Under statutory restrictions in the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 703.1.6.11, products that are mailed at the Nonprofit Standard Mail prices must meet at least one of three exceptions. A low-cost item is one of the exceptions referenced in the Internal Revenue Code. The value of a low-cost item — the actual cost to the authorized nonprofit organization — is determined each year by the Internal Revenue Service, adjusted for the cost of living. For 2011, the value of a low-cost item is $9.70 or less.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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700 Special Standards
703 Nonprofit Standard Mail and Other Unique Eligibility
1.0 Nonprofit Standard Mail
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1.6 Eligible and Ineligible Matter
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1.6.11 Products Mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates
The following products are mailable at Nonprofit Standard Mail prices:
[Revise item a of 1.6.11 to reflect the change in the maximum value of a low-cost item as follows:]
a. Low-cost items within the meaning of 26 USC 513(h)(2), Internal Revenue Code. At the beginning of each calendar year, the value of low-cost items is adjusted for cost of living. Effective January 1, 2011, the cost of such items cannot exceed $9.70. This cost is the cost to the authorized organization that mails the items or on whose behalf the items are mailed.
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We will incorporate this revision into the next printed version of the DMM and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing, 12-16-10
