Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
07:59:00pm
Questions:
1) Are all decimal Australia stamps valid for postage?
2) is there any distinction in the use of stamps marked "International". i.e. can they be used for domestic postage too?
3) What does Aussie Post mean by "concession" when describing domestic first class rate as : From $1 (Concession 60c)?
4) anything else I should know?
Thanks
Roy
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"I have some questions for our Australian members on the use of Australian postage
Questions:
1) Are all decimal Australia stamps valid for postage?
2) is there any distinction in the use of stamps marked "International". i.e. can they be used for domestic postage too?
3) What does Aussie Post mean by "concession" when describing domestic first class rate as : From $1 (Concession 60c)?
4) anything else I should know?
Thanks
Roy"
1) All decimal stamps from 1966 to date are still valid for postage; the link provided will show you a complete set of 1966 Navigators that were used as postage 50 years after they were first issued; the cancellation is dated 2016.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14592#109350
2)Before the use of "International" on present day stamps, the high valuation stamps were used for parcel and overseas postage; the much lesser value were domestic (within Australia). International stamps cannot be used for domestic postage.
3) The "concession" rate are for pensioners and the unemployed, a special rate was introduced to help them afford using the service. The stamp did not show a value. Notice the stamp without a postage value; these were only allocated to pensioners and medicare card holders; It was illegal to use one if you do not hold either ID.
These non-value stamps are sold to those who are permitted to use them for 60 cents (shown below).
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"2) is there any distinction in the use of stamps marked "International". i.e. can they be used for domestic postage too?"
Stamps with the blue "International Post" do not have a GST (Goods and Services Tax) component (10%). They allow for cheaper international postage where GST is not applicable. As GST is applicable for all internal mail, "International Post" cannot be used domestically within Australia.
Normal stamps can be used for overseas postage, but to do so will cost 10% more to be valid.
"4) anything else I should know?"
Yes. The "International Post" tags on stamps are ugly! They spoil the look of the set. Although the current smaller tags are much better than the original ones.
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02:19:05pm
Thank you both. Exactly what I needed.
Roy
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05:09:13pm
Followup questions:
1) Are Australian Antarctic stamps valid for domestic and International postage? How about Christmas Island?
2) Clarification of an earlier statement. I presume all stamps are valid for international mail, it's just that, if you bought domestic stamps from the post office, you paid the 10% tax on them that you would not have had to pay for stamps marked "International". However, if you bought them as discount postage, without the tax, that doesn't matter. Correct statement?
Roy
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1) Both the AAT and Christmas Island stamps can be used in Australia for domestic postage only.
2) Yes domestic mail can be used for International postage as long as the proper postage is used, although the Post Office prefers the customer to use the International stamps provided for overseas mail.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "discount postage", if you are referring to bulk mail, one may receive a discount but a tax to that discount will be included in the price of the discount postage.
You have a very impressive website Roy.
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"However, if you bought them as discount postage, without the tax, that doesn't matter."
Yes it does.
In Australia, the 10% GST is part of the ticket price of an item, NOT additional on top of the item (unlike VAT which I believe is paid on top). Two single dollar stamps, one international post, one not, will both cost $1 to buy. But the $1 normal stamp has $0.09 that is owed to the government as tax.
Businesses here have to collect tax on behalf of the government (GST collected is never owned by the business, unlike money to pay a power bill.) and pay it periodically throughout the year. The international post stamp is GST exempt, so no tax needs to be collected or due because of its sale.
Therefore, Australia Post will get one whole dollar when one $1 International Post stamp is sold but only 91 cents when a $1 domestic stamp is sold. So to post a parcel overseas using domestic stamps, the post office is not making as much profit, hence more stamps need to be used to compensate. Conversely, using International Post stamps domestically, the government does not get its due, which is illegal.
Items here either do or do not have a GST component. Most do but essentials like bread, milk etc do not. Stamps are a special case that needs to identified depending on useage and hence the extra "International Post" label.
GST is a little bit more complicated than this of course. But to answer the question, it will suffice as an explanation. And no I am not a tax agent so this is not legal advice of any kind, but I have studied this and understand it (well some of it anyway).
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 300 categories
31 May 2016
07:59:00pm
I have some questions for our Australian members on the use of Australian postage
Questions:
1) Are all decimal Australia stamps valid for postage?
2) is there any distinction in the use of stamps marked "International". i.e. can they be used for domestic postage too?
3) What does Aussie Post mean by "concession" when describing domestic first class rate as : From $1 (Concession 60c)?
4) anything else I should know?
Thanks
Roy
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Member ACCC (Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of NSW)
31 May 2016
08:38:18pm
re: I need a quick lesson on the use of Australian stamps for postage
"I have some questions for our Australian members on the use of Australian postage
Questions:
1) Are all decimal Australia stamps valid for postage?
2) is there any distinction in the use of stamps marked "International". i.e. can they be used for domestic postage too?
3) What does Aussie Post mean by "concession" when describing domestic first class rate as : From $1 (Concession 60c)?
4) anything else I should know?
Thanks
Roy"
1) All decimal stamps from 1966 to date are still valid for postage; the link provided will show you a complete set of 1966 Navigators that were used as postage 50 years after they were first issued; the cancellation is dated 2016.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14592#109350
2)Before the use of "International" on present day stamps, the high valuation stamps were used for parcel and overseas postage; the much lesser value were domestic (within Australia). International stamps cannot be used for domestic postage.
3) The "concession" rate are for pensioners and the unemployed, a special rate was introduced to help them afford using the service. The stamp did not show a value. Notice the stamp without a postage value; these were only allocated to pensioners and medicare card holders; It was illegal to use one if you do not hold either ID.
These non-value stamps are sold to those who are permitted to use them for 60 cents (shown below).
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: I need a quick lesson on the use of Australian stamps for postage
"2) is there any distinction in the use of stamps marked "International". i.e. can they be used for domestic postage too?"
Stamps with the blue "International Post" do not have a GST (Goods and Services Tax) component (10%). They allow for cheaper international postage where GST is not applicable. As GST is applicable for all internal mail, "International Post" cannot be used domestically within Australia.
Normal stamps can be used for overseas postage, but to do so will cost 10% more to be valid.
"4) anything else I should know?"
Yes. The "International Post" tags on stamps are ugly! They spoil the look of the set. Although the current smaller tags are much better than the original ones.
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 300 categories
01 Jun 2016
02:19:05pm
re: I need a quick lesson on the use of Australian stamps for postage
Thank you both. Exactly what I needed.
Roy
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 300 categories
01 Jun 2016
05:09:13pm
re: I need a quick lesson on the use of Australian stamps for postage
Followup questions:
1) Are Australian Antarctic stamps valid for domestic and International postage? How about Christmas Island?
2) Clarification of an earlier statement. I presume all stamps are valid for international mail, it's just that, if you bought domestic stamps from the post office, you paid the 10% tax on them that you would not have had to pay for stamps marked "International". However, if you bought them as discount postage, without the tax, that doesn't matter. Correct statement?
Roy
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Member ACCC (Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of NSW)
01 Jun 2016
05:34:59pm
re: I need a quick lesson on the use of Australian stamps for postage
1) Both the AAT and Christmas Island stamps can be used in Australia for domestic postage only.
2) Yes domestic mail can be used for International postage as long as the proper postage is used, although the Post Office prefers the customer to use the International stamps provided for overseas mail.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "discount postage", if you are referring to bulk mail, one may receive a discount but a tax to that discount will be included in the price of the discount postage.
You have a very impressive website Roy.
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this post
re: I need a quick lesson on the use of Australian stamps for postage
"However, if you bought them as discount postage, without the tax, that doesn't matter."
Yes it does.
In Australia, the 10% GST is part of the ticket price of an item, NOT additional on top of the item (unlike VAT which I believe is paid on top). Two single dollar stamps, one international post, one not, will both cost $1 to buy. But the $1 normal stamp has $0.09 that is owed to the government as tax.
Businesses here have to collect tax on behalf of the government (GST collected is never owned by the business, unlike money to pay a power bill.) and pay it periodically throughout the year. The international post stamp is GST exempt, so no tax needs to be collected or due because of its sale.
Therefore, Australia Post will get one whole dollar when one $1 International Post stamp is sold but only 91 cents when a $1 domestic stamp is sold. So to post a parcel overseas using domestic stamps, the post office is not making as much profit, hence more stamps need to be used to compensate. Conversely, using International Post stamps domestically, the government does not get its due, which is illegal.
Items here either do or do not have a GST component. Most do but essentials like bread, milk etc do not. Stamps are a special case that needs to identified depending on useage and hence the extra "International Post" label.
GST is a little bit more complicated than this of course. But to answer the question, it will suffice as an explanation. And no I am not a tax agent so this is not legal advice of any kind, but I have studied this and understand it (well some of it anyway).
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