New Postal Service guidance on postmarks could affect ballot, tax deadlines

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United States Postal Service mail box is seen near the street in Chicago, United States on October 18, 2022. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The U.S. Postal Service has finalized new rules clarifying postmark practices, a move that could have implications for tax deadlines and voting by mail. 

The Postal Service said it is adopting a new section of the Domestic Mail Manual that defines what a postmark is and how it is used. 

The backstory:

The U.S. Postal Service on Aug. 12 published a proposed rule aimed at clarifying what a postmark means and how it is used in postal operations, stressing that a postmark date does not always reflect the day a piece of mail was first accepted.

What they're saying:

"A postmark confirms that the Postal Service was in possession of a mailpiece on the date shown," the agency said. "However, the postmark date does not inherently or necessarily align with the date on which the Postal Service first accepted possession of the mailpiece."

What you can do:

To address potential confusion, the agency advised customers who need a postmark that matches the date of acceptance—such as for legal, tax, or election deadlines—to request a manual postmark at a retail location. 

Customers who need proof of when the Postal Service first took possession of a mailing were also reminded that services such as Certificates of Mailing are available.