Mailing Services

The Postal Service has four key initiatives to streamline the acceptance, induction, and verification of commercial mailings: Full-Service Intelligent Mail, Move Update, eInduction, and Seamless Acceptance. These key initiatives leverage existing technology to:

  • Improve mail quality by sharing information on mail preparation, identification of trends as well as trend-based quality measurements
  • Simplify the induction of mailings through automated and standardized acceptance, verification, and induction processes
  • Provide end-to-end visibility through scan data

Updates

11/13/2020
Provisioning Mail Quality Data with Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking and Reporting

Mail Quality Data (MQD-IV) leverages the Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR) application to enable mailers to receive uncapped Mail Quality Data.

Getting Started with Intelligent Mail

Full-Service Intelligent Mail offers mailers elimination of permit fees, address correction and visibility and tracking of mailings. USPS is proud to offer a list of certified software vendors and certified mail service providers that can help you start enjoying the benefits of Full-Service.

Solutions are available for small, medium and large volume mailers. Quick Service Guides are also available to provide an overview of mailing standards on the applicable subject matter

Mailer Identifier (MID)

The Mailer Identifier (MID) is a field within the Intelligent Mail barcode that is used to identify mailers. MIDs are assigned by the USPS® to a Mail Owner, Mailing Agent or other service providers who request them.

MIDs are either a 9-digit or a 6-digit numeric code and are assigned based on annual mail volume criteria. One 9-digit MID is assigned to a business location without a volume requirement.

Customer Registration ID (CRID)

The USPS® Customer Registration ID (CRID) is a unique number that identifies a specific business location involved in a mailing. In order to submit electronic documentation (and receive Full-Service benefits), customers must have a customer registration ID assigned to their business location. 

Service Type Identifiers (STIDs)

The Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) is used to identify mailpiece movement through the postal system and support any additional services requested for that mailpiece. The STID defines the mailpiece as full-service or basic (non-automation) and is also used to determine the disposition of undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail and the form of address correction that a mailer desires if any.

Move Update

The Move Update standard is a means of reducing the number of mailpieces in a mailing that require forwarding or return by the periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with change-of-address orders received and maintained by the Postal Service™. Mailers who claim First-Class Mail® presorted or automation prices, USPS Marketing Mail™ prices, and Parcel Select Lightweight® prices must demonstrate that they have updated their mailing list within 95 days before the mailing date.

Full-Service Assessments

The Postal Service began Assessments for Electronic Verification Metrics in November 2016 for October data.

Intelligent Mail Guides and Specs

For those new to Full-Service Intelligent Mail, there are several guides, specifications and manuals that will get you started and give a broad overview of the fundamentals of the program. 

Full-Service Solutions

Full-Service Intelligent Mail enables seamless acceptance and verification, as well as end-to-end visibility into the mail stream. It streamlines mail entry, provides visibility via scan data, expands access to scan data and mail-quality feedback to improve decision making, and improves efficiency. Full-Service is available for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Bound Printed Matter cards, letters, and flats.

For fact sheets on Full-Service Intelligent Mail, click here.

Electronic Documentation (eDoc)

To participate in Full-Service Intelligent Mail®, mailers must submit information electronically. This computer-consumable version replaces existing hardcopies and includes the following: postage statement and qualification report.

eInduction

The electronic Induction (eInduction) process simplifies the induction of drop shipments and expedited plant load mailings by leveraging existing eDoc, Intelligent Mail Container barcode (IMcb), and handheld scanner technologies to verify payment and preparation of commercial mail containers.

Seamless Acceptance

Seamless Acceptance automates the entry and verification of commercial mailings by leveraging electronic documentation, Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMbs), and information collected from handheld sampling devices and mail processing equipment scans.

For information regarding the Seamless Incentive, please click here.

Mailer Scorecard

The Mailer Scorecard provides a dashboard view of the results of the letter and flat mailing activity with the Postal Service over a calendar month. This view is available to both the mailer who submitted the electronic documentation for the mailing (eDoc submitter) and the mail owner/mail preparer. 

For more information on the mailer scorecard including the metrics and the assessment review process please see publication 685

Secure Destruction

Secure Destruction is a cost effective, secure, and convenient way to manage mail with personal protected information.

Part of the USPS® BlueEarth sustainability initiatives and an opt-in service, this new program securely shreds and recycles letter and flat-sized pieces of Undeliverable-As-Addressed (UAA) First-Class Mail® with personal protected information that would otherwise be returned to the sender (RTS).

 

Automated Business Reply Mail® (ABRM) Tool

The United States Postal Service® offers complimentary Reply Mail artwork via the Automated Business Reply Mail® (ABRM) tool, which allows Reply Mail customers to create approved USPS camera-ready artwork for domestic Reply Mail pieces in just a few steps.

Mail Anywhere

Full-Service mailers have the opportunity to use the same permit at any location via the Mail Anywhere program. Entry into the Mail Anywhere program is limited to mailers who meet the quality thresholds for Full-Service electronic verification.

Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV®-MTR)

Informed Visibility Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV-MTR) is a near real-time, single source for all domestic-bound mail and mail aggregate tracking information.

Intelligent Mail® for Small Business Mailers (IMsb)

Intelligent Mail® for Small Business Mailers (IMsb) is a free online tool which will allow you to produce the presorted Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) for your mail pieces, tray labels and submit an electronic postage statement to the acceptance units.

Manifest Mailing System

The Manifest Mailing System (MMS) is an automated system that allows a mailer to document postage and fees for all pieces in a mailing paid via permit imprint indicia.

Full-Service Assessments

The Postal Service began Assessments for Electronic Verification Metrics in November 2016 for October data.

Mail Quality Data through IV®-MTR

Mail Quality Data (MQD-IV) leverages the Informed Visibility® Mail Tracking & Reporting (IV-MTR) application to enable mailers to receive uncapped Mail Quality Data. Detailed error data from the Mailer Scorecard is available for Full Service, Move Update, eInduction, and Seamless Acceptance.

Intelligent Mail Barcodes

The Intelligent Mail barcode (formerly known as the 4-State Customer Barcode) is the next generation of USPS® barcode technology used to sort and track letters and flats with unprecedented accuracy and ease. 

The suite of Intelligent Mail barcodes contains three separate barcodes. The Intelligent Mail barcode is applied to individual mailpieces (letters, cards and flats). The Intelligent Mail Tray barcode is applied on tray labels that are attached to trays, sacks, and tubs, and the Intelligent Mail Container barcode is applied on container labels (or placards) that are attached to handling units such as pallets, containers, and APCs.

The suite of barcodes for Intelligent Mail share some common characteristics: identify the owner or sender of the mailpiece, identify the mailpiece or mail aggregate to allow for tracking, encode product or service requests on individual mailpieces or to include unique indicators for processing mail aggregates, and provide sorting and/or routing information.

Intelligent Mail® Barcode

The Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMb) is used to sort and track letters, cards and flats and offers greater versatility by allowing many services to be requested and embedded within one barcode. The Intelligent Mail barcode combines the data of the existing POSTNET™ and the PLANET Code® barcodes, as well as other data, into a single barcode. 

Intelligent Mail® Container Barcode (IMcb)

The Intelligent Mail® Container barcode (IMcb) will be applied to Mailer-generated container labels and is designed to be scanned at acceptance and at other points throughout transportation and processing. The Intelligent Mail Container barcode allows each container to be associated with a unique mailing and facilitates tracking of containers throughout the mail processing network.

Intelligent Mail® Tray Label

All tray label production systems are being transitioned to produce a 24-digit Intelligent Mail® (IM®) tray label in support of the USPS® "100% Visibility" strategy. The IM tray label allows for the unique identification of every tray, tub, and sack traveling throughout our mail processing and delivery network.

OneCode ACS®

OneCode ACS allows customers mailing First-Class Mail®, Standard Mail®, and Periodical flats or letters to receive electronic or automated address corrections using the Intelligent Mail® barcode.

Intelligent Mail® Barcode (IMb) Encoder Software and Fonts

The Postal Service provides Intelligent Mail® barcode files, fonts and encoders, available for download.

 

 

 

Customer Label Distribution System (CLDS)

CLDS is a web-based application that provides mailers with the capability to create, edit, and locally print or submit Intelligent Mail® tray label orders online for printing by the Topeka National Print Center (NPC).

 

Releases

January 2021 Releases (Includes Price Change Information)

Release information for January 2021 deployment.

For release overview information, please click here.

January 10, 2021

 

There is a new required Mail.dat client with this release. Users should download Mail.dat client 52.0.0.0_PROD from the Business Customer Gateway (BCG) using the following path: Mailing Services --> Electronic Data Exchange [Go to Service] --> Mail.dat download (Windows 32-bit, Windows 64-bit or Solaris).

October 2020 Release Test

October 1, 2020 Release

For this release click here

October 2020 Releases

Release information for October 2020 deployment.

October 4, 2020

There is a new required Mail.dat client with this release to correct a defect introduced in PostalOne! System Release 51.2.0.0 on August 23, 2020 that is currently preventing the PostalOne! System from successfully sending compressed Mail.dat ZIP (.zip) files to Informed Visibility (IV). Users should download Mail.dat client 51.3.0.0_PROD from the Business Customer Gateway (BCG) using the following path: Mailing Services è Electronic Data Exchange [Go to Service] è Mail.dat download (Windows 32-bit, Windows 64-bit or Solaris).

Note: There are no validation updates associated with this change.

October 1, 2020

For the Known Issues List, please click here.

June 2020 Releases

Release information for June 2020 deployment.

June 28, 2020

June 14, 2020

*NOTE: Mail.dat Client Support - There is a new required Mail.dat client with this release. Users should download Mail.dat client 51.0.0.0_PROD from the Business Customer Gateway (BCG) using the following path: Mailing Services è Electronic Data Exchange [Go to Service] è Mail.dat download (Windows 32-bit, Windows 64-bit or Solaris).

For the Known Issues List, please click here.

March 2020 Releases

Release information for March 2020 deployment.

March 27, 2020

March 26, 2020

March 22, 2020

NOTE:  PostalOne! System Release 50.1.1.0 will result in a new OPTIONAL Mail.dat client. After the March 22, 2020 release, users can download Mail.dat client 50.1.1.0_PROD from the Business Customer Gateway (BCG) using the following path: Mailing Services è Electronic Data Exchange [Go to Service] è Mail.dat download (Windows 32-bit, Windows 64-bit or Solaris).

The new optional Mail.dat client provides an update to the logic that generates the Mail.dat submission-level Enhanced XML (EXML) receipt file. The update applies to EXML receipts for Mail.dat submissions using a master-child configuration, and Periodicals submissions involving master statements.  The existing Mail.dat client 50.1.0.0_PROD, which was implemented as a required download in PostalOne! System Release 50.1.0.0 on March 15, 2020, will continue to be functional. 

March 15, 2020:

NOTE: Mail.dat Client Support -There is a new required Mail.dat client with this release. Users should download Mail.dat client 50.1.0.0_PROD from the Business Customer Gateway (BCG) using the following path: Mailing Services è Electronic Data Exchange [Go to Service] è Mail.dat download (Windows 32-bit, Windows 64-bit or Solaris).

March 12, 2020:

For the Known Issues List, please click here.

September 2019 Releases

Release information for the September 2019 deployment.

There is an optional updated Mail.dat client with this release, which supports implementation of a verification list and new warning message for ineligible Informed Delivery campaigns through the PostalOne! System (CR 13523, Section 3.2). The existing Mail.dat client will not process the warning as part of the receipt; and mailers using the existing Mail.dat client will not have visibility into the status of campaigns that fail due to ineligible Mailer IDs (MIDs). Users can continue to use Mail.dat client 49.1.0.0_PROD, or may download the optional updated client 49.1.1.0_PROD. Both are available from the Business Customer Gateway (BCG) using the following path: Mailing Services è Electronic Data Exchange [Go to Service] è Mail.dat download (Windows 32-bit, Windows 64-bit or Solaris).

For the September 25, 2019 Post-Release Notes (Change 1.0)

For the September 15, 2019 Release Notes (Change 4.0) please click here.

For the September 12, 2019 Post-Release Notes please click here.

For the Known Issues List please click here.

July 2019 Releases

Release information for the July 2019 deployment.

** NOTEMail.dat Client Support - There is a new required Mail.dat client version with PostalOne! System Release 49.0.2.0.  Users should download Mail.dat client version 49.0.2.0_PROD from the Business Customer Gateway (BCG) using the following path: Mailing Services è Electronic Data Exchange [Go to Service] è Mail.dat download (Windows 32-bit, Windows 64-bit or Solaris).

For the July 28, 2019 Post-Release Notes (Change 7.0) please click here.

For the Known Issues List

USPS Mail.dat and Mail.XML Technical Specifications

Advertise by Mail

Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®)

 

10% OFF all Every Door Direct Mail-Retail® mailings from

August 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020. Learn More

 

Overview

Use Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®) to promote your small business in your local community and let USPS® do the leg work. Whether you're having a sale, opening a new location, or offering coupons, EDDM can help you send postcards, menus, flyers, and more to the right people.

The EDDM Online Tool also provides mailers the option to obtain delivery statistics for specific carrier routes. The tool generates required documentation under DMM® standards as well as facing slips and postage statements (PS Form 3587-B for retail; PS Form 3602 and PS Form 8125 for BMEU entry).

Getting Started

If you're looking to use Every Door Direct Mail - Retail® (EDDM Retail), see the EDDM resource on how to create and prepare an EDDM Retail Mailing.

  • With EDDM Retail, you can send at least 200 and up to 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code™

If you're ready to send an EDDM BMEU mailing, see the EDDM resource on how to create and prepare an EDDM Bulk Mailing.

  • With EDDM BMEU, you can send more than 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code™

Share Mail®

Share Mail® (formerly Alternate Postage) provides a mechanism for businesses and organizations to use the mail to share information, not only with their customers but to have those customers send the Share Mail letters and postcards to other parties — without their having to affix a stamp.

Irresistible Mail Award

The Postal Service has launched the Irresistible Mail™ Award to showcase the most innovative and creative work in direct mail advertising.

USPS® Picture Permit™ Indicia (PPI)

USPS Picture Permit™ indicia (PPI) is a USPS offering that provides organizations with the opportunity to creatively add value to their mailpiece.

Who is PPI for? 

First-Class Mail® automation letters and postcards and USPS Marketing Mail® automation letters.

How to register

Easily register your Picture Permit Indicia (PPI) in Business Customer Gateway (BCG). The process is designed to register for PPI, submit your customized PPI design mailpiece and allow for a quick review process to begin entering your mailpieces into the USPS mailstream

Note: a permit is required to register for PPI. Please click here for the application for picture permit imprint.

 

Enterprise Payment

Enterprise Payment System

To watch instructional IV-MTR videos please follow this link.

Eligible Products and Services include First-Class Mail®, Letters, Cards, and Flats, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, USPS Marketing Mail, Letters, Flats, and Parcels, Electronic Verification System (eVS®), Parcel Select®, Media Mail®, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Periodicals, International Products, Business Reply Mail (BRM), and Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM®), submitted via hard copy, eDoc (Mail.dat/Mail.XML), Postal Wizard or the Intelligent Mail® small business (IMsb) Tool, PO Box, Caller & Reserve Services (EPOBOL), Share Mail®, Intelligent Mail barcode Accounting (IMbA) and Address Quality Products (AEC, AECII and ACS).

Products not currently supported include Parcel Return Service (PRS), PC Postage®, Scan Based Payment (SBP), Merchandise Return Service (MRS), Official Mail Accounting System (OMAS), Premium Forwarding Service Commercial (PFSC),. Customers utilizing these products will be continue to be supported through CAPS.

  • Sign up today via one of the options below:
    • Select “Get Access” on the “Enterprise Payment System” Tab
    • Your Local Business Mail Entry Unit
    • Call Mailing Shipping Solutions Center (MSSC) at (877) 672-0007
    • Email postalone@usps.gov or call PostalOne! Help Desk at (800) 522-9085.

A reporting issue has been identified with EPS Release 4.1.0.0 in which transactions were duplicated for EPS Debit accounts. Impacted mailers with EPS Debit accounts will see duplicate transactions on their account for mailings finalized on Sunday, November 8, 2020 only. NOTE: Incident #INC000005457662 has no financial impact, this is a reporting and display issue only. ALM 1757 will run on Sunday, November 15, 2020 to resolve the reporting issue. All Business Service Administrators (BSAs) should alert their impacted stakeholders. Please direct any inquiries or concerns to the PostalOne! Help Desk via eMail (postalone@usps.gov) or telephone (1- 800-522-9085). We apologize for any inconvenience.