Legal Alert: USPS Postmark Changes May Impact Filing Deadlines
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has implemented a change affecting how postmarks are applied to mail. Going forward, mail will be postmarked on the day that it is processed at an automated regional facility, which may be several days after you placed it in a mailbox or dropped it at a local post office. As a result, some mail may no longer receive a traditional, clearly dated postmark showing the exact day it was mailed.
This change is important because many legal, tax, and administrative deadlines may rely on the postmark date– not the date a document is received- to determine whether a filing is timely. If you plan to mail time-sensitive documents, relying solely on a USPS postmark may no longer be sufficient to prove compliance with a deadline or as proof of timely mailing by courts or agencies.
Recommended best practices:
- Mail documents well in advance of any deadline
- Go to the USPS Counter & Request a Manual Postmark.
- Use Certified Mail, Priority Mail, or other trackable services
- Obtain and retain mailing receipts or proof of acceptance
- Consider using online portals, electronic filing or hand delivery when available
Our firm is closely monitoring these changes and how courts and agencies respond. If you have questions about how this may affect your filings or deadlines, please contact your attorney to discuss the safest delivery option.
**Rules on timely filing and acceptable proof of mailing vary by jurisdiction and by agency; this alert provides general information only, not legal advice for any specific matter.
