How do I get a refund for a USPS label I printed but didn't use?

USPS Click-N-Ship labels

“Unused Click-N-Ship® labels are eligible for refunds up to 60 days after the print date (the label transaction date).”

1. Check it qualifies: not scanned by USPS, printed within the past 30 days, and no refund already requested.
2. Log in to Click-N-Ship and open Shipping History.
3. Tick the labels, choose Refund Labels from the Track Labels menu, and click Proceed.
4. Printed 30 to 60 days ago? Email the Click-N-Ship Help Desk with your username, account number, label number, and the transaction number and date.

“If a label was printed more than 30 but less than 60 days ago, email the Click-N-Ship Help Desk for a refund.”

“Approved Click-N-Ship refunds are credited to the original payment account.”

Labels from a selling platform or label service

Labels sold by a USPS-approved PC Postage provider follow DMM 604.9.3. Shipping labels carry a package identification code (the tracking barcode), so these rules from 604.9.3.10 apply:

“The PC Postage system provider grants or denies a request for a refund for PC Postage indicia using established USPS criteria.”

“Requests must be initiated for within thirty (30) days of printing the indicia.”

“If a postage refund is granted, the original physical shipping label must be destroyed by the authorized user.”

“The provider may, at its discretion, charge for processing a refund request.”

DMM 604.9.3.10 also says requests go to the provider electronically, using the provider's own procedures, and that you don't send labels in. Where you bought the label is where you start.

If the provider says no, DMM 604.9.3.8 allows an appeal within 30 days of the ruling, through USPS's director of Commercial Payment, with the original label sent in and your reason. “If the appeal to an unfavorable refund request ruling results in a refund being granted, the amount refunded may not exceed 90% of the indicia’s face value.” (DMM 604.9.3.8)

Closing a label account with money left in it is a separate request to the provider: “Individual customer refunds are not issued for unused postage value less than $25 remaining in a PC Postage system.” (DMM 604.9.3.12)

Stamps, meter strips and other labels

“Authorized users must submit the refund request within sixty (60) days of the date(s) shown in the indicia.”

“will refund the postage and USPS Label Delivery Service fee if the label was not delivered. The Postal Service will refund the postage only if the label is delivered and not used.”

Worked example: a canceled sale