What You Need to Know
AARP••nation
Key Points:
- The USPS has changed its mail dating procedure to postmark letters and packages based on when they are processed at a postal facility, not when dropped off, potentially affecting the timeliness of deadline-sensitive mail.
- This change aims to reduce costs and streamline processing by consolidating operations but may cause issues for tax returns, Medicare documents, mail-in ballots, and other time-critical mail.
- To ensure mail is dated correctly, consumers are advised to request manual postmarks, use registered or certified mail, or obtain certificates of mailing by submitting items in person at the post office.
- Many time-sensitive filings, such as tax returns and Social Security or Medicare applications, can be submitted online with immediate confirmation, reducing reliance on USPS processing times.
