The sale of stamps has since the independence of Tuvalu in 1976 has been an important source of revenue for the country and government.

The Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau was established on 1 January 1976, which was the day the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony was dissolved and Tuvalu was established with separate British dependency status.

Karl Tili was the first Tuvaluan general manager of the Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau from 1989 to 31 December 2011.

The Tuvalu Post Office is not separately constituted and is a government department.

The Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau has published a newsletter since March 1976, initially under the name News and Views.