Effective July 9, 2023, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), section 507.2.1.5, to reflect a change in the requirements for individuals to file a change-of-address (COA) order.
Under new Postal Service requirements, individuals may not file a COA request for someone other than themselves, or for a business, without authorization (i.e., notarized letter or letter on company letterhead) showing they are an authorized agent of the person(s) or business that is moving.
Currently, depending on the method of filing a COA order, a customer must only provide an acceptable form of identification or valid credit card number for identity verification. The Postal Service believes that this revised requirement will provide customers with a better mailing experience.
Although the Postal Service will not publish this revision in the DMM until July 9, 2023, the standard is effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
500 Additional Mailing Services
2.1.5 Restricted or Prohibited Use
[Add new item a. to read as follows and renumber current items a. through c. as items b. through d.]
a. Individuals may not file a change-of-address request for someone other than themselves, or for a business, without authorization (i.e., notarized letter or letter on company letterhead) showing they are an authorized agent of the person(s) or business that is moving.