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Most Royal Mail postage bought through a franking machine is exempt from VAT, so there is no VAT to add or reclaim on standard 1st and 2nd Class franked mail. VAT at 20% does apply, however, to the things around your postage: the franking machine itself, ink cartridges, labels, maintenance and certain premium or business services. This guide explains exactly what is taxed, what...

Faint, streaky or incomplete franking impressions are usually a blocked printhead, low or old ink, or a badly seated cartridge. Here are the common causes and simple fixes.

A franking machine saves you money on almost every letter you send, because Royal Mail charges a lower Mailmark franking rate than the equivalent stamp price. In 2026 the headline saving is 3p on a standard First Class letter (£1.77 franked versus £1.80 by stamp) and up to 44p on a First Class large letter (£2.86 franked versus £3.30 by stamp). The more post...

Franking machine labels let you frank parcels and bulky mail your machine cannot feed. Learn when to use them, which to buy and how to apply them cleanly.

Choosing the right franking machine ink comes down to three things: matching the cartridge to your exact machine model, using the correct colour for your mail type (blue for Mailmark and Smart meter machines, red for older standard machines), and making sure the ink is Royal Mail approved so your franking impression scans cleanly. Get those right and you protect your print quality, keep...

Mailmark franking machines print Royal Mail's blue barcode and earn its lowest letter prices. Learn what Mailmark is, whether you need one, and 2026 savings.