If you sell products on eBay, knowing all the IRS tax obligations you have is a very important part of your business.  You have sales tax to collect on product purchases, quarterly estimated taxes to pay and of course the traditional year-end tax forms to submit every April.

Top Rated Seller Webinars recently had a webinar focused on key tax laws, IRS forms and possible deductions for online sellers featuring financial-industry experts Laura Messerschmitt of Outright accounting software and Cliff Ennico, attorney and best selling author of numerous eBay books.

Topics in the webinar include:

• The whats, whens, and hows of income taxes for eBay sellers
• How to handle the 1099-K you received from PayPal
• Is selling on eBay a “business” or a “hobby”, and does it matter?
• Calculating your income from selling on eBay
• Common deductions that eBay sellers take

Top Rated Seller Webinars is a monthly webinar series for eBay sellers that is sponsored by Stamps.com, Outright, PageMage, eBay Radio, Terapeak and Kabbage. Sign-up for a webinar today!

No time to drive to the Post Office™? Good news! The USPS® offers a service called Carrier Pickup™ that allows you to get your packages picked up by your letter carrier at the same time your mail is delivered.

To qualify for free USPS Carrier Pickup service, you simply need one or more domestic Priority Mail or Express Mail shipments printed and ready to ship.  Mailpieces using other mail classes will be collected as well, but only as long as there is one of the qualifying mail classes in the shipment.

Scheduling a USPS Package Pickup
Before you get started make sure you have a Priority Mail, Express Mail or International Mail mailpiece printed and ready to ship.

Step #1 Click “USPS Pickup” under the View History menu, which is located in the left navigation bar when using the software or in the top navigation bar for the website. This page only will show packages whose mailing date is tomorrow or greater.

Step #2 Choose the packages you want to be included in the pickup by checking the corresponding check box and you will notice that the “Schedule Pickup” button activates. However to proceed, one of the selected mailpieces must qualify as described earlier.

Step #3 Click the “Schedule Pickup” button

Step #4 Make sure that all the contact and package info is correct

Step #5 Select the location that the packages will be placed for the carrier pickup

Step #6 If necessary, enter in any special instructions for the carrier

Step #7 Click “Submit”

You will be taken to a confirmation screen that includes a confirmation number. It’s important that you print out or otherwise record this number, as you will need it if you later need to change or cancel your reservation.

Stamps.com recently held a webinar on the 2013 USPS postage rate increase that occurred on January 27, 2013. If you missed the webinar, watch the recording below.

Here are the top questions and answers from the webinar:

GENERAL POSTAGE RATE INCREASE

Question from Cyndi: Are the Forever Stamps still valid to use today even if purchased last week?
Yes, if you purchased Forever Stamps from the Post Office (or another location), you can still use them today to mail a one-ounce first class letter.

Question from JoAnn: I have a supply of stamps printed with $0.45 from Stamps.com.  Can I use those or do I need to add $0.01 stamps to the letters?
Since the USPS now charges $0.46 to send a one-ounce first class letter, you will need to add a $0.01 stamp to your letter in order for it to be delivered by the USPS.

Question from Sonia: I see Delivery Confirmation now costs $0.20 I thought online it was free. Can you please let us now if it does cost or is free?
DC is free for First Class Package Service, Parcel Select, Priority Mail and Express Mail shipments. For all other mail classes it’s only 20 cents.

Question from Leslie: If we download the latest version of Stamps.com software, will our settings/address book still be available?
Yes, when you download the latest version of Stamps.com software (Version 10.0), all of your address books, batch profiles and settings will remain the same.

Question from Linda: How do we get the Commercial Base discounts for printing postage online?
If you print shipping labels using Stamps.com (or any online postage vendor), you automatically qualify to receive Commercial Base pricing.  These rates should be automatically calculated when you print postage.

Question from Sandy: Where can I find the qualifications to apply for Commercial Plus Pricing from the USPS?
Stamps.com supports Commercial Plus pricing if you qualify.  Please contact Stamps.com at 1-888-434-0055 or your local USPS sales representative to determine if you qualify for Commercial Plus pricing. Generally, you need to send at least 5,000 letter-size  and flat-size Priority Mail pieces (including Flat Rate Envelopes, but not the Padded Flat Rate Envelope) or 75,000 total Priority Mail pieces in the previous calendar year.

Question from Paula: Did the price of Certified Mail increase?
Yes, Certified Mail increased on January 27, 2013 to $3.10 from $2.95

Question from Jolene: Can I get the link to the 2013 USPS Postage Rate Increase that Stamps.com gave out?
Download the free 2013 USPS Postage Rate Increase guide (15-page PDF) at: http://www.stamps.com/whitepapers/2013-usps-postage-rate-increase-guide.pdf

PRIORITY MAIL

Question from Yana: Is there a price difference between Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes and Priority Mail Mailing Boxes (not flat rate)?
Yes, there are three types of Priority Mail and all three have different pricing structures.  Regional Rate Boxes have a different price than both Priority Mail Flat Rate and regular Priority Mail.   Get more info at:  http://www.stamps.com/usps/postage-rate-increase/

Question from Mike: Are Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes the same as Priority Mail Flat Rate in appearance?
Regional Rate boxes are similar in size, but have different actual dimensions compared to Priority Mail Flat Rate options.  As an example, Regional Rate Box A is sized at 10″ 1/8 x 7 ” 1/8 x 5″ (top loading).  That is just a little smaller than the Priority Mail Flat Rate Medium Box.  Get more info on Regional Rate Box sizes.

Question from Glen: Does Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes include Padded Envelopes?
Yes, there are three types of Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and padded envelopes are included.  The other two are the regular Flat Rate envelope and the Legal Flat Rate envelope.  Cost to send all three for Priority Mail International is $19.95.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

Question from Bob: Will I need to throw away my Customs Declaration CN22 forms (start with “LC”) if I ship First Class Package International Service to Canada and want the new free Delivery Confirmation?
Yes, if you want to see Delivery Confirmation for your First Class Package International Service packages going to Canada, you will need to use a new Customs Form.  Stamps.com will automatically print the updated Customs Form for you when you print First class Package International Service to Canada.

Question from Brien: Will the tracking for Canada you showed for First Class International be available at no cost for Priority Mail as well?
Delivery Confirmation for packages traveling to Canada will be included on First Class Package International Service as well as Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes and Priority Mail Flat Rate Small Boxes as well.  Other types of Priority Mail International have already included some form of tracking.

Question from Steve: When will the tracking numbers for Canadian shipments be able to track deliveries to the house?
As of January 27, 2013, any First Class Package International Service (or Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope or small box) going to a Canada address will include Delivery Confirmation.  It’s important to note that CanadaPost is only scanning the package one time — at the delivery or attempted delivery.

Question from Laurie: so before the increase Stamps.com did not offer any discount for First Class Mail International but now they do?
Yes, the USPS has moved the First Class Package International Service mail class into the “competitive services” category.  This allows the USPS to offer up to 10% off Post Office rates if you print postage from an online vendor such as Stamps.com.

PARCEL POST, STANDARD POST & PARCEL SELECT

Question from Randall: What are the domestic delivery times for the new Parcel Select service?
Parcel Select delivery is very similar to the former Parcel Post with delivery occurring in 2 to 9 days.

Question from Dave: I’m still seeing Parcel Post as an option in my Stamps.com software.  Where do I download the new version?
In order to stop seeing Parcel Post as a mailing option in your Stamps.com software, you will need to download the new version 10.0.  Download it today for free at http://www.stamps.com/download/

Question from Jennie: Can we still process Parcel Post through the Stamps.com?
No, you will no longer be able to print Parcel Post using Stamps.com.  The USPS has replaced the Parcel Post with Parcel Select for all online postage vendors.  Once the Parcel Select label is printed, you can hand your package to the mail carrier — no Post Office trip is required.

Question from Trish: Does Parcel Select ship by ground?
Yes, Parcel Select is a ground transportation by the USPS.  It is comparable service to FedEx Ground and UPS Ground.

Question from Antoinette: So there is no way to use Parcel Post or Standard Post with Stamps.com?
Correct. Parcel Post is no longer available from the USPS.  If you print postage online, you will need to use Parcel Select.  And if you go to the Post Office, you will need to use Standard Post.  Both services offer delivery in 2 to 9 days.

The only difference is where the USPS allows you to purchase the two different mail classes.  Parcel Select is only available online or through an approved USPS vendor.   Standard Post is only available at the Post Office.  Both services include free Delivery Confirmation and both provide delivery in 2 to 9 days.

On January 27, 2013, the USPS discontinued the Parcel Post mail class and replaced it with two options — Parcel Select for online postage buyers and Standard Post for customers who buy postage at the Post Office. Delivery service for both Parcel Select and Standard Post are almost identical to Parcel Post, with delivery within 2-8 days.

In previous years, the primary users of the Parcel Select were delivery services such as UPS and FedEx, who typically brought at least 50 packages sent by large retailers to Postal Service destination delivery units (DDUs) for USPS to deliver to residential addresses.

Now, the USPS has eliminated the 50 package minimum for Parcel Select (non-presort) for all customers who print postage online.

Top Questions about Parcel Select:

What is Parcel Select?
Parcel Select is designed for large and medium sized shippers looking for an economical ground delivery service. The mail class offers the lowest cost option from the USPS for ground delivery. Price is determined by distance, weight and dimensions of the mailpiece.

How long does it take to deliver a Parcel Select package?
Parcel Select (non-presort) offers U.S. delivery within 2-8 days for packages being delivered to the contiguous 48 states.  If your package is being delivered to or from Alaska, Hawaii or an U.S. territory, Parcel Select delivery times can be significantly longer.  Overall, the service is very similar to the former Parcel Post mail class.

When should I use Parcel Select?
Use Parcel Select if you are printing postage online and low shipping rates are more important than delivery speed.

Is Parcel Select cheaper than Standard Post?
Yes, if your package is 28 lbs. or lower in weight, the Parcel Select rate is cheaper than the Standard Post rate.

Example: 20 Lb. package – Las Vegas, NV to Atlanta, GA.
Parcel Select = $27.49 (Savings of $7.09 vs. Standard Post)
Standard Post = $34.58

If your package is 29 lbs. or heavier, other mail classes may be cheaper than Parcel Select. Make sure you research all available USPS options.

Does Parcel Select include free Delivery Confirmation?
Yes, Parcel Select includes free Delivery Confirmation. Tracking can be viewed using the USPS Track & Confirm website or using the Stamps.com package tracking page.

Can I use Parcel Select to ship only one package?
Yes, there is no minimum package quantity required as long as you print your Parcel Select label using online postage.

Does the USPS offer more than one Parcel Select rate?
Yes, the USPS has many variations of the Parcel Select mail class. Prices are determined by pre-sorting parcels by delivery address and drop shipping the packages at a destination facility located closer to the delivery point.

#1 Parcel Select – Nonpresort: Service is available online through PC Postage vendors such as Stamps.com. There are no minimum package numbers needed and labels do not need to be pre-sorted. THIS IS THE TYPE OF PARCEL SELECT PRINTED BY STAMPS.COM!

#2 Parcel Select – Destination Entry: Must have 50 minimum Parcel Select packages. Service requires mailer to enter packages at the Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC)/ASF for delivery within the DNDC/ASF service area or entered at the designated facility for delivery within the Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) area, sorted by 5-digit scheme or 5-digit ZIP Code destinations.

#3 Parcel Select – NDC Presort: Must have 50 minimum Parcel Select packages. All packages must have addresses presorted and must be entered into mailstream at a postal facility other than a Network Distribution Center (NDC) that accepts bulk mail.

#4 Parcel Select – ONDC Presort: Must include 50 minimum Parcel Select packages. All packages must have addresses presorted and must be entered into mailstream at NDC.

#5 Parcel Select Lightweight: Designed for packages weighing less than 1 lb. and are used for order fulfillment, packages must be presorted and enter the mailstream at one of three entry points: Destination Delivery Unit (DDU), Sectional Center Facility (SCF) or NDC.

Can I buy Parcel Select at the Post Office?
NO — Parcel Select can only be purchased online via a PC Postage vendor (such as Stamps.com) or from an authorized USPS business partner.

Can I buy Standard Post (formerly known as Parcel Post) online using Stamps.com?
NO — Standard Post postage can only be purchased at the Post Office.

Are there online rate discounts available for Parcel Select?
NO — the USPS has not authorized Commercial Base or Commercial Plus price discounts for Parcel Select. Since the mail class can only be printed via a PC Postage vendor (such as Stamps.com) or authorized USPS business partner, the discounted rates are already incorporated in the price.

What is the maximum weight and box size of Parcel Select?
Maximum weight of a Parcel Select package is 70 lbs. For box size, the maximum combined length and girth of 130″ — combined measurement of the longest side and the distance around the thickest part of package can’t be more than 130″.

Can I hand my Parcel Select package to my mail carrier?
Yes, as long as your Parcel Select package has pre-paid postage from Stamps.com or another PC Postage vendor, you may hand the package to your daily mail carrier.

Can I drop off my Parcel Select package at the Post Office?
Yes, you may drop off any Parcel Select package on the Post Office desk without waiting in line as long as your package contains pre-paid postage from Stamps.com or another PC Postage vendor.

Stamps.com has released the “2013 USPS Postage Rate Increase Guide” to help small business owners understand the postage rate increase that went into effect on January 27, 2013.

The FREE guide contains 15 pages of detailed information on postage rates for each USPS mail class, including special services.

The USPS Postage Rate Increase Guide provides:

• Description of the 2013 rate increases for each USPS mail class
• Introduces new USPS services for 2013 including Standard Post and First Class Package International Service
• Includes links to USPS mail class rate charts

The guide is free and can be downloaded at:

http://www.stamps.com/whitepapers/2013-usps-postage-rate-increase-guide.pdf