USPS Postmarks: Fact vs. Myth

There are a lot of rumors flying around about postmarks and the United States Postal Service. You may read that the USPS just gave itself a pass to delay postmarking.

The USPS filed a rule in the Federal Register that defined postmarks and postal possession, effective December 24, 2025. Until that date, it was commonly believed that mail was postmarked on the date it first came into the USPS’s possession. The new rule clarifies that, “while the presence of a postmark on a mailpiece confirms that the Postal Service was in possession of the mailpiece on the date of the postmark's inscription, the postmark date does not inherently or necessarily align with the date on which the Postal Service first accepted possession of the mailpiece.”

Today, we’ll talk about how you can ensure your important mail is postmarked on time and get full transparency in the process.

Why Did USPS Make a Change Now?

It’s being reported that USPS has changed its postmarking policy, and while that is true, it’s not the whole truth. In a recent statement, the USPS clarified that “The Postal Service has not changed and is not changing our postmarking practices, which have been consistent since we began moving away from hand-canceling every item at Post Offices decades ago.” Instead, the USPS simply updated its Domestic Mail Manual to reflect its current operational practices and educate customers about the postmark and what it means.

So why are more postmarks seemingly applied later than usual? The new rule states that Regional Transportation Optimization and leg-based services “increases the likelihood that a postmark applied at originating processing facilities—the locations where postmarks are typically applied—will contain a date that does not align with the date on which the Postal Service first accepted possession of the mailpiece.”

This new rule isn’t about changing practice. It’s about ensuring clear communication on the Postal Service’s existing practices.

How Can You Get Transparency and Clear Delivery Timelines?

If you’re mailing time-sensitive documents that require a postmark by a certain date, don’t rely on simply dropping your letter in a mailbox. To ensure your mail includes a postmark and that the postmark is dated on the day you dropped it off, take your letter to the post office and request a manual (local) postmark. In elections with mail-in ballot postmark deadlines, a manual postmark could be the difference between your vote being counted or thrown in the trash.

Sending important parcels or papers? FedEx and UPS tracking begins as soon as the carrier takes possession and is scanned into the system. Service guarantees add an extra layer of accountability, with refunds for service failures.

When you sign up for a parcel audit with ShipRx, you get automatic checks on every parcel you send. The major carriers sometimes make mistakes, but you shouldn’t pay for them.

Our proprietary parcel audit software performs more than 40 checks on every parcel you send to identify failures. Once discovered, our team handles any disputes, sending refunds or credits directly to your UPS and FedEx invoices.

Sign up here— no postmark required!