What Is a CMRA?
A Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) is a private business authorized by the U.S. Postal Service to receive and manage mail on behalf of customers. CMRAs operate under a formal agreement with the USPS and are subject to ongoing compliance requirements — including mandatory identity verification of every customer they serve.
Get Business Address operates as a licensed CMRA. That is not marketing language; it is a legal designation with real obligations. When you receive mail at our DeSoto, TX address, we are legally responsible for knowing who you are — just as the USPS would be if you rented a PO Box directly from them.
Why Form 1583 Is Required — for Every Customer, No Exceptions
USPS Form 1583 ("Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent") is the federal form that authorizes a CMRA to receive mail on a customer's behalf. Federal postal regulations require every CMRA customer to complete this form before mail can be received in their name. There is no workaround, no grace period, and no provider — legitimate or otherwise — that can legally skip it.
The form requires:
- Your full legal name (or entity name for businesses)
- Your home or primary address
- Two forms of government-issued ID — one must include a photograph, one must confirm your address
- Notarization: Form 1583 must be signed in front of a notary public who witnesses and verifies your identity
Any virtual address service that claims you do not need Form 1583, or that lets you "start receiving mail" before your form is verified, is operating outside USPS rules. Mail received through an unregistered or non-compliant CMRA is not legally delivered, and the provider risks losing their CMRA authorization — along with all mail they hold.
Acceptable ID for Form 1583
You will need two forms of ID. One photo ID (driver's license, passport, military ID, state ID) and one address-confirming document (a second government ID that shows your address, a vehicle registration, a voter registration card, or a current utility bill or bank statement in your name).
For business entities (LLC, corporation, etc.), the form is signed by an authorized representative in their personal name — the business name appears in the "business name" field, not as the signatory. If multiple owners will receive mail, each person typically completes their own form.
Remote Online Notarization: No In-Person Visit Required
The good news: you do not need to walk into a notary's office. The USPS permits Remote Online Notarization (RON) for Form 1583 in states that have adopted RON statutes — and Texas is one of them.
With RON, a commissioned notary verifies your identity live via video call, witnesses you sign the document electronically, and applies a digital notary seal. The entire process takes about 10–15 minutes from your phone or computer. We coordinate the notary appointment for you as part of onboarding.
If you prefer an in-person notary, that works too. You can use any licensed notary — a bank, UPS Store, or local notary office — then upload the completed, notarized form through our portal.
How We Handle Compliance for You — Step by Step
Here is exactly what happens from signup to your address being live:
You Sign Up
Form 1583 & Notary
Address Goes Live
Ongoing Mail Handling
What Happens If Your Form Expires or Changes?
Form 1583 does not expire on a fixed schedule — but if you change your name, address, or authorized recipients, you must file a new or updated form. We track this for you. If your form ever needs refreshing, we notify you proactively and walk you through the update. There is no gap in your mail service during the update process.
Compliance Is Our Differentiator
Many online services treat Form 1583 as a nuisance to minimize. We treat it as the foundation of a legally sound mailbox. A mailbox that was set up correctly from day one means your address is recognized by USPS, accepted by banks and the IRS, and will not suddenly stop working because a non-compliant provider lost their CMRA authorization.
When you use Get Business Address, you are not just renting a suite number — you are working with a USPS-authorized, Texas-based company that files your documents correctly and keeps them that way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start receiving mail before Form 1583 is complete?
No. Federal postal regulations require the completed, notarized Form 1583 on file before we can legally receive mail in your name. Your address will be reserved but not active until the form is verified.
I'm an international founder with no U.S. address. What do I put on the form?
Your home address outside the U.S. is acceptable. The form requires your actual residential address — it does not need to be a U.S. address. Acceptable photo IDs include a passport (accepted worldwide) and most national ID cards.
Do I need a separate Form 1583 for my LLC and my personal mail?
If you want to receive mail under both your personal name and your LLC name at the same address, you typically need a form for each. We will walk you through the specifics during onboarding — this is a common setup for small business owners.
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 are transferring from another provider, you will need to complete a new form for our address. The process only takes about 15 minutes remotely.
Is my ID information stored securely?
Yes. Your identity documents are handled by our remote notary partner under their own strict security and privacy protocols, and we retain only what is required by USPS regulations. We do not sell or share your ID information.
Last updated: July 9, 2026