Effective September 14, 2015, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 505.1.0, Business Reply Mail® (BRM), to clarify that letters (cards), flats, and parcels are eligible to be returned under basic BRM and high-volume BRM. Additionally, we have made minor revisions and restructuring to 505.1.0 for clarity.
Although this revision will not be published in the DMM until September 14, 2015, these standards are effective immediately.
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Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Mailing Services
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505 Return Services
1.0 Business Reply Mail (BRM)
[Revise the heading of 1.1 to read as follows:]
1.1 BRM Postage and Fees
[Revise the heading and text of 1.1.1 to read as follows:]
1.1.1 Basic BRM
For basic BRM, a permit holder is required to pay an annual permit fee under 1.2, and a per piece fee under 1.1.7 in addition to the applicable single-piece (metered for letters) First-Class Mail or Priority Mail postage for each returned piece. For Priority Mail BRM pieces exceeding 13 ounces in weight, if the zone cannot be determined from a return address or cancellation, then the permit holder is charged zone 4 postage based on the weight of the piece. See Notice 123 — Price List for applicable prices and fees.
[Revise the heading and text of 1.1.2 to read as follows:]
1.1.2 High-Volume BRM
In addition to the fees and applicable postage required under 1.1.1, an annual account maintenance fee under 1.1.9 is required for high-volume BRM.
1.1.3 Basic Qualified BRM (QBRM)
[Revise the text of 1.1.3 to read as follows:]
For basic qualified BRM, a permit holder is required to pay an annual permit fee under 1.2, an account maintenance fee under 1.1.9, and a per piece fee under 1.1.7, in addition to the applicable letter or card First-Class Mail postage for each returned piece. Pieces that do not meet the format requirements for QBRM cannot qualify for the QBRM per piece fees or postage prices, and are charged the high-volume BRM per piece fees and First-Class Mail postage under 1.1.2.
1.1.4 High-Volume Qualified BRM
[Revise the text of 1.1.4 to read as follows:]
In addition to the fees and applicable postage required under 1.1.3, a quarterly fee under 1.1.11 is required for high-volume QBRM.
1.1.5 Bulk Weight Averaged Nonletter-Size BRM
[Revise the text of 1.1.5 to read as follows:]
In addition to an annual permit fee, per piece fee, and the applicable First-Class Mail or Priority Mail postage, permit holders participating in bulk weight averaged nonletter-size BRM under 1.8 must pay an annual account maintenance fee and a monthly maintenance fee.
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[Delete current 1.1.7 in its entirety and add new 1.1.7 to read as follows:]
1.1.7 Per Piece Fees
Per piece fees listed in 1.1 are charged for each piece of returned BRM in addition to the applicable postage. Per piece fees are based on whether the permit holder qualifies as Basic, High-Volume Basic, Basic Qualified, or High-Volume Qualified BRM.
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[Add new 1.1.8 and renumber current 1.1.8 through 1.1.11 as 1.1.9 through 1.1.12]
1.1.8 Payment Options for Per Piece Fees and Postage
Basic BRM permit holders may pay per piece fees and postage on returned pieces by cash or check upon delivery, or through a regular postage due account (604.6.3). High-volume BRM and QBRM permit holders must pay per piece fees and postage on returned pieces through a BRM advance deposit account.
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[Revise the heading of 1.1.10 to read as follows:]
1.1.10 Annual Account Maintenance Fee and Advance Deposit Account
[Revise the first and second sentence of the introductory text of 1.1.10 to read as follows:]
A permit holder may choose to pay an annual account maintenance fee and pay postage through an advance deposit account, to qualify returned BRM pieces for the lower high-volume BRM or QBRM per piece fees. The account maintenance fee must be paid once each 12-month period at each Post Office where a permit holder holds an advance deposit account to receive BRM at a lower price.***
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1.1.11 Renewal of Annual Account Maintenance Fee
[Revise the last sentence of 1.1.11 to read as follows:]
***After the expiration date, if the permit holder has not paid the annual account maintenance fee but still has a valid BRM permit, returned BRM pieces no longer qualify for the high-volume BRM or QBRM per piece fees and are charged the basic BRM per piece fees and applicable postage in 1.1.1.
[Delete renumbered 1.1.12 and add new 1.1.12 and 1.1.13 to read as follows:]
1.1.12 Quarterly Fee for High-Volume QBRM
Mailers may choose to pay a quarterly fee in addition to the annual account maintenance fee. Payment of the quarterly fee entitles mailers to a lower per piece fee (the high-volume QBRM per piece fee identified in 1.1.4). The quarterly fee and annual account maintenance fee must be paid at each Post Office where mail is returned, and for each separate billing desired. Mailers are eligible for the high-volume QBRM rates and per piece fees only for the time they pay the quarterly fee (i.e., mailers can opt out of the quarterly fee and related high-volume QBRM per piece fees simply by not paying the fee for the next quarter). The quarterly fee cannot be paid or renewed retroactively to receive a lower per piece fee on pieces already paid for and delivered. The quarterly fee can be paid for any three consecutive calendar months.
1.1.13 Payment Period for Quarterly Fee
The quarterly fee must be paid in advance for at least one but no more than four quarterly periods. A quarterly period begins on either the first day of the month (if a mailer pays on or before the 15th of the month) or the first day of the following month (if a mailer pays after the 15th of the month) and continues for three consecutive calendar months. A mailer who pays the quarterly fee is entitled to the high-volume QBRM per piece fee from the date of payment (rather than the date the quarterly period begins) through the end of the quarterly period. The fee paid is that which is in effect on the date of payment.
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1.2 Permits
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1.2.2 Application Process
[Revise 1.2.2 by adding a new last sentence to read as follows:]
***An advanced deposit account is established for a permit holder’s use upon BRM authorization (see 1.1.9).
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1.2.4 Renewal of Annual Permit Fee
[Revise 1.2.4 by adding a new last sentence to read as follows:]
***After the expiration date, if the permit holder has not paid the annual permit fee, then returned BRM pieces are treated as follows:
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[Revise the text of item b to read as follows:]
b. Pieces (excluding postcards) with a return address are endorsed “Business Reply Permit Canceled” and are returned to the sender.
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1.3 Basic Standards
1.3.1 Description
[Revise the third sentence of 1.3.1 to read as follows:]
***BRM cards, envelopes, self-mailers, cartons, and labels may be distributed by a BRM permit holder in any quantity for return to any Post Office in the United States and its territories and possessions, including military Post Offices overseas.***
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1.3.6 Combined Pieces as a Single Item
[Revise the first sentence of 1.3.6 to read as follows:]
Two or more BRM pieces may be mailed as a single piece if the BRM pieces are identically addressed and prepared for mailing in accordance with 201.***
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1.4 Mailpiece Characteristics
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1.4.4 Sealing and Edges
[Revise the first sentence of 1.4.4 to read as follows:]
BRM pieces must be rectangular, with four square corners, and parallel opposite sides, but may have finished corners as described in 201.1.0 for letter-sized pieces, 201.4.0 for flat-sized pieces, or 201.7.0 for parcels.***
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1.4.7 Cards
[Revise the text of 1.4.7 by adding a new last sentence to read as follows:]
***A card exceeding the dimensions in 201.1.2 is charged the applicable First-Class Mail letter price.
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1.5 Format Elements
1.5.1 General
[Revise the first sentence of 1.5.1 to read as follows:]
All pieces of BRM are subject to the format Elements in 1.5.***
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1.6 Additional Standards for Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM)
1.6.1 Description
[Revise the second sentence of 1.6.1 to read as follows:]
***Permit holders distribute reply pieces that qualify for lower postage prices and per piece fees.
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[Revise item a to read as follows:]
a. Is a letter or card that is prepared to meet the automation compatibility requirements in 201.3.0 (except 201.3.13.1).
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[Revise the heading and text of 1.6.3 to read as follows:]
1.6.3 Fees and Postage
Permit holders must pay the applicable fees and postage under 1.1.3 for basic QBRM or 1.1.4 for high-volume QBRM.
[Delete 1.6.4 through 1.6.7 in their entirety.]
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1.8 Bulk Weight Averaged Nonletter-Size BRM
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[Revise the heading and text of 1.8.3 to read as follows:]
1.8.3 Fees and Postage
Permit holders participating in bulk weight averaged nonletter-size BRM must pay the fees and postage under 1.1.5.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next online update of the DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 8-20-15
