Duties and levies: Cheque duty
Licensed printers
With the advent of MICR (magnetisable ink character recognition) on cheques, and the use of computers by banks, the bulk of cheque printing is done by relatively few printers who have been licensed to pay cheque duty monthly.
A printing firm engaged extensively in the printing of cheques on their own behalf or for the use of its customers, may apply for a licence to print cheques on a monthly basis. Otherwise, numerous applications for individual temporary licences would be required before printing.
To apply for a licence, write to the Duties Unit and provide the following details:
- the expected volume of cheques and the number of printing orders
- the approximate number of cheques to be produced per month
- the number, if any, of "temporary licences" or extensions of licences in the previous 12 months and the number of cheques involved in such licences.
When a licence is granted, we will advise the authorised printer in writing of the allocated licence number. This number must be shown on the face of all cheques printed under that licence.
Date published: 23 Nov 2004
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