Effective July 9, 2023, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), in various sections, to reflect the discontinuation of the USPS® Corporate Account (USPSCA) payment method.
The Postal Service provided corporate account customers an opportunity to respond to an electronic survey, which the USPS Market Research and Insight Group administered, between April 2021 and June 2021. Based on customer feedback, the downward trend in revenue and volume, and account holders’ low usage of the product, the Postal Service decided to discontinue the USPSCA postage payment method for Priority Mail Express® mailpieces. As a result, the Postal Service is also discontinuing the Priority Mail Express Manifesting System.
Commercial Priority Mail Express customers will continue to have the option to pay postage with USPS Click-N-Ship®, postage evidencing systems, and permit imprint (eVS®).
The Postal Service is implementing this change effective July 1, 2023. However, mailers may opt to migrate to other eligible postage payment methods immediately.
For information on how to migrate, customers may contact their Sales Account/Business Service Network representative or local Post Office™, or email the Mailing and Shipping Solutions Center at MSSC@usps.gov. Additionally, the Postal Service will update the applicable Quick Service Guides.
The Postal Service believes discontinuing this payment method will provide customers with a simpler, more efficient process.
Although the Postal Service will not publish these revisions in the DMM until July 9, 2023, this standard is effective July 1, 2023.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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100 Retail Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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110 Retail Mail Priority Mail Express
113 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
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1.5 Sunday and Holiday Premium
[Revise the first sentence of 1.5 to read as follows:]
Delivery guaranteed for a Sunday or holiday is charged a premium fee (see Notice 123 — Price List).***
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4.0 Service Features of Priority Mail Express
4.1 General
[Revise the text of 4.1 to read as follows:]
A mailing receipt showing the time and date of mailing must be provided to the mailer on acceptance of Priority Mail Express by USPS. This receipt is a copy of the multipart Priority Mail Express label affixed to the mailpiece and serves as evidence of mailing. A delivery record, including the addressee’s signature (see 115.2.2 and 115.2.3), will be provided upon request. Individual requests by article number may be retrieved at usps.com or by calling 1-800-222-1811 and providing the article number. A proof of delivery letter (signature data) is provided electronically via email.
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115 Mail Preparation
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2.0 Priority Mail Express 1-Day and 2-Day
2.1 Mailing Label
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[Delete the last sentence of item a.]
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200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
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210 Commercial Mail Priority Mail Express
213 Prices and Eligibility
1.0 Prices and Fees
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1.3 Commercial Prices
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[Delete item a. in its entirety and renumber current items b. through d. as items a. through c.]
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1.6 Sunday and Holiday Premium
[Revise the first sentence of 1.6 to read as follows:]
When delivery is guaranteed for a Sunday or holiday, a premium fee is required (see Notice 123 — Price List).***
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3.0 Basic Eligibility Standards for Priority Mail Express
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3.2 IMpb Standards
[Revise the first sentence of 3.2 to read as follows:]
All Priority Mail Express pieces, unless inducted through a retail transaction or a USPS self-service kiosk, or those bearing postage meter imprints and using Label 11-B, must bear an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) prepared under 204.2.0.***
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4.0 Service Features of Priority Mail Express
4.1 General
[Revise the text of 4.1 to read as follows:]
A mailing receipt showing the time and date of mailing must be provided to the mailer on retail acceptance of Priority Mail Express by USPS. This receipt is a copy of the multipart Priority Mail Express label affixed to the mailpiece and serves as evidence of mailing. Mailers authorized to present Priority Mail Express under Priority Mail Express Manifesting procedures in 705.2.0 must use a 1-ply label and retain the verification manifest as the mailing receipt. Mailers using an online application to create their Priority Mail Express label must retain the customer online record or shipping history as evidence of mailing. A delivery record, including the addressee’s signature (see 215.2.2 and 215.2.3), will be faxed or mailed upon request. Individual requests by article number may be retrieved at usps.com or by calling 1-800-222-1811 and providing the article number. A proof of delivery letter (signature data) is provided electronically via email.
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214 Postage Payment and Documentation
1.0 Basic Standards for Postage Payment Options
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1.2 Commercial Prices
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[Delete item a. in its entirety and renumber current items b. through d. as items a. through c.]
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[Delete 2.0, “Corporate Accounts,” in its entirety.]
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216 Enter and Deposit
1.0 Priority Mail Express 1-Day and 2-Day Delivery
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[Delete item c. in its entirety.]
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500 Additional Mailing Services
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507 Mailer Services
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7.0 Pickup on Demand Service
7.1 Postage and Fees
7.1.1 Postage
[Revise the text of 7.1.1 to read as follows:]
The correct amount of postage must be affixed to each piece except for the following:
a. A Priority Mail Express label paid with a USPS Returns label affixed (under 505.3.0);
b. Pieces with a Parcel Return Service permit label affixed (under 505.4.0); and
c. Manifest mailings paid by permit imprint indicia approved by the manager of Business Acceptance Performance (MBAP).
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600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
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604 Postage Payment Methods and Refunds
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9.0 Exchanges and Refunds
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9.2 Postage and Fee Refunds
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9.2.6 Refund Payment
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[Revise the text of 9.2.6a(1) to read as follows:]
1. Priority Mail Express refunds are paid by check or as a credit to an account (e.g., a federal government agency account).
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[Revise the text of 9.2.6b(2) to read as follows:]
2. Deferred Refund: If USPS cannot determine immediately that the mailer is entitled to a refund, then USPS researches the application and, if appropriate, issues a refund by check or as a credit to an account (e.g., a federal government agency account) to the mailer.
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9.5 Priority Mail Express Postage and Fees Refunds
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9.5.3 Who May Apply
[Revise the text of 9.5.3 to read as follows:]
A claim for a refund for Priority Mail Express postage may be made only by the mailer (the sender of a Priority Mail Express item).
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609 Filing Indemnity Claims for Loss or Damage
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3.0 Providing Evidence of Insurance and Value
3.1 Evidence of Insurance
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[Delete item c. in its entirety and renumber current items d. and e. as items c. and d.]
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700 Special Standards
703 Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail and Other Unique Eligibility
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2.0 Overseas Military and Diplomatic Post Office Mail
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2.6 Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS)
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2.6.7 Mailing Label
[Delete the last sentence of 2.6.7.]
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2.6.9 Deposit
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[Delete item d. in its entirety.]
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705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
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2.0 Manifest Mailing System
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[Delete 2.6, “Priority Mail Express Manifesting Agreements”; 2.7, “Basic Standards”; and 2.8, “Applications, Agreement Renewals, Modifications, Suspensions, and Cancellations” in their entirety and renumber current section 2.9 as 2.6.]
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18.0 Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute
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18.5 Preparation
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18.5.7 Address Label Service Barcode Requirement
[Revise the introductory text of 18.5.7 to read as follows:]
An electronic service barcode must include an Intelligent Mail package barcode (IMpb) (eVS approved mailers) symbology for Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute, and the IMpb symbology for Priority Mail Open and Distribute in the address label. Mailers must prepare address labels using the formats in 18.5.8 through 18.5.12. Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute IMpb labels must include service type code “723.” For Priority Mail Open and Distribute, the IMpb must include service type code “123.” The human-readable text “USPS SCAN ON ARRIVAL” must appear above the barcode. USPS certification is required from the National Customer Support Center (NCSC) for each printer used to print barcoded open and distribute address labels, except for barcodes created using USPS webtools. NCSC contact information, formatting specifications for barcodes and electronic files, and certification are included in Publication 199, available on PostalPro at postalpro.usps.com. Mailers may use the following options available to create a label with a service barcode for Priority Mail Express Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute address labels:
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Forms Glossary
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[Delete the entry for PS Form 3152-E.]
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[Delete the entry for PS Form 5639.]
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The Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 5-18-23
