{"id":65239,"date":"2026-01-28T06:52:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T10:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=65239"},"modified":"2026-01-28T06:52:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T10:52:01","slug":"international-reply-coupons-ircs-are-being-phased-out-as-of-december-31-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/international-reply-coupons-ircs-are-being-phased-out-as-of-december-31-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"International Reply Coupons (IRCs) are being phased out as of December 31, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor Paul Evans for pointing us to this update from the Universal Postal Union (UPU)<\/a>: after nearly 120 years since their introduction in 1907, International Reply Coupons (IRCs) are being phased out as of 31 December 2026.<\/p>\n

IRCs have long served as a universal postage currency, allowing SWLs to prepay return postage for international listener reports in the postal systems of the UPU\u2019s 192 member countries. The UPU\u2019s decision to discontinue IRCs reflects broader changes in international postal services and the shift toward digital communication, but existing coupons will remain valid and exchangeable through the end of 2026. A special commemorative product marking the IRC\u2019s legacy is also planned as part of this transition.<\/p>\n

Read the full press release here: https:\/\/www.upu.int\/en\/press-release\/2025\/end-of-a-chapter-start-of-a-legacy-the-international-reply-coupon-enters-the-history-books<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Evans for pointing us to this update from the Universal Postal Union (UPU): after nearly 120 years since their introduction in 1907, International Reply Coupons (IRCs) are being phased out as of 31 December 2026. IRCs have long served as a universal postage currency, allowing SWLs to prepay […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[11028,11027],"class_list":["post-65239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-international-reply-coupon","tag-irc"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-gYf","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27395,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/radio-caroline-special-event-august-3-7-2017\/","url_meta":{"origin":65239,"position":0},"title":"Radio Caroline Special Event, August 3 – 7, 2017","author":"Thomas","date":"August 3, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Harald Kuhl, who shares the following: (Sources: QRZ.com and http:\/\/www.martellotowergroup.com\/gb5rc.html) Celebrating five decades of offshore radio broadcasting GB5RC For the full report of GB5RC in 2016, click\u00a0here Thursday 3rd - Monday 7th August 2017 Following our successful activation of MV Ross Revenge in August\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Ross-Revenge-Caroline.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Ross-Revenge-Caroline.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Ross-Revenge-Caroline.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9279,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/radio-andorra-postage-stamp\/","url_meta":{"origin":65239,"position":1},"title":"Radio Andorra Postage Stamp","author":"Thomas","date":"April 15, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Marty, who writes from Madrid: \"Just wanted to let you know about an interesting postage stamp that was issued this month in the Principality of Andorra. Actually, the Spanish Post Office \"Correos\" issues the stamps for Andorra, and this one in particular observes the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Boc_RADIO_ANDORRA_B2M0.ai","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Boc_RADIO_ANDORRA_B2M0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43866,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/radio-waves-radio-afghanistan-postal-delays-kph-video-and-the-software-defined-radio-academy\/","url_meta":{"origin":65239,"position":2},"title":"Radio Waves: Radio Afghanistan, Postal Delays, KPH Video, and the Software Defined Radio Academy","author":"Thomas","date":"June 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Boat-Anchor-Dial-Silvertone-Precision-e1531303398781.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Boat-Anchor-Dial-Silvertone-Precision-e1531303398781.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Boat-Anchor-Dial-Silvertone-Precision-e1531303398781.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Boat-Anchor-Dial-Silvertone-Precision-e1531303398781.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61942,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/usps-suspends-parcel-shipments-from-china-and-hong-kong-amid-new-tariffs\/","url_meta":{"origin":65239,"position":3},"title":"USPS Temporarily Suspends Parcel Shipments from China and Hong Kong Amid New Tariffs","author":"Thomas","date":"February 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"UPDATE: The USPS has reversed this decision and parcel delivery has been resumed. Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Eric, who notes that if you live in the US and have incoming packages from China or Hong Kong, you may experience delays. Here's the story from the BBC: US Postal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/TecsunPL-880Box.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/TecsunPL-880Box.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/TecsunPL-880Box.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/TecsunPL-880Box.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/TecsunPL-880Box.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/TecsunPL-880Box.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13104,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/support-a-willis-conover-us-postage-stamp\/","url_meta":{"origin":65239,"position":4},"title":"Support a Willis Conover US postage stamp","author":"Thomas","date":"May 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"If you're a fan of the iconic Willis Conover, you might consider signing this petition supporting a postage stamp in his honor. 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Why could prices increase?\u00a0 Keeping in mind, I'm no expert in this field (seriously--!) I understand there are at least three factors that could\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/RadiosShootOut-SonyTecsunSangean.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/RadiosShootOut-SonyTecsunSangean.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/RadiosShootOut-SonyTecsunSangean.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65239"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65242,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65239\/revisions\/65242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}