Clara Anderson

Postmarks will now be marked on the day they are processed instead of the day they are received by the USPS.

On Dec. 24, the United States Postal Service, also known as USPS, administered new postmark procedures for mail. This was addressed by an official statement given by USPS on Jan. 2. A postmark is an official mark on a letter that gives the place, date and time of mailing. The new policy states that mail will be postmarked on the day that it is processed rather than the day USPS received it. Sometimes mail is processed on the same day, other times it is processed a few days after. 

This rule was submitted to the Federal Register, a journal uploaded daily which contains public notice for new regulations, in August. The document states that USPS is not changing the definition of a postmark, they are simply clarifying it. They acknowledge that third-parties, such as the IRS or any other agency that has put an emphasis on postmarks, have been incorrectly utilizing the tool. 

The goal of this clarification is to streamline the process of mailing. This is to further the goals of the Regional Transportation Optimization Initiative that was introduced in April 2025. The RTO essentially states that smaller post offices located more than 50 miles from processing centers will no longer have their mail picked up at the end of the day. Instead, it will be collected when mail is dropped off at the beginning of the next day. These changes were made in an effort to save money. 

Although these changes may seem unimportant, the postmark and effects of the RTO are incredibly important regarding time-sensitive mail. This includes rent checks, tax returns, government service documents, legal documents and mail-in ballots. 

In order to combat the complications caused by these documents being processed later than the date they are due, there are a few solutions. The first is using any online alternative to mailing. This is significant for many government documents, as many government organizations have put an emphasis on online processes for convenience. 

For documents that must be mailed, there are three options. 

1. A manual postmark. This can be obtained by meeting with a clerk at any retail Postal Service location. This will mark the mail with the date and location on the day it was received, for free.
2. A certificate of mail, which provides evidence that the item was mailed on a specific date. It currently costs $2.40. 
3. Purchasing certified mail. This provides the sender with proof of mailing, delivery, and offers electronic tracking. The base price for certified mail is $5.30.