Effective August 1, 2011, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 234.0, 244.0, 334.0, 344.0, 434.0, 444.0, and 604.3.0 to clarify standards for use of precanceled stamps and the use of mailer’s precancel postmarks.
This revision clarifies that mailers may place more than a single denominated stamp on each mailpiece when those stamps are precanceled by an authorized mailer’s precancel postmark, provided that the total of the postage on the mailpiece equals the exact monetary value of the USPS® precanceled stamp appropriate to the price category of the mailpiece (i.e. $0.05, $0.10, $0.15, and $0.25).
The Postal Service further clarifies that, unless permitted by other standards or Business Mailer Support authorization, when using USPS precanceled stamps, mailers must affix only a single USPS precanceled stamp to each mailpiece, and that each mailpiece prepared as part of the same mailing must bear the same amount of affixed postage.
USPS precanceled stamps, or denominated stamps precanceled by a mailer’s precancel postmark, are optional postage payment method(s) for mailers who choose these methods in lieu of a permit imprint or postage meter imprint when presenting commercial mailings at presorted or automation First-Class Mail® or all Standard Mail® prices.
Throughout this revision, the Postal Service clarifies the standards for postage payment using precanceled stamps and eliminates redundant and obsolete language.
Mailers may begin preparing their mailings in accordance with these new standards immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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200 Commercial Letters and Cards
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230 First-Class Mail
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234 Postage Payment and Documentation
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[Delete 2.0, Postage Payment for Presorted Letters, in its entirety, and renumber current 3.0 and 4.0 as the new 2.0 and 3.0.]
[Revise the title of renumbered 2.0 as follows:]
2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted and Automation Letters
[Revise the title of renumbered 2.1 as follows:]
2.1 Payment Methods
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[Revise the title and introductory paragraph of renumbered 2.2 as follows:]
2.2 Affixing Postage for Presorted and Automation First-Class Mail
Unless permitted by other standards or authorization by Business Mailer Support, when precanceled postage or meter stamps are used, only one payment method may be used in a mailing and each piece must bear postage under one of these conditions:
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[Revise renumbered items 2.2b and 2.2c as follows:]
b. Each piece must bear a USPS precanceled stamp (or stamps precanceled with a mailer’s precancel postmark), under 604.3; postage documentation under 3.0 is required. Additional postage must be paid at the time of mailing with an advance deposit account or with a meter stamp affixed to the postage statement.
c. Each metered piece must bear full postage at the lowest First-Class Mail first-ounce price (or card price as applicable) appropriate to the mailing job plus any additional ounce(s) or nonmachinable surcharge.
[Delete renumbered 2.3, Nondenominated Precanceled Stamps, and 2.4, Lower Denomination Precanceled Stamps, in their entirety and renumber current 2.5 as new 2.3.]
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3.0 Mailing Documentation
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3.2 Basic Documentation Standards
[Revise renumbered 3.2 by adding a new third sentence as follows:]
***Unless full postage is affixed, documentation presented with the postage statement must show the computation of the additional postage due for pieces not bearing full postage at the applicable price.***
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240 Standard Mail
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244 Postage Payment and Documentation
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2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted and Enhanced Carrier Route Letters
2.1 Identical-Weight Pieces
[Revise the second sentence of 2.1 as follows:]
***Alternatively, a USPS precanceled stamp (or stamps precanceled with a mailer’s precancel postmark), under 604.3, may be affixed to every piece in the mailing or mailing job, or each piece may bear a permit imprint.***
2.2 Nonidentical-Weight Pieces
[Revise the first two sentences of 2.2 as follows:]
Postage for nonidentical-weight pieces may be paid by precanceled stamps, subject to 4.0 and 604.3.0. Mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces may have postage paid by permit imprint (if the mailer is authorized by Business Mailer Support) or by meter (if each piece has the full postage affixed).***
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3.0 Postage Payment for Automation Letters
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[Revise title and text of 3.2 as follows:]
3.2 Affixing Postage for Automation Standard Mail Letters
In a metered or precanceled stamp mailing, each piece must bear either:
a. A USPS precanceled stamp (or stamps precanceled with a mailer’s precancel postmark), under 604.3; postage documentation under 4.0 is required. Additional postage must be paid at the time of mailing with an advance deposit account or with a meter stamp affixed to the postage statement.
b. Exact postage on metered pieces or at the lowest price applicable to the mailing job. Any additional postage must be paid at the time of mailing with an advance deposit account or with a meter stamp affixed to the postage statement.
[Delete 3.3, Nondenominated Precanceled Stamps, and 3.4, Precanceled Stamps in Lower Price Denominations, in their entirety and renumber current 3.5 as new 3.3.]
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4.0 Mailing Documentation
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4.2 Basic Documentation Standards
[Revise 4.2 by adding a new third sentence as follows:]
***Unless full postage is affixed, documentation presented with the postage statement must show the computation of the additional postage due for pieces not bearing full postage at the applicable price.***
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300 Commercial Flats
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330 First-Class Mail
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334 Postage Payment and Documentation
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[Delete current 2.0, Postage Payment for Presorted Flats, in its entirety, and renumber current items 3.0 and 4.0 as the new 2.0 and 3.0.]
[Revise the title of renumbered 2.0 as follows:]
2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted and Automation Flats
2.1 Payment Methods
[Revise the first sentence of 2.1 as follows:]
First-Class Mail presorted or automation postage must be paid with meter stamps, permit imprints, or precanceled stamps.***
[Revise the title and the introductory paragraph of renumbered 2.2 as follows:]
2.2 Affixing Postage for Presorted and Automation First-Class Mail
Unless permitted by other standards or authorized by Business Mailer Support, when precanceled postage or meter stamps are used, only one payment method may be used in a mailing and each piece must bear postage under one of these conditions:
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[Revise renumbered items 2.2b and 2.2c as follows:]
b. Each piece must bear a USPS precanceled stamp (or stamps precanceled with a mailer’s precancel postmark), under 604.3; postage documentation under 4.0 is required. Additional postage must be paid at the time of mailing with an advance deposit account or with a meter stamp affixed to the postage statement.
c. Each metered piece must bear full postage in the exact amount or at the lowest price applicable to the mailing job plus any additional ounce(s) or nonmachinable surcharge. If exact postage is not affixed, additional postage must be paid at the time of mailing with an advance deposit account or with a meter stamp affixed to the postage statement.
[Delete renumbered 2.3, Nondenominated Precanceled Stamps, and 2.4, Lower Denomination Precanceled Stamps, in their entirety, and renumber the renumbered 2.5 as the new 2.3.]
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3.0 Mailing Documentation
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3.2 Basic Documentation Standards
[Revise renumbered 3.2 by adding a new third sentence as follows:]
***Unless full postage is affixed, documentation presented with the postage statement must show the computation of the additional postage due for pieces not bearing full postage at the applicable price.***
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340 Standard Mail
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344 Postage Payment and Documentation
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2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted and Enhanced Carrier Route Flats
2.1 Identical-Weight Pieces
[Revise the second sentence of 2.1 as follows:]
***Alternatively, a USPS precanceled stamp (or stamps precanceled with a mailer’s precancel postmark), under 604.3, may be affixed to every piece in the mailing or mailing job, or each piece may bear a permit imprint.***
2.2 Nonidentical-Weight Pieces
[Revise the first two sentences of 2.2 as follows:]
Postage for nonidentical-weight pieces may be paid by precanceled stamps, subject to 4.0 and 604.3.0. Mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces subject to the piece/pound prices may have postage paid by permit imprint (if the mailer is authorized by Business Mailer Support) or by meter (if each piece has the full postage affixed).***
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3.0 Postage Payment for Automation Flats
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[Revise title and text of 3.2 as follows:]
3.2 Affixing Postage for Automation Standard Mail Flats
In a metered or precanceled stamp mailing, each piece must bear either:
a. A USPS precanceled stamp (or stamps precanceled with a mailer’s precancel postmark), under 604.3; postage documentation under 4.0 is required. Additional postage must be paid at the time of mailing with an advance deposit account or with a meter stamp affixed to the postage statement.
b. Exact postage on metered pieces or at the lowest price applicable to the mailing job. Additional postage must be paid at the time of mailing with an advance deposit account or with a meter stamp affixed to the required postage statement.
[Delete 3.3, Nondenominated Precanceled Stamps, and 3.4, Precanceled Stamps at Lower Denominations, in their entirety and renumber current 3.5 as the new 3.3.]
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4.0 Mailing Documentation
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4.2 Basic Documentation Standards
[Revise 4.2 by adding a new third sentence as follows:]
***Unless full postage is affixed, documentation presented with the postage statement must show the computation of the additional postage due for pieces not bearing full postage at the applicable price.***
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400 Commercial Parcels
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430 First-Class Mail
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434 Postage Payment and Documentation
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2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted First-Class Mail Parcels
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2.2 Affixed Postage for Presorted First-Class Mail
[Revise introductory text of 2.2 as follows:]
Unless permitted by other standards or authorized by Business Mailer Support, each presorted First-Class Mail parcel bearing affixed postage (not allowed for commercial plus parcels) must bear:
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[Revise items 2.2b and 2.2c as follows:]
b. A USPS precanceled stamp (or stamps precanceled with a mailer’s precancel postmark), under 604.3; postage documentation under 3.0 is required. Additional postage must be paid at the time of mailing with an advance deposit account or with a meter stamp affixed to the postage statement.
c. A postage evidencing imprint for the full postage at the lowest applicable First-Class Mail 1-ounce price plus full postage for any additional ounce(s) and any fees; postage documentation under 3.0 may be required. If exact postage is not affixed, all additional postage must be paid at the time of mailing with an advance deposit account or with a meter stamp affixed to the postage statement.
[Delete 2.3, Additional Postage, in its entirety.]
3.0 Mailing Documentation
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3.2 Basic Documentation Standards
[Revise 3.2 by adding a new third sentence as follows:]
***Unless full postage is affixed, documentation presented with the postage statement must show the computation of the additional postage due for pieces not bearing full postage at the applicable price.***
* * * * *
440 Standard Mail
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444 Postage Payment and Documentation
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2.0 Postage Payment for Presorted and Enhanced Carrier Route Parcels
2.1 Identical-Weight Pieces
[Revise the second sentence of 2.1 as follows:]
***Alternatively, a USPS precanceled stamp (or stamps precanceled with a mailer’s precancel postmark), under 604.3, may be affixed to every piece in the mailing or mailing job, or each piece may bear a permit imprint.***
2.2 Nonidentical-Weight Pieces
[Revise the first two sentences of 2.2 as follows:]
Postage for nonidentical-weight pieces may be paid by precanceled stamps, subject to 4.0 and 604.3.0. Mailings of nonidentical-weight pieces subject to the piece/pound prices may have postage paid by permit imprint (if the mailer is authorized by Business Mailer Support) or by meter (if each piece has the full postage affixed).***
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3.0 Mailing Documentation
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3.2 Basic Documentation Standards
[Revise 3.2 by adding a new third sentence as follows:]
***Unless full postage is affixed, documentation presented with the postage statement must show the computation of the additional postage due for pieces not bearing full postage at the applicable price.***
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600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
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604 Postage Payment Methods
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3.0 Precanceled Stamps
3.1 General Information
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3.1.5 Amount of Postage
[Revise 3.1.5 as follows:]
The value of precanceled stamps affixed to each piece in a mailing must be either the exact amount due or the exact monetary value of the USPS precanceled stamp appropriate to the price category of the mailpiece. Unless permitted by other standards or Business Mailer Support authorization, the same monetary value of stamp(s) must be affixed to every piece in the mailing. Refunds for overpayment must meet the standards in 9.0.
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[Revise the title and text of 3.3 as follows:]
3.3 USPS Precanceled Stamps
USPS precanceled stamps are preprinted with a price category as the precancellation method. The following also applies:
a. Unless used to pay single-piece postage under 3.3d or to pay postage under 3.5 or 3.6, or permitted by other standards or Business Mailer Support authorization, only one USPS precanceled stamp may be affixed to each piece in a mailing.
b. Mailpieces bearing a USPS precanceled stamp must include the return address.
c. If the return address is not within the delivery area of the Post Office of mailing, the mailer must place a cancellation endorsement on the piece or provide mailing information to the Post Office shown in the return address.
d. USPS precanceled stamps may be used to pay single-piece postage if the piece bearing the stamps has the correct marking (e.g., “First-Class Mail”) immediately under the postage.
3.4 Precancellation of Stamps by Mailer
3.4.1 Definition of Stamps Precanceled by Mailer
[Revise 3.4.1 by adding a new second sentence as follows:]
***Mailers authorized under 3.4 may precancel one or more postage stamps provided the total of the postage on the mailpiece equals the exact monetary value of the corresponding USPS precanceled stamp appropriate to the price category of the mailpiece.***
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 7-14-11
