# How does the government check the validity of postage stamps?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-check-the-validity-of-postage-stamps/395680>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 12, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-check-the-validity-of-postage-stamps/395680 "2007-03-12T23:42:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-check-the-validity-of-postage-stamps/395680/41 "2019-02-08T18:06:15Z")

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> [@Peter\_Morris](#):
>
> IRS tax debt. He just told you.

If that’s the _only_ type of debt for which they serve as legal tender, then it was a very odd way of phrasing the claim.

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**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-check-the-validity-of-postage-stamps/395680/42 "2019-02-08T19:36:49Z")

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> [@drachillix](#):
>
> Stamps can be considered legal tender for certain debts and can be used to pay IRS tax debt.

I’d like to know more about this. Can I pay with sheets over sheets of 1cent stamps?

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**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-check-the-validity-of-postage-stamps/395680/43 "2019-02-08T21:21:55Z")

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> [@drachillix](#):
>
> Stamps can be considered legal tender for certain debts and can be used to pay IRS tax debt.

Are you perchance thinking of [revenue stamps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue_stamps_of_the_United_States), rather than postage stamps?

I’ve never heard of this, but I keep get phone calls from the IRS telling me that I can pay my taxes using iTunes gift cards, so I assume anything is possible.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-check-the-validity-of-postage-stamps/395680/44 "2019-02-08T22:22:24Z")

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> [@jjakucyk](#):
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> I’m curious about this too. I’ve received a few letters with no visible cancellation stamp, so what’s to stop me from peeling it off and reusing it? Could the USPS be using ultraviolet ink or something else that’s not visible, or is this just a goof, like their stamper ran out of ink?

Pretty much, that’s safe. I dont suggest it, however.  
In theory, just peeling off stamps you didnt actually mail is invalid.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-government-check-the-validity-of-postage-stamps/395680/45 "2019-02-08T22:25:48Z")

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> [@drachillix](#):
>
> Stamps can be considered legal tender for certain debts and can be used to pay IRS tax debt.

At one time that was true, but no longer.

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