USPS Compliance & Form 1583, Explained
A business that accepts U.S. Mail for customers must follow USPS Commercial Mail Receiving Agency rules. Here is what Form 1583, identity verification, USPS registration, retention, and mailbox activation require.
What Is a CMRA?
A Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) is a business that accepts delivery of U.S. Mail for another person or entity as a business service. USPS also treats qualifying office business centers and reshipping or redelivery services as CMRAs. Operators must register with USPS using PS Form 1583-A and comply with Domestic Mail Manual requirements.
Get Business Address limits any business-address offer to DeSoto, Texas. Before activation, we confirm the exact service address, current authorization status, permitted use, and required customer-verification process in writing. Do not send mail to or list an address until that confirmation, the PS Form 1583 process, and the required USPS customer-database entry are complete. A marketing page is not independent proof of occupancy or CMRA authorization.
Why Form 1583 Is Required Before Activation
PS Form 1583 ("Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent") authorizes a CMRA to receive mail for an addressee. USPS requires the CMRA to verify the application, record the delivery address, enter the data in its CMRA Customer Registration Database, and upload clear supporting identification before receiving mail for that customer.
The form requires:
- Your full legal name (or entity name for businesses)
- Your home or primary address
- Current primary and secondary identification accepted under the current USPS rules
- A witnessed signature by the CMRA owner or manager, an authorized employee, or a notary public
Do not use a provider that will accept customer mail without the required authorization. USPS may suspend or terminate a CMRA's authorization for noncompliance and may direct mail to be withheld or returned.
Acceptable ID for Form 1583
You must present current, unexpired primary and secondary identification that is acceptable under USPS Mailing Standards section 608.10.0. The name and permanent-address information on the application must match the identification or the application must be denied. Because the accepted document list can change, we provide the current USPS list during onboarding rather than relying on an old article.
The person completing the form must be authorized for the named business or addressee. Separate applications may be required for separate personal addressees; spouses receiving personal mail each complete their own form. We confirm the correct setup before submission.
Remote or In-Person Signature Witnessing
USPS rules allow the CMRA owner or manager, an authorized employee, or a notary public to witness the signature. Remote online notarization may be available when the notary, signer, documents, and applicable state law permit it; it is not guaranteed for every customer or country.
We confirm the available witnessing method, any notary charge, accepted identification, and upload instructions before you proceed. Do not send identity documents by ordinary email unless we expressly provide an approved secure method.
Conditional Compliance Workflow — Step by Step
These phases apply only if the written quote identifies a currently authorized service location and operator. The quote must also confirm the available witnessing method, identity-document channel, timing, charges, and activation control:
You Sign Up
Form 1583 & Notary
Address Goes Live
Ongoing Mail Handling
What Happens If Your Form Expires or Changes?
When required information changes, the customer must complete a new Form 1583 and provide current acceptable identification. CMRAs must keep customer records current and certify their database quarterly. Service may pause if an expired, unclear, mismatched, or outdated document is not corrected.
When service ends, the CMRA records the termination date and retains the endorsed Form 1583 for at least six months. USPS also requires a six-month post-termination remail process using the remail address recorded in the database. See the official USPS CMRA revision.
Compliance Before Activation
Form 1583 is an activation control, not a guarantee that a third party will accept the address. Banks, the IRS, licensing bodies, payment providers, and Google apply their own rules. A CMRA mail address is not automatically a private office, staffed customer location, principal place of business, or eligible Google Business Profile location.
Our commitment is narrower and testable: we will not represent a service location or customer as active for mail receipt until current operator authority and customer authorization are documented, and we will not promise acceptance that another institution controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start receiving mail before Form 1583 is complete?
No. USPS rules require the completed Form 1583, acceptable identification, signature witnessing, and customer-database entry before an authorized provider can receive mail in your name. We do not represent an address as active before written confirmation of both operator authority and customer activation.
I'm an international founder with no U.S. address. What do I put on the form?
Use your actual permanent address and documents that meet the current USPS list. International documents and remote witnessing depend on the specific document, notary, country, and applicable rules; we confirm eligibility before activation.
Do I need a separate Form 1583 for my LLC and my personal mail?
The required setup depends on the addressee names and whether the service is for personal or business mail. USPS expressly requires separate applications for separate personal addressees in some cases. The authorized operator must confirm the correct entries before submission.
What if I already have a notarized Form 1583 from another provider?
Form 1583 is CMRA-specific — it authorizes a specific agent to receive your mail. If you transfer providers, you need a new form for the new agent. Timing and remote-witnessing availability depend on the applicant, documents, notary or witness, and current rules.
Is my ID information stored securely?
The authorized operator's written process must identify the secure upload method, local working-copy deletion, access controls, and Form 1583 retention. USPS does not require local ID-image retention after successful database upload. Do not send identity documents until the operator and secure channel are confirmed. See our Privacy Policy.
Last updated: July 9, 2026
Verify Before You Activate.
Request written proof of the operator, service location, current mail authority, identity process, price, and activation requirements before using any address.