Refunds of Permit Postage – Washington, D.C., Main Office Window

OIG data analytics identified Washington, D.C., MOW permit postage refunds totaling about $978,640 for fiscal year (FY) 2020, which is 98 percent of the district total and the highest in the nation. The office issued more BRM refunds compared to other post offices because companies located in other states purchased their BRM permits with a Washington, D.C., address. The refund total for this account is 46 percent of the unit’s year-end total revenue of about $2 million for Washington, D.C. MOW. In addition, we identified several months with little or no refund activity. The objective of this audit was to determine whether postage affixed BRM refunds were properly issued, supported, and processed at the Washington, D.C., MOW.