Effective January 4, 2010, we will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 604.5.3.7 and 604.5.3.8 to clarify the permit imprint class markings for Standard Mail® and Package Services mail items, and to allow abbreviated phrasing when using permit imprint postage with extra services.
With current standards, the second line of a permit imprint must show, “U.S. Postage and Fees Paid” when both postage and fees are paid via permit imprint. This revision provides the option for the second line of a permit imprint to show either “U.S. Postage and Fees Paid” or “U.S. Postage Paid.”
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
* * * * *
604 Postage Payment Methods
* * * * *
5.0 Permit Imprint (Indicia)
* * * * *
5.3 Indicia Design, Placement, and Content
* * * * *
5.3.7 Standard Mail and Package Services Format
[Revise the text of the first sentence of 5.3.7 to read as follows:]
A Standard Mail or Package Services permit imprint indicia must contain the same information required in 5.3.6, except that the Standard Mail or the applicable Package Services (Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, or Library Mail) marking must be used instead of “First-Class Mail.” ***
5.3.8 Indicating Extra Services
[Revise the text of 5.3.8 to read as follows:]
Mailpieces for which postage and extra services fees are paid for by permit imprint must show the applicable class of mail (“First-Class Mail,” for example); “U.S. Postage Paid” (or “U.S. Postage and Fees Paid,” at the mailer’s option); city and state; and permit number. The city, state, and permit number may be omitted in a company permit imprint indicia, subject to 5.3.9.
* * * * *
We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the DMM and into the monthly update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards, Pricing, 12-31-09
