Reported significant change in USPS initial postmark date

[GON]

Earlier today read a posting that stated the official date stamp on USPS mailed letters will transition from the local post office the letter was mailed, to the date a regional USPS sorting facility processes the letter.

Why this is important, one example is federal income taxes. No longer getting hard copy taxes in the mail the last day of filing will satisfy the date requirements by the IRS. I am sure there are dozens of other examples that a date stamp on mail is critical.

 

[JohnnyG]

VOTE early and often!

 

[Nukeman7]

Here is another example of why the USPS performance and standards have been degraded. Hoping that @Astro14 didn't lose a Christmas present as a result of this clown!

Mailed Dumped by USPS Carrier

 

[dnewton3]

USPS ... "We Over-promise and Under-deliver". Rather than fight to improve the system, the USPS just capitulates the standard.

This has major implications in many legal applications. And what's the course of deference here? Does the mailer or mailee get the preferential nod?
point: one can no longer "prove" they complied with some required action on X date
counter point: others cannot prove you didn't comply with some required action on X date

Just a few ways this is going to be a dastardly unraveling
* taxes mailed
* juror forms
* compliance dates for court actions like civil payments, etc
* etc

This leaves a huge void in accountability. The chain-of-custody becomes an abyss.

 

[Nukeman7]

USPS ... "We Over-promise and Under-deliver". Rather than fight to improve the system, the USPS just capitulates the standard.

This has major implications in many legal applications. And what's the course of deference here? Does the mailer or mailee get the preferential nod?
point: one can no longer "prove" they complied with some required action on X date
counter point: others cannot prove you didn't comply with some required action on X date

Just a few ways this is going to be a dastardly unraveling
* taxes mailed
* juror forms
* compliance dates for court actions like civil payments, etc
* etc

This leaves a huge void in accountability. The chain-of-custody becomes an abyss.

The announcement does leave one recourse for mail that has to be postmarked on the date it is mailed. Get in a slow moving, long line full of irritable, impatient people and have it date stamped at the postal service counter.

"Time-sensitive mail should be mailed several days before deadline or you can go inside your local post office and ask for a hand-stamped postmark on the date you mail it."

 

[Owen Lucas]

VOTE early and often!

So you're saying I should get my own postmark, a bunch of ballots, and post mark them early to make sure they are counted?

 

[Rmay635703]

I have to send bills and other critical things like rent by mail.

I’ve had several items take over a month to get to their destination, others just lost.

This is 100% a manmade problem that is unacceptable.

I ended up driving 35 miles to hand my rent to the landlord due to this bs.

This has happened very occasionally in the past but not for EVERY letter.

 

[cheech279]

Gon, this postmarking policy was in effect for some time before being an agency standard. For sensitive mail like tax returns, as others have mentioned you can still go to your local post office and ask for it to be "hand cancelled." For things like rent payments to a landlord, Zelle or Venmo can work.

 

[opus1]

...I’ve had several items take over a month to get to their destination, others just lost...

Right there with you. I have two items floating around since December. I made other arrangements when the due date was a day or two off so no late charges, but they're still in limbo somewhere. And three other items I mailed out the same day all reached their destination(s) in plenty of time.

They seem to have taken incompetence to a whole new level lately.