is not lower, the same conditions apply when more than 5,000 pieces are mailed. These limitations apply to mailings made in such quantities within a 30-day period.

§ 25.2 Mailing with U.S. postage paid. Senders affected by § 25.1 must submit a sample of the proposed mailing (envelope and contents) to the Mail Classifi