The US Postal Service is making a slew of changes to its postmark process, which could lead to late fees and penalties for anyone mailing time-sensitive documents such as tax returns or bill payments, USA Today reported.
What is a USPS postmark?
A USPS postmark is used to indicate the date when mail was dropped in a mailbox or submitted at the post office counter. Now, USPS has clarified in a new rule that the postmark will reflect the date an envelope is first processed by an automated USPS sorting machine, which could be days after it was dropped off and not the actual drop-off date.
Changes to USPS postmarks are part of its ‘Delivering For America’ initiative that includes consolidation of mail processing and modernising infrastructure to fit a time when the volume of paper letters is dropping and the number of packages is increasing.
How does the new postmark rule affect your mail?
Tax payments, charitable contributions, legal filings, rent payments and other bills or items that rely on postmark dates for deadlines can be impacted by later postmarks and risk late fees, penalties, or delinquency.
Many states also accept ballots that are postmarked by Election Day.
To deal with this hindrance, time-sensitive mail should be mailed several days before the deadline. People can also go inside their local post office and ask for a hand-stamped “manual postmark” on the date, or use certified mail.
When do USPS postal shipping rates go up and how much more will it cost?
While the cost of a First-Class Mail stamp, currently $0.78, is not set to rise at this time, shipping costs for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select rates are all expected to go up in 2026.
The increase in USPS shipping rates is set to take effect on Jan. 18. Prices are based on the package’s weight and the distance it is being shipped.
Priority Mail prices start at $10.45 per package and $11.90 for a flat-rate Priority Mail envelope. They are expected to increase 6.6%. Priority Mail Express packages start at $32.50 and flat-rate envelopes start at $33.40. They are expected to increase by 5.1%.
USPS Ground Advantage starts at $7.20 and is expected to increase by 7.8%. Parcel Select is expected to increase by 6%, according to USA Today.
