Mailing Permit

A mailing permit is permission to use a certain postage payment method for commercial mailings. Instructions for applying for a mailing permit are included under each method of payment.

There is no fee to apply for a permit to mail with precanceled stamps or a postage meter.

There is a fee to apply for a permit to mail with permit imprint. This one-time only fee pays for setting up your permit imprint account. The permit imprint application fee is due when you turn in your application for a permit imprint.

You must hold a permit and pay an annual mailing fee at every Post Office where you want to enter and pay for commercial mail.

TIPS

• Remember, a permit is "permission to mail," regardless of how you pay for postage. A "permit imprint" is a way of paying postage. Many mailers get a "permit" to mail with "permit imprint."
• To keep your permit imprint account active, you must do a commercial mailing at least once every 2 years. Once your account is inactive, you'll have to pay the application fee again to "turn it back on."
• Applying for a permit is different from applying for nonprofit mailing privileges. If you are a nonprofit mailer, first decide how you want to pay postage. Then apply for your mailing permit. Then apply for nonprofit mailing privileges. A postal employee can help you make sure you're taking the right steps in the right order.