USPS Postmarks: What You Need to Know
A new rule from the United States Postal Service (USPS) takes effect on December 24, which could impact whether your end-of-the-year checks will be counted toward 2025 charitable giving.
The USPS rule clarifies that postmarks reflect the date of the first automated processing, which is often done at regional distribution centers, NOT at local drop-off points.
In other words, there could be a several-day delay between dropping off a piece of mail and when it receives its postmark. That time gap could determine whether a charitable gift counts toward tax year 2025 or 2026.
Ensuring a Postmark on the Date of Delivery
According to the National Society of Tax Professionals, to ensure a postmark is applied on the same day a document is delivered to the USPS, individuals must utilize specific retail services. The final rule outlines the following methods:
- Request a Manual Postmark: Customers may present a mail piece at a retail counter and request a “manual (local) postmark”. This postmark is applied at the time of acceptance, so the date aligns with the date the USPS took possession.
- Postage Validation Imprint (PVI): When a customer pays for postage at a retail counter, the PVI label applied by the employee also indicates the date of acceptance.
- Certificates of Mailing: Customers may purchase a Certificate of Mailing, or use Registered or Certified Mail, to obtain a receipt that serves as evidence of the date the item was presented for mailing
