The U.S. Postal Service made a minor change to a decades-long policy that could spell big trouble if you never realize it. The postmark system traditionally marks proof someone met a deadline to send a letter. Now, USPS has altered the system which will impact how and when you receive mail ballots, tax and healthcare information.
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In a rule so small you might’ve missed it, a USPS postmark no longer marks the date a letter is dropped off to a mailbox or handed to the office in person, Forbes reported. This policy began on Dec. 24, but it wasn’t until after the Christmas holiday that many folks began noticing the change.
A postmark now shows the date the envelope is first processed, taking the control out of the hand of the sender and putting it into an automated sorting machine instead. With this change, it could take days for new mail to be processed and dated.
Americans have relied on this idea of what’s known as the “mailbox rule”– if you mail something important, it will be marked the date of submission. Unfortunately, it’s likely the new policy will cause issues in these major ways:
Tax Season
For taxpayers who rely on mail to receive their tax return, challenges could arise. Imagine if your return is dropped off at the Post Office on April 16 but not processed until a day or two later. That not only could lead to delays in receiving your check, but more importantly, under a literal reading of the tax code, the filing could be marked as untimely altogether. Tax payments, legal filings, bill payments and other deadlines are also all expected to be impacted by the USPS policy.
Voting By Ballot
A similar sentiment can be applied for election season. In the 2024 election, almost 60 percent of American voters casted their ballots by mail or early, according to USA Facts. With midterms coming up next year, voters are expected to rely on mail to cast their votes once again, but unlike before, submitting your ballot by your state’s deadline might not guarantee your vote gets counted in time. Many states only accept ballots that are postmarked by Election Day.
Still, experts say being proactive about sending mail and properly tracking your letters can prevent you from having issues down the line. USPS is also rolling out modern, technology-focused post office lobbies across the country. The plan includes self-service kiosks, 24/7 smart lockers, digital displays and more.
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