Rules & Resources
Newspaper Support Center

Third-Party Sales Guidelines and Rules

(U.S. and Canadian Newspaper Publications)

PAYMENT

Payment Due by Purchaser

Copies purchased by Businesses
The invoice should be paid in full, after the normal ‘net 30/60/90 day’ accounting collection cycle.

For any balance due that remains unpaid or balances that are written off as bad debt, the copies represented by the invoice(s) must be excluded from paid circulation claimed on ABC reports. Third-party sales circulation is not eligible for inclusion in the Home-Delivery 4% Allowance.

‘Arrears’ copies (also known as grace copies) served to recipients of third-party sales subscriptions are not eligible at any time for inclusion as paid circulation.

Copies Funded by Vacation Donations
If the third-party sales program is funded by vacation donations, the account must have sufficient funds on deposit to cover the cost of the newspapers as of the date the distribution will occur.

REMINDER:

  • A general fund for third-party sales is not acceptable.
  • When the subscriber is solicited for the vacation donation, they must be given a choice as to how that donation will be used (e.g., Meals-on-Wheels, newspapers to nursing home patients, hospital patients, etc.). The subscriber must then choose the specific program to which their funds will be donated.
  • The newspaper must maintain records to support the funding for each specific program.
  • Funds designated by subscribers for NIE may not be used to fund circulation claimed on ABC reports as third-party sales. Also, funds designated by subscribers for a third-party sales program may not be used to fund copies claimed on ABC reports as NIE.

Identify if Payment is in Form of Cash or Barter

Copies Purchased by Businesses
ABC must be informed as to whether the payment for the balance due as a result of the entire third-party sales transaction will be made in cash (cash, check, credit card) or barter.

The term “barter” means the purchaser will provide the newspaper with goods or services in lieu of cash payment for the balance due on its account. This method of payment is acceptable for third-party sales.

Copies Funded by Vacation Donations
If the third-party sales program is funded by vacation donations, then only cash payment is acceptable.

If Barter:
The ABC board of directors adopted a guideline that defines acceptable items that may be used as barter payment for third-party sales.

For the auditor's review, the publication must complete and maintain the following forms for all barter sales:





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