Office Memorandum – Guidelines for Refund of Postage Charges in Respect of International Mail Articles

DA-26/3/2020-DA

Government of India

Ministry of Communications

Department of Posts

(DA Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg

New Delhi – 110001

Dated 16.07.2026

Office Memorandum

Subject: Guidelines for refund of postage charges in respect of International Mail Articles – reg.

The undersigned is directed to convey that, considering references received from Circles/FPOs regarding refund of postage in cases where conveyance service could not be rendered by India Post, the Competent Authority has decided to issue the following guidelines for regulating refund of postage in respect of International Mail Articles.

2. Admissibility of Refund of Postage

In pursuance of Clause 119(2) and 119A(5), Chapter IV of the Post Office Regulations, 2024, refund of postage shall be admissible in the following three cases:

(A) Recall of Article by Sender

The sender of an accountable International Mail Article may recall the article before Customs assessment/examination by submitting a written request at the booking Post Office. Where the article has already been presented to Customs, the concerned FPO/SFPO shall request termination of export and return of the article on the basis of the sender's request. No recall fee shall be charged in either of the above cases. However, only 70% of the postage paid shall be refunded.