One thing that you need to consider in 2026 is how you send mail. Some may rely on postmarks for legal documents, sending physical checks, and time-sensitive items. The difference between when you send your package versus when the post office marks it as received can affect you dearly!
Effective January 24th, the United States Postal Service has made some changes to the postmark system. Think ahead when dropping mail into a public mailbox; it will not be postmarked until at the processing center, which could cause discrepancies on the receiver’s end. Should you need a postmark the same day, that will require you to go into the post office and request that they (hand cancel it for free) manually add the postmark.
This change not only makes it a little more cumbersome to send regular mail, but also when voting. Mail-in ballots have been more prevalent for those who choose not to stand in long lines on Election Day. This is a disadvantage for those who mail in their ballots, as ballots postmarked after the deadline will be thrown out and not counted.
Also note the following rate increases on Sunday, January 18th:
Priority Mail – +6.6%
Priority Mail Express – +5.1%
USPS Ground Advantage – +7.8%
Parcel Select – +6%
For additional information, contact your local United States Postal Service.
